08 4x4 fundi challenge - Creamer Media

Bridgestone’s 4X4 Fundi Challenge puts the spotlight on
responsible off road driving
The Bridgestone South Africa 4x4 Fundi Challenge came to a conclusion with the
final of six rounds at Diggers’ Hole just outside Pretoria recently. Andre and
Yvonne de Villiers from Safari Centre, who occupied second place throughout
much of the competition, took the top honours in a Mitsubishi Pajero.
Robert and Leehein Hale of the Isuzu Owners’ Club were runners-up in an Isuzu
Trooper while third place overall went to Jo Holtzhauzen and Amanda Crause of
the Four Wheel Drive Club of Southern Africa in a Toyota Hilux. The
Gelandewagen Club was declared the winner of the tightly contested club
competition.
A special new award recognising effective brand building over at least the past
two years and promoting 4x4 off road driving was introduced by Bridgestone.
Installed as the first Bridgestone Brand Ambassadors were Andre de Villiers,
owner of Safari Centre, Derick Lategan, owner of African Outdoor Group, Johan
Marx, chairman of the Gelandewagen Club, and Alan Goodway, owner of the 4x4
Off Road Adventure Club.
The Bridgestone 4x4 Fundi Challenge is an inter club competition for standard
production 4x4 vehicles that was born out of the establishment of the
Bridgestone 4x4 Fundi programme in 2004, a unique initiative to train dealer
sales staff in all aspects of 4x4 tyres and off road driving. The challenge brings
together the dealerships that have received Fundi training with the 4x4 clubs.
“A key objective with 4x4 Fundi is to position Bridgestone South Africa as a
responsible company that cares about the environment and treats it with
respect,” says Romano Daniels, GM of both group public relations and
marketing. “That is why we have actively sought out like-minded companies
(such as Nissan South Africa and the African Outdoor Group) and organisations
like the Association of All Wheel Drive Clubs of Southern Africa and associated
ourselves with responsible off road driving.

“AOG is our training partner in the 4x4 Fundi programme and we have a close
association with Nissan and its Off Road Tactix programme, which promotes a
harmonious balance between the use of four wheel drive vehicles and the
environment, as embodied in the credo ‘tread with respect’.
“We endorse this credo wholeheartedly and the 4x4 Fundi programme and the
4x4 Fundi Challenge, as well as our relationship with the off road and 4x4 clubs
and organizations, is evidence of our commitment.”
4x4 Fundi is managed by Johan Mostert, a committed off road driving enthusiast
for many years who has considerable experience in off road driver training and
the creation of off road tracks for promotions and competitions. He has been
involved with the programme since its inception and created the 4X4 Fundi
Challenge.
This year’s Bridgestone 4x4 Fundi Challenge saw 40 lucky entrants booking their
places in the six rounds. Round one, held at the African Outdoor Group’s
facilities near Hartbeespoort Dam, was won by Morne and Natalie van der
Westhuizen of the 4x4 Off Road Adventure Club in Gauteng in a Ford Ranger
King Cab.
Round two in Lichtenburg was won by Idmar Marx and Adriaan Genis of the
Gelandewagen Club in a G-Wagen. Alan McCormack and Andre Oberholzer of
the 4x4 Off Road Adventure Club won round three in Swaziland in an Isuzu
Double Cab.
Round four was a GPS event and was won by Hendrik and Ivan Behrtel of the
4x4 Off Road Adventure Club in a Nissan Patrol. The fifth and penultimate event
was a surprise night affair hosted in the Delmas area. Consistent top-five
finishers Robert and Leehein Hale of the Isuzu Owners’ Club took the honours
for the evening in their Isuzu Trooper.
The final round of the Bridgestone 4x4 Fundi Challenge was held at Diggers’
Hole just outside Pretoria. Winners were Jo Holtzhauzen and Amanda Crause of
the Four Wheel Drive Club of Southern Africa in a Toyota Hilux Double Cab.

Bridgestone South Africa is a founder associate member of the Association of All
Wheel Drive Clubs of Southern Africa and is represented on the committee by
Johan Mostert.
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