The (Off) Road Less Travelled
Some people ride roller coasters, others bungee jump off bridges or fling themselves out of planes. All of this for that enticing adrenaline high and sense of achievement. For Duncan Vos, an ideal adrenaline filled day involves high speed, rough terrain and being behind the wheel of one of the world’s best off-road rally cars. Racing has been a lifelong passion for Duncan and one he clearly has an inherent talent for, since he is currently in with a shot of winning this year’s South African Off-Road Rally Championship and is due to compete in the Dakar Rally early next year. He took some time out from behind the wheel to chat to abouTime about what it’s like to be a racing car driver.
Duncan always remembers having an interest in racing, but as his parents were understandably concerned about the safety aspects of the sport, he had to bide his time before he could follow his passion. “I think I was born with it [a love of speed]. It was there my whole life, but I suppose it was latent until I knew I could do something about it. The very first paycheque I got, I put into buying a racing car. I think I was 23 at that stage and I bought my first racing car for R300. It was a good deal, but it wasn’t much of a car at that stage!” he laughs. With the help of his brother – who is a mechanic – Duncan was able to get his car on the track and started racing in regional categories. As his confidence grew, he progressed through the different formulas and eventually qualified for the national series. Thanks to his success there, sponsors started to take notice, and Duncan effectively broke into the “big time” of circuit racing.
It was several years later, when he was racing for Nissan, that the opportunity to swap his circuit car for an off-road one presented itself, and Duncan jumped at the chance. Not that it was an easy transition at the time. “I had to learn to adapt to the different techniques and challenges of off-road racing. That took a while, but luckily I started in the lower off-road formula so I had time to grow with the sport, and as the cars got quicker and more sophisticated, I also came up through the off-road ranks.” Duncan has now been racing with Toyota since the start of 2010, and with only two races to go in this year’s Off-Road Championships, he and navigator, Rob Howie, are currently placed second and have every chance of taking the overall title.
Although he is currently firmly ensconced in off-road racing, with successes in both spheres of racing, which one does he enjoy the most? “I prefer off-road now, as it suits this stage of my career. When you are doing circuit racing, you are racing 20-year-olds and there’s no tomorrow. It’s do or die stuff and it’s a lot more frantic and hectic.” That is not to say that off-road racing is any less pressure filled, though. “You are not measured in point one of a second on a lap, but now you have an 800 km race and you have to take a lot more factors into consideration. You have to look after the car, analyse the terrain, look at the weather. You’ve got to work with your co-driver and you’ve got to make sure that you don’t go off the route. It’s a different type of challenge.”
Off-road racing is also considerably more dangerous than circuit racing, as there are “hidden dangers and obstacles”, but Duncan realises that this is an inevitable part of the sport. He has had numerous crashes during his career, but has miraculously escaped all of them without any serious injury. “You won’t believe it; I have not broken a bone in 23 years of racing. I have hurt myself more on my bicycle than in my racing cars!” he says, knocking his fist on the wooden table in front of him. This, he believes, comes down to the superb safety features in the cars and the fact that the experience he has gained during his career has certainly helped him better to judge road conditions.
Even the best drivers crash, though, and Duncan and Rob had a particularly nasty crash during a race in Lydenburg earlier this year. “I misjudged a vertical drop-off and rolled the car head over. We were fine, and thank God the car ended upside down on this road on a mountain pass about two-and-a-half metres wide. But it was about 350 mm from the edge of a vertical drop! I think I went a bit pale thinking about what could’ve happened if we had rolled one more time. I’ll be honest, that got my attention and it was the only time I have ever thought: ‘Wow, it’s my lucky day!’”
It is because of accidents like this that Duncan believes in the importance of staying physically fit. “I put a lot of effort into keeping fit because if you are fit, then you can focus. If you are not fit, you get mentally tired and that’s when you have accidents.” Training, eating properly and keeping fit are also important in order to be able to endure races that can be anywhere from six to nine hours long, with only a couple of minutes’ break for refuelling.
Off-road racing is a gruelling sport and can take a serious toll on your body, but Duncan is as much in love with the sport now, at the pinnacle of his career, as he was when he started racing. “I love nature and we get to race in the most beautiful parts of the country; places that a lot of people don’t get anywhere near. Then there’s the adrenaline you get from driving at speed through different types of terrain, dealing with the obstacles that get thrown at you and beating them. It’s a fantastic feeling, plus it’s amazing just how much punishment these cars can absorb.”
And the highlight of his career so far? “I have won four Off-Road Championships, but the highlight for me is just being on the starting line of every race, knowing that I can get into the car and win it.” Duncan’s lifelong dream, however, is to be able to compete in the Dakar Rally, and as Toyota Imperial and Toyota South Africa has recently announced their participation in next year’s event, it looks like Duncan’s dreams are indeed coming true. “It’s what I have been working towards ever since I started off-road racing. I am passionate about racing, and believe me, I realise every day how lucky I am to do what I love, because not many people get the same opportunity.”
The Trusty Sidekick
There is an old adage that says: “Behind every successful man is a successful woman.” Well, in off-road racing it should say: “Behind every successful driver is a successful navigator.” The navigator or co-driver is critical to the success of an off-road team. They are responsible for reading the road book and GPS, anticipating what is to come, remaining calm under pressure and ensuring that the team stays on course. They can also be invaluable if the team experiences any mechanical difficulties. Duncan elaborates: “In South Africa, there are probably a handful of good navigators, and they are unbelievably sought after because they are critical to a successful team. If you are a good driver with a bad navigator, you are wasting your time. You might as well not even race.” Luckily for Duncan, this is not an issue. He has been racing with his current navigator, Rob Howie, for more than a year-and-a-half, and only has good things to say: “I am very happy with him. He’s got all the attributes a good co-driver needs.” Based on the pair’s current success, it is certainly proving to be a good partnership.
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Story by Nicky Furniss
