The recent launch of the Total Tara Rally has once again cemented the fact that Namibia’s flagship motorsport born over two decades ago - is still alive and well.

This was handed over by Mntuwabantu Nduvane (MD Business Development Total Namibia) to Harald Lingner (Vice President NMSF (Namibian Motorsport Federation) at a function in Windhoek.

In his address, Nduvane said that Total views the sport of Motor Rallying as an ideal platform to showcase the quality and resilience of its fuel and lubricants under testing conditions.

Once again the Total Tara will provide a platform for some top class rallying in our country with an expected field of around 20 entries, which includes participation from South Africa and possibly other African countries as well.

Team Total from SA has confirmed its participation, comprising top guns Ettienne Lourense driving a Toyota as well as JP Damseaux son of the famous and multiple Toyota Motorsport Rally champ Serge Damseaux.

According to Lingner, the NMSF have also extended an invitation to Zimbabwe and Zambia, with the view to welcoming some of their rally teams.

The two front runners on the Namibian circuit are presently the "bakkie boys" Renier Arangies driving a 2,7 Hilux Bakkie and Jaco Van Dyk in a potent Toyota Land Cruiser. There are only a few points separating these two ‘cowboys’ who are will be putting on the chase for the coveted trophy.

Some new faces will also be making it to the start this year, one of them being a Swakopmund team comprising brothers Goetz and Mike Nederlof driving a Colt bakkie, which is already making waves.

Also Oshakati motorsport enthusiasts will be sending in their two Mazda bakkie rally teams, and large gathering of supporters for the event.

"We want to raise our game this year, and hopefully aim for international status again," said Lingner, mentioning that the Total Tara lost its International Status two years ago.

"The new NMSF committee is aiming to recover the rally’s international status and host a fully international event by next year.

"We are only able to do this with the continued support of Total, who have proven over the years that their dedication and commitment to the local motorsport scene has never taken the back seat."

The Total Tara rally officially starts at 14h00 on Friday afternoon at the parking area opposite the Kalahari Sands, with all the fanfare and thrill that goes with a motorsport event of this caliber.

Spectators can follow the noise of finely tuned engines to the Tony Rust Track, where they can witness the cars in action at a super special stage at the Tony Rust Race Track from around 20h00.

The event will re-start at the racetrack at 7h00 the following morning, with vehicles driving the route via Okahandja. The first vehicle is expected home at roughly 16h30 at the Tony Rust.

The rally route comprises a total distance of 760 kilometers, of which 300 kilometres are special stages.

Since its entry into the Namibian market, Total has been associated with various motor sport activities, but without doubt, it’s major contribution has been the Total Tara Rally, which it has sponsored since its inception in 1973.

The Total Tara forms the final round of the Namibian rally championships, which follows on the trail of the Henties Bay Rally, which took place this weekend at the Coast.

The event was organized by the Etosha Motorsport Club, and won by Richard Himmel and Adolf Botes driving a Corolla 1600, was well attended with 14 entries and a big build up to the Total Tara Rally!