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Spirit of Africa 4x4 winners named

Carel and Danielle Otto have been crowned2014 Spirit of Africa Trophy champions and are R50 000 richer their achievement after five days of gruelling 4x4 driving in Botswana.

The married couple, two of 20 finalists, mastered 30 stages of the off-road competition. Nearly 500 teams participated in the elimination rounds of the 10th Spirit of Africa in Zeerust from April through June 2014.

Carel's father and brother, Pike and Christiaan Otto, were second and received R30 000 while Alwyn Jordaan and Melanie Barnard, third, received R20 000.

MYSTERY SCORES

Unlike the elimination rounds which took place over three days (scores updated at the end of each day), the finals were held over five days and scores were announced at the end of the competition.

The 2014 event saw 23 VW Amarok double-cabs used throughout the competition.

Host of the 2014 Spirit of Africa Trophy, ex on- and off-road racer Sarel van der Merwe, said: "The mystery of the scores in the finals creates suspense and increase levels of competition among the finalists because nobody knows where they are on the points list.

"The 2014 winners were only decided on the last day because the points' difference was minuscule. The 2014 competition was by far the best we have had in terms of the scenery, stage challenges and competitors."

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