The PS Laser Vryheid 400 will not serve as the 2025 South African Rally-Raid Championship as planned. Due to catastrophic storms in KwaZulu-Natal, the race has been postponed with a new date not yet confirmed.

KZN has been hit by devastating thunderstorms and torrential rainfall since last week. The South African Weather Service issued a warning on Monday that conditions will continue through March 2; the race was scheduled to take place on March 14–15. The weather resulted in substantial flooding, causing severe damage to homes and infrastructure while trapping residents. Reports state at least nine people have died in KZN from being swept away by the floods.

The province has struggled with devastating weather in recent years. In June 2024, at least 11 were killed by a massive storm that went through KZN.

SARRC CEO Archie Rutherford issued the following statement on Wednesday:

The recent severe storms caused extensive damage in the area which has resulted in widespread casualties, landslides, damage to properties, infrastructure and roads.

Vryheid is feeling the full impact of this past week’s heavy rains which has left homes and properties submerged and some infrastructure has been damaged and roads have been closed.

Following consultation with the various land and property owners who are still feeling the aftermath of the severe conditions, while preparing for the forecast heavy rains in the latter part of this week and early part of next week, it would be insensitive towards the community to even try and continue with the event.

We are extremely grateful to all the affected parties for all the work that has already been done for this event and respect their advice to put the event on hold.

We will work with the community to reschedule the event for another suitable date in the year.

Until a new date is secured, the tentative SARRC season opener will be at Thabazimbi in June. However, the region’s first major rally action will come a month sooner with the inaugural South African Safari Rally, which is scheduled to be the third round of the World Rally-Raid Championship and also takes place in Limpopo Province.

The 2024 Vryheid 400 was won by 2025 Dakar Rally runner-up Henk Lategan in a podium sweep for Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa. It was the second round of that year’s SARRC and held in May.

Revised 2025 South African Rally-Raid Championship schedule

#	Race	Date
N/A	South African Safari Rally	May 18–24
1	Thabazimbi	June 27–28
2	Gauteng	August 15–16
3	Langkloof Valley	September 19–20
4–5	Free State	October 17–28
6	Sun City	November 14–15
TBA	PS Laser Vryheid 400	TBA

Featured image credit: Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa