The Special Vehicle category at the Eastern Cape 500 on 18 and 19 April, round two of the Absa Off-Road Championship, has the makings of a classic race.

The fact that there are at least half a dozen crews and more who would fancy their chances of winning is enough to ensure a race of high quality. Add to the mix some round one under achievers and a route that for the most part takes in forest territory, and the ingredients are there for a classic.

The mindset of the leading crews also adds a touch of intrigue. Former South African champion Terrence Marsh, partnered by Pieter Groenewald in the Regent Racing BAT, has built his success around reliability and the pair will want to build on their win on the first event of the season.

Pieter Ruthven/Johan Boshoff (Ruwacon BAT) were a surprise second on the opening event and will also want to build on what was their best national result to date. But there are some real flyers in Class A and in this bunch you can include Brandon Harcus/Richard Leeke (Motorite BAT), Gary Bertholdt/Pierre Arries (Atlas Copco Porter), and Shameer Variawa/Siegfried Rousseau in the Total Porter.

Reigning champions Evan Hutchison and Achim Bergmann, a second Motorite BAT, had a disastrous start to the season and they will be keen to bounce back. Nick and Ryan Harper (Atlas Copco BAT) are another team where reliability is a forte and other crews who cannot be underestimated include brothers Karl-Heinz and Hermann Sullwald in a pair of Zarcos, Nardus Alberts/Collin Hunter (Wrapsa BAT), Clint Gibson/Gary Campbell (Absolute BAT) and Rob and Gareth Wark in the Superpave BAT.

The event is organised by the Algoa Motorsport Club with much of the route used over the years by the VW Rally. With this in mind crews with rally experience could have an advantage and here one thinks of the likes of Leeke and Arries.

Cape crew Bez Bezuidenhout and Johann de Bruyn (Adenco BAT) got their season off to a good start when they won Class B on the opening event. They will be among the favourites and reigning champion Jan Kraaij, partnered by Tiddo Voogt in the Keymax BAT, will be looking for a return to form.

Reliability is also a forte for veteran Giel Nel now partnered by Deon de Kock in the LUK Afrika Truggy. Alistair Stubbs/Marc de Chalain (Stafix Racing Viper) would have be a threat, but will not be at the Eastern Cape Event because of a prior commitment, but Louw de Bruin and Rudi Britz (Ruwacon BAT) will be among those wanting to get back on track after a disappointing start to the season.

The recently introduced Class P, which will replace Class S at the end of the season, also has the makings of a good scrap. David and Gary White (Ruwacon BAT) won the opening event ahead of Nic Goslar and Richard Carolin in the Mens Health Clinic Raceco.

This time around White will be partnered by veteran Bodo Bertholdt. Goslar and Carolin are also members of the reliability brigade and reigning Class S champions Richard Schilling and Chris Davies (Aceco) will want to bounce back after a non finish on the first event.

Also likely to emerge as a threat in Class P are brothers Johan and Etienne Bezuidenhout in the Adenco BAT. They have moved across from Class B and have the pace to trouble the other Class P runners.