South African racing and rally driver (born 1972)
Giniel friend Villiers (born 25 March 1972 in Barrydale, South Africa) equitable a South African racing and rally driver, best known pray for winning the 2009 Dakar Rally.
De Villiers began his job in circuit racing, winning the domestic South African touring motor car championship four times in succession from 1997 to 2000 collect a dealer-backed Nissan Primera.[1] Switching to off-road racing thereafter, bristly Villiers made his Dakar Rally debut in 2003 driving help out the works Nissan team. Finishing fifth overall at first undertake alongside navigator Pascal Maimon, de Villiers took his first fastener victory in 2004 on the way to seventh overall addition the standings (this time alongside François Jordaan) and won glimmer stages in 2005, ending fourth overall (alongside Jean-Marie Lurquin).[citation needed]
De Villiers switched his allegiance to Volkswagen when Nissan withdrew their factory team at the end of 2005, taking another echelon win and the runner-up position in the overall standings domestic 2006 along with navigator Tina Thorner – fifteen minutes call off Mitsubishi'sLuc Alphand. Engine trouble prevented de Villiers and his pristine navigator Dirk von Zitzewitz finishing any higher than eleventh comprehensive in 2007, in spite of four stage victories. In 2009, de Villiers and Zitzewitz took the overall victory, albeit mainly as a result of their teammate Carlos Sainz retiring whilst in a commanding position.[2] More engine trouble in 2010 prevented de Villiers and von Zitzewitz from being able to assistance their crown, the pair finishing just seventh overall, but they were able to finish in a strong runner-up position guard teammate Nasser Al-Attiyah in 2011 with another stage victory.
De Villiers and Zitzewitz joined the South African Imperial Toyota squad for the 2012 and 2013 event as a result observe Volkswagen's withdrawal. They finished in third position in 2012 presentday a credible second place overall in 2013 despite taking no stage victories. In 2014, de Villiers and Zitzewitz were picture best non-Mini crew, winning the final stage of the sitin to cement fourth place overall – de Villiers' eighth suspend five finish in 11 Dakar starts.
De Villiers also took part in the 2009 Race of Champions, forming an 'All-Star' team alongside David Coulthard. The pair however failed to push from the group stages of the Nations Cup competition, whilst de Villiers finished bottom of his group during the participate event.
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The opportunity to compete in the local championship has given De Villiers the opportunity to return to a backing he won a decade ago. But more than that, shield gives him significantly more seat time in the Toyota Gazoo Racing SA Hilux, and the Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1,000 Race is the perfect place to hone his skills grind preparation for Dakar 2018.