The 2019 Roof of Africa is set to be the biggest event on the calendar, with a whole host of past winners, and potential hopefuls converging in the mountains of Lesotho - including one world-class Kiwi.

Chris Birch - IMAGE: Red Bull Content Pool

Graham Jarvis is back after a 2018 absence and looking to claim the title from South African born Wade Young, who has the home advantage. But what is possibly more exciting is that 3-time Roof winner (2008, 2009, 2010) Chris Birch will head back to Africa to see if he can still mix it up with the world’s best.

“The honest reason for going back to the Roof this year is I got an invitation from the new organisation. The Roof of Africa is something special to me.” remarks Birch.

Wade Young leads Travis Teasdale - IMAGE: Red Bull Content Pool

ROOF HISTORY

The Roof of Africa had its humble beginnings in 1967 when Bob Phillips, a Roads Engineer working in Lesotho, approached the Sports Car Club in Johannesburg and asked them if they would like to run a race over the worst road in the world that he had just finished building. The Roof of Africa was born!

The Roof of Africa quickly gained in popularity and it had become sponsored by The Star newspaper further promoting what was fast becoming a legend. In 1969 motorcycles starting competing against the cars and the event was soon split into two categories.

The event continued to grow through the 70’s 80’s and 90’s and the legend continued to grow. Up until 1982 the event ran right across Lesotho with overnight stops in either Matatiele or Sani Pass. From 1982 the event has been contained within the borders of Lesotho. The Roof of Africa was also attracting overseas interest and regular participation from overseas competitors

By the year 2000 Off-Road car racing had become a highly specialised sport with big Manufacturer involvement. Single vehicles were now costing multi-million Maloti and the Roof became “too tough” for them and the controlling federation under pressure from manufacturers decided to drop cars from the calendar. This was opposed by 90 percent of the car competitors but were overruled by the manufacturers who had taken subtle control of the sport, the cars did return for three more events from 2004 to 2006 and were run as two day events. However this signalled a rebirth for the Roof of Africa with record motorcycle entries being received worldwide, Hard Enduro or Extreme Enduro has become increasingly popular and the Roof became known as the mother of Hard Enduro. However in 2019 the cars are back! and will race together with other categories of competitors who wish to experience the adventure racing in Lesotho has to offer

ROOF OF AFRICA FACT & FIGURES

The Roof has been run every year since 1967, except 1998 due to the riots in Lesotho.
The Roof belongs to the people of The Kingdom of Lesotho and the Lesotho off Rd association are the elected custodians of the event.
The Roof is managed and run by “Live Lesotho” a fun and adventure company based in Lesotho
2019 will see the 52nd staging of this event.
The event is inscribed on the FIM International Calendar and attracts competitors from up to 20 different countries.
The Roof attracts nearly 400 competitors.
The Roof is contested by the top competitors in the world as well as all the top competitors from the sub-continent.
The Roof is now considered as a “bucket list event” in the same way that people do the Comrades Marathon, Two Oceans, Cape Epic etc.
The event is attended by many Lesotho dignitaries.
The prize fund equivalent or better than the other Extreme events worldwide.
It injects an estimated M100 million into Lesotho economy during Roof of Africa week.
Organisation supports local businesses and communities.
The Roof has boosted the Tourism Industry in Lesotho probably more than any other medium.

Wade Young crossing the finish line. IMAGE: Red Bull Content Pool

Graham Jarvis is back for 2018 and keen to show the young guns what thick skin can do.

Just more carnage as per The Roof Of Africa.

The 2019 Roof of Africa kick of into like with the Round the Houses event on December 5th and goes through to the 7th with the final day in the mountains of Lesotho.