Former South African all-rounder Jonty Rhodeshas taken up off-road racing for the final round of the Absa Off-RoadChampionship to be held here later this month.
The South African Off-road Racing Commission has announcedthat Rhodes will join a host of celebrities for the prestigious Gold 400Off-road race on November 23 and 24 at the West Rand.
Rhodes is to co-drive for South African champion Archie Rutherfordin the SA Warranties-sponsored Nissan Navara.
Jonty will follow in the footsteps of former paceman Faniede Villiers, rugby Springbok Stefan Terblanche and Paralympics swimming starNatalie du Toit.
The fielding skills that made Rhodes an international celebrityin the cricket arena will be very different to those he will have to apply withhis co-driver to traverse fields of another kind with various obstacles onthem.
The sports personalities participating in the event have beenselected because of their highly competitive spirit, according to theorganisers.
"Sports personalities are not just included forspectator appeal - they have already proven their competitiveness by takingplaces in the top ten," said Terrence March.
Rhodes retired in 2000 after scoring more than 2,500 runs in56 Tests and almost 6,000 ODI runs in 245 games.
Since his retirement, Rhodes has been in great demand as afielding coach, having worked with both the Proteas and the Mumbai Indians inthe IPL.