AUTOFORUM - Informed and innovative

General Grabber X3 excels at Rhino Charge Kenya

Jul 18, 2023 General Tire, Grabber X3 tyres, Clint Henderson, Continental Tyre South Africa.


General Grabber X3 excels at Rhino Charge Kenya

 

There are arguably very few tests of a tyre’s off-road capability that are more punishing than Rhino Charge Kenya, which is widely regarded as one of the toughest one-day 4x4 events in the world.

 

It puts competitor teams through the most demanding terrain and navigation challenges imaginable, and it raises funds to support the Rhino Ark Charitable Trust which tackles the conservation and protection of Kenya’s mountain range ecosystems. The 34th Rhino Charge this year saw 52 entrants compete for glory and raise 173 million Kenyan Shillings (around R23-million) for the Rhino Ark conservation efforts. It was held in Nkoteyia, Samburu County, and featured 13 checkpoints that the teams had to pass in the shortest possible distance to score maximum points.

 

This was the perfect playground for the tough General Grabber X3 extreme 4x4 tyre, renowned for rugged performance and durability, which excelled in the most arduous of conditions. Its impressive performance in these extreme tests of grip and durability has significantly enhanced the reputation of the General Tire brand in Kenya, and contributed to growing demand for the Grabber X3, the new Grabber ATX and the all-terrain Grabber AT3.

 

For the second year running, General Tire sponsored the Grabber X3 tyres for the Land Rover Defender 90 V8, known as ‘Car 9’, which competed in the Unmodified Class entered by two-time class winner John Bowden, supported by his four team-mates. The Car 9 team went on to earn its third class win in a row, and the second on Grabber X3 tyres. They reached 12 of the 13 checkpoints, with just four teams in the Super Modified Class for purpose-built off-road vehicles making it through the final test. Car 9 finished seventh overall to take the Unmodified Class win, and was second overall and first in its class on one of the extra tough Tiger Line routes thanks to some excellent navigation and teamwork. 

 

The ‘Fat Unicorns’ – an all-women team – tackled their First Rhino Charge in a Range Rover Classic V8 (#29), equipped with Grabber X3s sponsored by General Tire. Even though this was their first 4x4 competition, the Fat Unicorns managed to get through eight checkpoints. They finished a commendable fifth in the Unmodified Class and 31st overall. They also earned the Kijabe Award for the best first-time entrants. As 4x4 competition novices, the Fat Unicorns approach the Rhino Charge with determination, spending most weekends since the start of the year practising working on the car, using the winch, changing tyres, understanding Baby Betty's little quirks, running, learning how to read maps, figuring out spanners from crowbars and engine fluid from coolant. The team praised the performance of the Grabber X3 tyres in the extreme conditions. The tyres were hardy and just chomped through the rocks, bush, thorns and generally unruly terrain effortlessly. Knowing that we had a strong, robust set of tyres gave us the courage to be a little more daring because we trusted the equipment. 

 

“The exceptional performance of the General Grabber X3 at Rhino Charge has created increased brand awareness and a reputation for capability for the entire General Tire range in Kenya,” says Clint Henderson, Regional Sales Manager (Indian Ocean Islands and East Africa) for Continental Tyre South Africa. “It has also resulted in our Grabber ATX range selling very well in the country.” Building further on the proven capabilities of the General Tire brand, the all-terrain Grabber AT3 is fitted as original equipment on the Isuzu D-MAX pickups that are sold in Kenya, enhancing this versatile vehicle’s go-anywhere abilities. 

Back