During its 51st edition, the Total Tara rally that started back in 1969, will ones again dish up some serious competition between local and South African participants. The three-day rally will once again start off in Swakopmund and give an opportunity to competitors to cross the finish line in Windhoek. A total of 24 entries in class S1, S2, S3, S4 and Off Road will be taken on one of Africa’s toughest rallies over 21 stages, which make up 225 km in total. Thursday afternoon, Day one of the rally will see four stages scheduled on the outskirts of Swakopmund, while Friday morning, the rally will begin in Swakop to then move inland to Usakos, ending off day two at the Tony Rust Race track outside Windhoek, with day two consisting out of 12 stages. Saturday, day three of the rally will have five stages en route to Okahandja and back, ultimately culminating at the Tony Rust Race track with the final stage and finish. In the S4 class this year, only Namibia drivers will be competing for the big price, as 2018 Tara winner Japie van Niekerk from South Africa is not taking part. The race will be fought out between, Wilro Dippenaar, Jaco Redelinhuys and Allan Martin. Martin in his new Skoda Fabia R5 will be the one to watch out for, as this will be only his second rally in his new car. "I think this year I'm really going to try my best. The Tara Rally is the only title that I can say that i can honestly say that I haven't achieve jet. I don't say I'm going to win it, but I'll try my best to be able to win. With the car that I purchased, it will make it a little bit easier for me, it doesn't mean I have a fast car. To win the Tara Rally you still have to drive the distance and anything can happen in Rally" Martin said. Martin only drove with the Skoda R5 in September at the Walvisbay rally, where he had a breakdown after stage three of the rally, due to engine failure. This time around, after acquiring a new engine, Martin believes he and his car are ready to take the Tara crown for the first time. The off road class this year will also be a spectacle, as 2018 winners Jaco van Dyk and navigator Michel Rust will be a force in their Nissan Navara yet again. In the OR A class, there’s only the South African pair of Johan van Staaden and navigator Mike Lawrenson in their ELF Renault Duster to challenge them.