History | Century Racing

2024 : 3rd biggest manufacturer at Dakar Rally 2024

Century Racing will make its strongest showing yet at the Dakar Rally, entering 12 vehicles in its twelfth consecutive year as a manufacturer. Notably, Century Racing will be the only manufacturer competing with both 2WD and 4WD vehicles, marking the international debut of its innovative T1 Ultimate machine. With this, Century Racing proudly holds the position as the third-largest manufacturer in terms of vehicles entered at the event.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our loyal customers for their unwavering support, our dedicated team for their expertise in building world-class machines, and our trusted suppliers whose contributions make this success possible. We are immensely proud of the growth we have achieved over the years:

2012: 1 car
2016: 2 cars
2019: 1 car
2020: 1 car
2021: 5 cars
2022: 10 cars
2023: 10 cars
2024: 12 cars

Century Racing Entries for Dakar Rally 2024:

CR 7 Turbo 4WD

#219 Brian Baragwanath & Leonard Cremer – Servicing with Rally Raid Estonia and SRT
#250 Urvo Männama & Risto Lepik – Rally Raid Estonia

CR 6 Turbo

#212 Mathieu Serradori & Loic Minaudier – SRT
#238 Laia Sanz & Maurizio Gerini – Astara/SRT
#262 Patricia Pita & Paolo Boggioni – Astara/SRT

CR 6 V8

#237 Tim Coronel & Tom Coronel – Team Coronel
#246 Frederic Chesneau & Lionel Romanin – SKYBOX Rally-Raid
#247 Michel Kremer & Thomas de Bois – Team Coronel
#255 Dominique Housiaux & Delphine Delfino – SRT
#260 Andrea Schiumarini & Andrea Succi – SC2
#261 Benoit Fretin & Cedric Duple – Team Ydeo
#270 Patrice Etienne & Antoine Sanchez – Team Ydeo

2023 - 10 Cars for Dakar 2023

The 2023 Dakar Rally marked an exciting chapter for both newcomers and seasoned professionals, with ten Century Racing cars taking on the challenge. Among the new entrants were Yannick and Vallerie Panagiotis, who earned their place at the Dakar by securing a free entry through the Road to Dakar Challenge, following their impressive performance in the South African Rally-Raid Championship.

2022 - Century Racing Entrants at Dakar

The 2022 Dakar Rally featured an impressive lineup of Century Racing vehicles, piloted by a mix of seasoned professionals and ambitious privateers. Representing the team were:

Tim & Tom Coronel
Ernest Roberts (x2 entries)
Schalk Burger
Chris Visser
Brian Baragwanath
Mathieu Serradori
Alexandre Leroy
Óscar Fuertes
Jesús Calleja
Marcelo Gastaldi

These ten entries underscored Century Racing’s growing presence and performance in one of motorsport’s most demanding events.

2021

A Landmark Year for Century Racing at Dakar

Baragwanath and Perry Make a Statement on Prologue

Century Racing achieved a record entry at the 2021 Dakar Rally, with all five cars successfully starting and completing the grueling event—an impressive 100% finish rate.

Brian Baragwanath, alongside co-driver Taye Perry, made headlines by tying for the fastest time in the prologue stage, matching Dakar legend Nasser Al-Attiyah. The duo went on to secure eight stage finishes inside the top 10. Unfortunately, a mechanical issue on Stage 6 cost them valuable time and removed them from overall contention.

Silk Way Rally Victory.

2021 also saw Century Racing claim victory at the renowned Silk Way Rally. Guerlain Chicherit, driving for Team SRT, delivered a dominant performance to secure the overall win—highlighting the competitiveness and reliability of the CR platform on the international stage.

2020

CR Makes Dakar Rally History

In a landmark achievement, the South African-built Century Racing vehicle, piloted by French driver Mathieu Serradori and Belgian co-driver Fabian Lurquin, claimed victory in Stage 7 of the 2020 Dakar Rally. This marked the first time in nearly two decades that a privateer team has won a stage—an extraordinary accomplishment that secured CR’s place in Dakar Rally history.

2016

CR6 Primal Production

Mark Corbett and Colin Matthews competed in the Dakar Rally driving the CR5 vehicles. Mark secured 17th place overall, while Colin finished 37th overall. They achieved 1st and 2nd place respectively in the 2WD Petrol category (Class T1.2).

During the same year, the first CR6 models progressed from initial design concepts to the production of the inaugural manufactured vehicles.

2013

Russian Evolution

The team completed and delivered two additional CRX6 race cars to Russia, where they actively competed in FIA-sanctioned events. Concurrently, development began on the CR5, an evolution of the CR4, incorporating insights and experience gained from the 2012 Dakar Rally to produce a more powerful and resilient vehicle. Century Racing maintained its presence in the local racing series, with Ernest and Guy sharing driving duties in the CR2, Colin piloting the CR3, and Mark competing in the CR4.

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2012

South American Campaign

Mark Corbett and co-driver Francois Jordaan achieved an impressive feat in their debut together, conquering the world’s longest and most challenging motor race. They finished an outstanding 24th overall and secured second place in their class after completing 13 demanding special stages. Corbett’s accomplishment was highlighted by crossing the finish line of the Dakar Rally in Lima, Peru, following the grueling 9,000 km race.

During the same year, the team successfully completed and delivered their first CRX6 4WD prototype to a client in Russia. Meanwhile, Colin Matthews enjoyed a stellar season, clinching the Class P championship in his CR3. The CR4 vehicle returned from South America and continued to compete locally under Mark Corbett’s guidance. Additionally, after being dismantled for Dakar spare parts, the CR2 was rebuilt and raced once again, this time driven by Ernest.

