Dodging Sarel’s poles in Nissan’s new Navara Warrior
Considered the continent’s toughest 4×4 driving challenge, the 21st edition of the hugely popular Nissan Spirit of Africa Trophy is set to test over 400 teams’ dirt driving skills to the very limit over three months from April to June. Also the local debut of the new Nissan Navara PRO-4X Warrior, Auto took the opportunity to attend Media day to get to grips with both the Spirit of Africa and the new bakkie this week.
Founded by the legend Sarel van der Merwe 21 years ago, the Nissan Spirit of Africa Trophy tests all crews on equal footing in identical Navara Warriors. A gruelling off-road gauntlet, teams power across a set of extreme off-road tests and trials. From precision driving on tricky terrain, to speed tests and even a bakkie-to-bakkie drag race and rally stage. The top 20 crews will finally duke it out to find the winners late in June 2025.
Developed by Premcar in Australia, odd considering that South Africa’s world-leading rally-raid status that spreads to Nissan-based Red-Lined Motorsport’s state of the art challengers, the Navara PRO-4X Warrior is adapted for local conditions. Based on the regular Navara Pro-4X and manufactured at Nissan’s Rosslyn plant near Pretoria and fitted with South African manufactured Dunlop Grandtrek AT5 tyres, Warrior is now available via your local Nissan dealership.
Enhanced Premcar Warrior underpinnings
Powered by the regular creamy 140 kW 450 Nm 2.5-litre DDTi turbodiesel, Warrior’s Premcar enhanced underpinnings benefit specially tuned spring and damper suspension, increased ride height and a wider wheel track. Add a heavy-duty bash plate, reinforced underbody, and those Dunlop Grandtrek AT5 high-performance all-terrain tyres, and it’s ready for anything Africa has to offer.
The media day was a condensed version of the regular Spirit of Africa challenge. Still, it was an early rise for the shuttle, a PRO-4X Warrior, funnily enough, to enjoy all the trimmings well before dawn to enjoy a typical dusty orange Gauteng sunrise out to the venue at Sandwani near Cullinan. After a coffee and a hearty breakfast, Sarel introduced the day, before handing over to event coordinator Chappy.
The first run was a simple blast though a quick 90-right and along the game fence while dodging Sarel’s famous poles and flags. Warrior’s enhanced suspension was immediately noticeable as it brings far tighter body control and predictability. Those poles and flags became far more prominent on the second test, a chassis testing crawl through a river bed.
Dodging Sarel’s famous poles and flags
Touch a pole and its ten points off your ideal score. Bump a second and its double and four poles and you score a zero. The flags start at 30 points a brush. Arrive at the finish before the ideal time, and its ten points a second. The next five seconds get you through without penalty. It’s a point a second after. In other words, try be on time. Or late!
Each 4×4 test was tight. Poles are place very close together, in some cases closer than the wing mirror tips are wide and so easy to touch. Once again, PRO-4X Warrior’s enhanced suspension makes it easier to control. But still, the poles sometimes seem impossible to miss! Generally every second test is a 4×4 challenge. Those in between are speed tests. They have poles too, but those are placed slightly wider apart and easier to miss.
All along Sarel is in attendance. Paying close attention to every pass, while his band of marshals and officials keep score and control over the 20-odd Navara convoy. Other tests include a reversing slalom, which was fun. And a reversing precision test where they tape over the rear view camera just as you’re about to leave.
A bakkie-to-bakkie Warrior drag race
Then it’s a bakkie-to-bakkie drag race. And finally another one-on-one ‘figure of eight’ rally stage. Tough going and a major test, we felt we’d worked for our beer! The regular crews then overnight at Sandwani and get another go on day 2, For us media however, it was all done before prize giving and a tasty early dinner. Or was that a late lunch?
The new Nissan Navara PRO 4X Warrior impressed throughout. Its enhanced underpinnings make for a far better handling, controllable and fun to drive bakkie. Our only criticism, is why import technology when we develop so much brilliant Dakar-winning cross country tech right here in SA?
“The Spirit of Africa is a true reflection of our heritage and commitment in South Africa,” Nissan South Africa Managing Country Director Maciej Klenkiewicz concludes. “For decades, we’ve built vehicles locally to meet the demands of our unique and rugged terrain.
Warrior does Nissan proud on Spirit of Africa
“Seeing the Warrior, a bakkie so proudly assembled at our Rosslyn plant go head-to-head with Africa’s toughest conditions is not only a moment of pride, but a powerful demonstration of what we stand for: capability, endurance, and a deep connection to the people and places that drive us forward,”
“This year is particularly exciting, with the introduction of the Warrior, specifically engineered for exactly these kinds of intense, severe driving circumstances. We can’t imagine better grounds for proving its capabilities than the Spirit of Africa.”