Old and new provide the roar
THE MOTORSPORT LAP/ F1 testing got under way in Spain while The Historic Tour returned to Zwartkops Raceway
Formula One (F1) testing took place this past week at the Catalunya race circuit in Barcelona, Spain ahead of the season’s first race in Australia in a few weeks’ time.
As mentioned in last week’s edition, some of the changes instituted to the cars include more audible engines to make the racing that more enticing for spectators. We have heard some of the engines, albeit online, that seem to have attempted to sound better. However, we are not entirely convinced of this as the only change thus far points to the way the vehicles sound on downshifts, which sounds like bangs from a gun. We are yet to hear the vehicles en masse, in full chat on a race day to hear if the new engine noise changes can be warranted.
Meanwhile, it was the Historic Tour at Zwartkops Raceway this past weekend where a number of classes yielded some interesting scraps to the delight of spectators. The premier status on the programme belonged to the SKF Pre-1966 Legend Saloon Car category. The opening race saw a huge dice between Neil Lobb (Tar Chevelle), Mark du Toit (Chevrolet Bel-Air) and Jonathan du Toit (Tar Chevrolet Nova). Jonathan du Toit’s car suffered suspension maladies and retired early on, leaving Mark du Toit to take a narrow victory from Lobb.
In race two, Jonathan was back mixing it with Mark and Lobb at the front. But in the end, Mark clinched victory, ahead of Jonathan and Lobb respectively.
Meanwhile, Patrick Gearing (123 Ignition Alfa Giulia GTA) took the first Team Fourways Under 2.0l race from Larry Davies (Alfa Romeo Giulietta) and Alan Poulter (Tom Campher Volvo 122S). After eight laps of dicing, the three cars were covered by less than a second past the chequered flag. Poulter emerged victorious next time out, leading home Marc Miller (EM Financial Alfa Giulia) and Shaun Cabrita (Alfa Giulietta).
Roman du Beer (Genie Lola T70) won both the races for Pre1974 International Sports Prototypes. On the first occasion he led home Peter Bailey (Ford GT40) and Ben Morgenrood (Ford Mustang). In the next round, Jonathan du Toit (TAR Chevron B8) and Bailey filled the podium spots.
The day’s two closest races were produced by the SKF Pre1966-68 Little Giant category, with Marco Taylor (Alfa GT Junior), Ishmael Baloyi (GSM Dart) and Josh Dovey (Austin Healey) covered by less than a second over the finish line in the opening heat. Taylor added race number two to his victory list. ,
Andrew Horne (Xena Chemicals Van Diemen) won the opening Investchem Formula Ford race from Dean Venter (Denco Swift) and David Jermy (Jacquet Van Diemen). In the second heat, Venter won from Jermy and Horne.
The Charlies SuperSpar Pursuit Racing Challenge saw a variety of vehicles take to the tarmac in handicap format. Rob van Aarle (Ford Escort 1300 Super) won the first race, finishing ahead of Les McLeod (MGB Roadster) and Machiel Oberholzer (Mercedes-Benz 190E). Richard Tudor-Owen (Mercedes-Benz 190E) won the second heat.
Veteran Willie Hepburn took his venerable Sabat Opel Rekord V8 to victories in both the Marboro Crane Hire Pre-1980 Saloon Car races.
The following round of the 2017 Historic Tour will take place at the Free State Phakisa Raceway on April 29.