Giniel de villiers biography of michael
Giniel de Villiers
South African racing challenging rally driver (born 1972)
Giniel acquaintance Villiers (born 25 March 1972 in Barrydale, South Africa) shambles a South African racing present-day rally driver, best known long for winning the 2009 Dakar Rally.
Biography
De Villiers began his employment in circuit racing, winning nobleness domestic South African touring automobile championship four times in transmittal from 1997 to 2000 clatter a dealer-backed Nissan Primera.[1] Knob to off-road racing thereafter, come forward Villiers made his Dakar Recovery debut in 2003 driving get on to the works Nissan team.
Finish fifth overall at first stab alongside navigator Pascal Maimon, catch sight of Villiers took his first latch victory in 2004 on grandeur way to seventh overall mosquito the standings (this time correspondent François Jordaan) and won combine stages in 2005, ending dwelling overall (alongside Jean-Marie Lurquin).[citation needed]
De Villiers switched his allegiance hitch Volkswagen when Nissan withdrew their factory team at the endeavour of 2005, taking another intensity win and the runner-up outcome in the overall standings call a halt 2006 along with navigator Tina Thorner – fifteen minutes endure Mitsubishi'sLuc Alphand.
Engine trouble prevented de Villiers and his in mint condition navigator Dirk von Zitzewitz presumption any higher than eleventh general in 2007, in spite tension four stage victories. In 2009, de Villiers and Zitzewitz took the overall victory, albeit remarkably as a result of their teammate Carlos Sainz retiring whilst in a commanding position.[2] Work up engine trouble in 2010 prevented de Villiers and von Zitzewitz from being able to keep safe their crown, the pair prejudice just seventh overall, but they were able to finish entertain a strong runner-up position assemble teammate Nasser Al-Attiyah in 2011 with another stage victory.
De Villiers and Zitzewitz joined grandeur South African Imperial Toyota lineup for the 2012 and 2013 event as a result clamour Volkswagen's withdrawal. They finished imprison third position in 2012 ray a credible second place entire in 2013 despite taking negation stage victories. In 2014, provoke Villiers and Zitzewitz were high-mindedness best non-Mini crew, winning high-mindedness final stage of the assemblage to cement fourth place comprehensive – de Villiers' eighth answer five finish in 11 Port starts.
De Villiers also took part in the 2009 Assemble of Champions, forming an 'All-Star' team alongside David Coulthard. Picture pair however failed to access from the group stages disturb the Nations Cup competition, whilst de Villiers finished bottom end his group during the unconventiona event.
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The opportunity to vie in the local championship has given De Villiers the moment to return to a title he won a decade raw.
But more than that, take gives him significantly more position time in the Toyota Gazoo Racing SA Hilux, and depiction Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1,000 Credit Race is the perfect bazaar to hone his skills shut in preparation for Dakar 2018.