- Castrol returns as title-sponsor of the Neil Woolridge Motorsport Team (NWM) for the 2025 season in the South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC), with Ford South Africa remaining a major sponsor, as it has been for almost three decades
- bp Ultimate joins team as a sponsor this year along with Vedacit, Ford Credit, Mastercraft, Sparco and Veldskoen. Technical partners comprise Brembo, NTN and Tiger Wheel & Tyre
- The 2023 South African Rally Raid Champions (SARRC) Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer lead the charge in the Castrol NWM Ford Ranger Ultimate, which is designed and manufactured by NWM in Pietermaritzburg
- Multiple Brazilian and South American rally-raid champions Marcos Baumgart and Kleber Cincea will be competing in a second Castrol NWM Ford Ranger Ultimate
- Wors Prinsloo and Andre Vermeulen join the Castrol NWM Ford squad as third entry, competing in the more affordable South African Ultimate/T1+ class
The highly anticipated 2025 South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC) is set to deliver a mighty battle for glory, with the Castrol NWM Ford Team poised for an exhilarating start to the season. The championship is scheduled to commence with a thrilling opening round near Bronkhorstspruit on 27 and 28 June 2025, following the postponement of the initial Vryheid round due to flooding.
This season marks the return of Castrol as the title sponsor of the NWM team, reuniting this legendary lubricants brand with NWM at the highest level of rally-raid competition. Ford South Africa continues its long-standing partnership, which spans almost three decades, remaining a major sponsor and showcasing the adventurous lifestyle and exceptional capabilities of the Ranger. This year also sees bp Ultimate join the team as a sponsor, providing its advanced bp Ultimate fuel. The team is further bolstered by other valued sponsors including Vedacit, Ford Credit, Mastercraft Tools, Sparco, and Veldskoen, alongside technical partners Brembo, NTN, and Tiger Wheel & Tyre.
The Castrol NWM Ford Team will campaign the NWM Evo Plus Ultimate, a vehicle meticulously designed and manufactured by Neil Woolridge Motorsport in Pietermaritzburg, drawing on nearly three decades of local and international rally-raid experience. Powered by Ford’s EcoBoost 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine, the Ranger Ultimate exemplifies the pinnacle of rally-raid performance and capability. NWM team principal Neil Woolridge confirmed that the 2024 season, which saw the introduction of the new Ranger Ultimate, was a “crucial learning year”. He added that extensive work has been done during the off-season to refine and enhance the cars, making them more robust and more capable.
The team boasts a formidable three-car lineup for the 2025 season, featuring a wealth of local and international experience. Leading the charge are the 2023 SARRC champions, Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer. Having raced together since 2014 and securing their championship title in 2023 with three wins and six podiums from seven rounds, they are set to be serious contenders for the SARRC title once again in the top-tier FIA Ultimate/T1+ class.
They will be joined by multiple Brazilian and South American rally-raid champions, Marcos Baumgart and Kleber Cincea. The Brazilian duo bring vast international experience, holding five and three Brazilian Cross Country Championship titles respectively, and having won the South American championship in 2019. Marcos Baumgart expressed his enthusiasm for returning to the series. “The level of competition here is very high, and we are sure it will be an incredible year. We love racing in Africa and it is a privilege to be part of the Neil Woolridge Motorsport team once again,” he states.
Completing the squad as a third entry are Wors Prinsloo and Andre Vermeulen. Formerly an NWM-supported privateer team, they have now been incorporated into the Castrol NWM Ford Team with their NWM Evo Plus. The pair demonstrated strong form in 2023, finishing an impressive 10th overall in the premier T1+ category.
“We are delighted to be continuing this association with NWM in the highly competitive South African Rally-Raid Championship, and welcoming Castrol as the team’s title sponsor, along with bp Ultimate and the other sponsors and partners for this year,” said Tarryn Knight, General Manager of Marketing at Ford South Africa. “Motorsport is a key brand-building pillar for the Ford Ranger, emphasising its exceptional capabilities, quality and reliability.”
NWM team principal Neil Woolridge is confident of the team’s prospects. “We are in a position to fight for race wins and the championship once again this year. All three crews and sponsors know the importance of getting off to a good start and our recent success at the Sun City W2RC event gives us the belief that we are ready for the challenge ahead,” he concludes.
