The Toyota Dealer 400 was voted the Event of Year in the 2004 Absa Off Road Championship.

The MSA Off Road Car Racing Commission evaluates each round of the championship according to strict criteria, which include attitude of officials, facilities, route, route marking and general organisational standards.

“Event organisers, the championship sponsor, the Partners (Ford, Nissan and Toyota) and competitors are also invited to vote,” said MSA Off Road Car Racing Commission President, Piet Swanepoel. “The SA Motorsportklub (SAM) organised Toyota Dealer 400 came up trumps in all respects and the event was a worthy winner of the coveted award.”

SAM annually organises the Sasol Rally as well as a number of regional championship rallies and has brought a new level of organisation to off road racing.

“Taking on the daunting task of organising an off road race at short notice in the Lydenburg area in 2003 was a bold step for SAM,” said Chief Organiser, Willie du Plessis. “Fortunately the task was made a lot easier due to the support we received from members of the MSA Off Road Car Racing Commission, landowners, Lydenburg municipal officials and the management and staff of Lydenburg Toyota.”

“Organising last year’s Toyota Dealer 400 was a walk in the park compared to the previous year and the new terrain available to us certainly made for a tough but varied route.”

Original article from Car