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2011

In February 2011, the CR4 was officially launched, marking a significant milestone following extensive research and development. Designed specifically to compete in the 2012 Dakar Rally, the vehicle was piloted by Mark, with the primary objective of demonstrating both competitive performance and reliability throughout the local racing season. Century Racing commenced preparations for the grueling 9,000 km Dakar Rally, scheduled to take place in South America in 2012.

In October 2012, the facelifted CR4 was unveiled to the press and public, showcasing several enhancements. Subsequently, the CR4, accompanied by a comprehensive inventory of spare parts, tools, and equipment, along with the service truck and support vehicle, were shipped across the Atlantic. The team received the shipment in late December, readying for the upcoming challenge.

CR4 Dakar Launch

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2010

The 2010 season proved to be a challenging yet eventful year for Mark, who secured two second-place finishes at the Sugarbelt and Magaliesburg events. He concluded the year ranked 4th in the Class P Championship and 9th overall in the Special Vehicle Championship. While these results fell short of expectations, recurring reliability issues hindered his performance on several occasions.

After an impressive eight-year career, Ernest announced his retirement. At 66 years old, he was among the oldest competitors on the circuit but remained highly competitive, highlighted by a notable third-place finish at the Sun City 400.

Later in the season, Colin assumed driving duties of the CR3 from Mark. Demonstrating immediate pace, he secured pole position in his debut race with the vehicle and repeated this feat two races later. Unfortunately, persistent reliability problems led to retirements while leading, resulting in significant frustration for the team.

Season Overview

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2009

Carnival Challenges

In 2009, the CR1 underwent a significant upgrade with the replacement of its turbo engine by a Nissan V6 3.5-liter unit, resulting in marked improvements in reliability. While the new engine did not match the outright speed of its predecessor, it demonstrated consistent performance over extended periods. At Carnival City, the team appeared poised to secure its first overall race victory after leading and dominating the weekend. Unfortunately, a minor wiring failure caused the engine to fail just 80 kilometers from the finish line. Despite securing numerous pole positions across both vehicles, the team struggled to convert these advantages into race wins.

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2008

CR2 Launch

Returning to the local racing scene, the CR1 made its debut in the opening race of 2008, with minimal prior testing. The vehicle represented a significant departure from existing special vehicles, featuring four-wheel drive, a rear transverse-mounted 2.0L turbo engine, and double wishbone rear suspension. Although the CR1 demonstrated superior raw speed compared to its competitors, it suffered from significant reliability issues and failed to finish any races that season, narrowly missing victory in the second race.

Later in 2008, development began on the CR2—our purpose-built Dakar vehicle, driven by Ernest Corbett. Despite sharing many underlying components with the CR1, including the suspension system, the CR2 had a challenging start, rolling during its first test session. However, the team quickly recovered, with the CR2 going on to win its first completed race, the Sun City 400, later that year.

2007

In 2007, Ernest opted to take a well-deserved break from racing to focus on travel, resulting in limited participation throughout the year. The new Nissan Navara was assembled in February and made its competitive debut at the Cape. However, persistent electrical issues significantly impacted the first three races of the season. Despite these challenges, Mark secured several podium finishes, including a strong second place at the Toyota 1000 Desert Race.

Preparation for the Dakar Rally occupied the latter part of the year, limiting the car’s appearances on the local racing circuit. In early 2008, Mark, alongside co-driver Francois and the team, traveled to Portugal to compete in the world-renowned Dakar Rally, scheduled to commence on January 5th. Unfortunately, the event was cancelled at the last minute due to potential terrorist threats.

Season Overview

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2006

The 2006 season marked the much-anticipated return of Mark behind the wheel. Although the new Nissan Navara arrived late in the year, it demonstrated promising performance in its initial races. A highlight of the year was Century Racing’s participation in the UAE Desert Challenge held in Dubai. Mark distinguished himself by winning the prologue, outperforming renowned competitors such as Carlos Sainz, Jean Louis Schlesser, and the eventual event winner Luc Alphand.

Throughout the event, the team consistently delivered strong performances, regularly finishing within the top ten. Positioned seventh heading into the penultimate day, their campaign was unfortunately cut short due to an accident that forced their withdrawal. Despite this setback, the race solidified Century Racing’s reputation as a formidable competitor on the global stage.

Meanwhile, back in South Africa, Ernest continued to build momentum throughout the year, securing two consecutive victories—including a triumph at the demanding Lesotho race—and achieving three additional second-place finishes. His impressive results culminated in winning the Class B championship, earning him a place in the South African record books as the oldest class winner in off-road racing.

Season Overview

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2004

Clean Sweeps

In 2004, Century Racing achieved outstanding results, securing two first-place finishes, two second-place finishes, and one third-place podium. These performances culminated in a second-place standing in the overall national championships for special vehicles. Additionally, Mark and Juan were recognized for their exceptional efforts at the Absa Off-Road Racing Awards, receiving first and second place honors in the drivers and navigators categories, respectively.

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2001

Super Truck Success

During the 2001/2002 season, the Century Racing team competed in the Production Vehicle category, fielding a Century/Petronas-sponsored Isuzu 4×4. The team secured multiple victories in national championship races, ultimately finishing second in the Production Vehicle National Championships. Their performance not only challenged all D-class competitors but also established them as a formidable contender against the super-truck category.

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1996

The Early Days

Century Racing was established in 1996, debuting with the SVM Jeep driven by Mark Corbett alongside his navigator, Juan Mohr. The team quickly emerged as a formidable competitor, securing third place overall in the 1997 Total Super Series. Building on this success, they advanced to the Century Racing Raceco vehicle, achieving a commendable third-place finish overall at the 1999 Roof of Africa Rally.