Bartsch and Fourie open national rally season with Swakop victory

Motorsport
Wido Bartsch and navigator Raymond Fourie opened the 2026 Namibia National Rally Championship season with victory in the S-Class category at the Swakop Rally on Saturday.
Adam Hartman
  • 7 Hours Ago

Wido Bartsch and navigator Raymond Fourie opened the 2026 Namibia National Rally Championship season with victory in the S-Class category at the Swakop Rally on Saturday.

Driving a Toyota Yaris, the pair completed the nine-stage event around Swakopmund ahead of newcomer Stephan Bartsch and navigator Alex Moraitis-Herr in a VW Polo. Father-and-son team Kai Pretorius and Olivier Pretorius secured third place in a Toyota Corolla, while Donavan Vermaak and Jacobus van Zyl finished fourth in another Toyota Corolla.

The rally attracted 17 competing vehicles and crews to the coastal town for a full day of motorsport action across stages at Martin Luther, Rossmund, Salt Pan, Daggabos, Pipeline and the Go-Kart Track. A sponsorship of N$80 000 by Puma Energy Namibia, the event marked the opening round of the national championship season.

In the CR Class category, Mathys Pretorius and Anja Pretorius claimed first place in a Renault Duster. Husband-and-wife team Ruaan Viviers and Suelize Viviers finished second, followed by Werner Bartsch and Christel Fourie in a Land Rover.

The rally started from the Swakopmund Municipality parking area opposite the Puma Energy service station, where spectators gathered to watch the ceremonial start and view the competing vehicles before the race began.

Dust clouds and flying gravel marked the high-speed stages around Swakopmund as drivers navigated the demanding gravel and desert routes throughout the day.

“Puma Energy is proud to be the main sponsor of this exciting event,” said Puma Energy Namibia general manager Adell Samuelson ahead of the rally. “Our continued commitment to local sports initiatives and community engagements helps foster the growth and development of motorsport within Namibia, bringing together drivers, enthusiasts, and supporters from every corner of the country.”

Walvis Bay Motor Club chairperson Wido Bartsch said Puma Energy Namibia’s N$80 000 sponsorship helped make the event possible.

“Their support ensures we can deliver a top-tier sporting spectacle,” he said.