JAC bakkie breaks SA 24-hour endurance record

A JAC T9 2.0L CTi double cab bakkie has broken the SA 24-hour Endurance Record for commercial vehicles, covering 4,084km at an average speed of 170,1km/h.

The feat took place on April 12-13 at the Gerotek testing centre near Pretoria and beat Isuzu’s 2010 record, set at the same venue, with a KB300 TDi that averaged 169.3km/h over 4,063km.

The JAC was driven around Gerotek’s oval track by four racing drivers: Michele Habig, Setshaba Mashigo, Phillip Kekana and Daniel Barbosa.

The 24-hour endurance challenge was the brainchild of adventurer Danie Botha from Wild in SA. “The idea was to have a bit of fun with the IndyCar races in the USA, while giving the motoring public a glimpse into the thrilling world of endurance racing, unofficially attempting to break a 15-year-old record using just one T9 over 24 hours,” he said.

The 24-endurance challenge proved JAC Motors’ reliability and that its vehicles were as tough and reliable as any established brand, said Karl-Heinz Göbel, CEO of JAC Motors SA.

“Buyers ask four key questions about Chinese vehicles: Are they reliable, are parts supply consistent, how many dealerships support after-sales service, and what trade-in value can you expect when it is time to sell in a few years,” said Göbel.

He said JAC had ticked all the boxes after eight years of local trading, building a network of more than 70 dealers across Southern Africa, and delivering consistent parts supply to more than 7,000 customers.

The JAC T9 was launched in SA in late 2023 in a four-model double cab range, including 4x4 and 4x2 variants, all powered by a four-cylinder 2.0l turbo diesel engine with outputs of 125kW and 410Nm.

Göbel said the record-breaking T9 covered more than 4,000km at full speed, with an average fuel consumption of 16.5l/100km.

The vehicle used in the 24-hour endurance challenge is on display at the Nampo agricultural show in Bothaville from May 13-16.