00:00With just a few days to go to the 2025 edition of the TNT Great Race,
00:05the members of Mr. Solo 2 are doing what's necessary to get the vessel ready for competition.
00:10But guess what? Mr. Solo 2 is not in the 130mph class this year, but the 120 instead.
00:18So says driver Hayden Charles, due to a lack of competition.
00:21Makes it more competitive, even though for the last year or two we might have been in our own class,
00:26but still we wanted to do as best as we could.
00:29But now we thought, hey, let's try and see and go with Ironman because they're coming.
00:34And we said we'll match them and hopefully they wouldn't mind and we will be racing together in the 120, make a race out of it.
00:40We are happy that Ironman is here with us and we want to kind of join up with them and say, hey, let's just make a good race of it.
00:46But even if they weren't, we'd still go and race against ourselves and we want to always reach the bay.
00:53Hayden's son Joseph Charles knows what it's like taking part in the Great Race.
00:57For now, he's the navigator, but things may change in years to come.
01:02So for the past four years, it's been a truly amazing experience.
01:05I've enjoyed it every single time I've done it.
01:08And I do hope that one day I will start driving.
01:11I've driven in the past through testing.
01:14It's an amazing experience.
01:17But yes, as of right now, I'm excited to navigate again.
01:19And I anticipate good things this year.
01:22The third member of the team is throttleman Darren Marshall.
01:26While he is optimistic about Mr. Solo 2's chances against Ironman, Marshall has utmost respect for his opponent.
01:33Fairly confident.
01:34We had races prior to the last season and won in this season.
01:43And they're a very competitive team.
01:48So that's why it's going to be interesting running against them in the 120.
01:53And what's the chemistry like with you guys?
01:54Throttleman, driver and navigator.
01:57Well, we have a synergy that's one on its own.
02:02We all gel together.
02:04And it's a smooth motion in the cockpit.
02:12The legend, too, cannot be left out.
02:15While Ken Charles has retired, he's the crew chief and is still involved in some way.
02:21That includes making a salient point to his team.
02:25We have gone through the program.
02:26We have planned our race.
02:28But as you know, that's the ocean.
02:30You can plan today and you go out there.
02:32It's a different story.
02:35So what you have in your mind, what you're supposed to do, you can change as conditions change.
02:42And I think they have enough experience now to coordinate between themselves.
02:48The great race starts from 7.15 a.m. at the foreshore, with Storbe being the final destination.
02:54Vinod Nawani, Chiefs Export.
Comments