Pace not key at Zwartkops
LONG-DISTANCE: ENDURANCE RACE DEMANDS OVERALL EFFICIENCY
Races for SKF Pre1966 Legend Saloon Cars take top billing at Saturday’s meet.
The Zwartkops Raceway near Pretoria will host a wide variety of competition on four and two wheels, including the circuit’s only endurance race of the year, this Saturday.
Top billing on the programme will belong to two races for SKF Pre-1966 Legend Saloon Cars, with top contenders Hennie Groenewald (Mercury Comet), Peter Lindenberg (Shelby Mustang), Mark du Toit (Ford Fairlane), Jeff Kruger (Chevelle), Jonathan du Toit (Chev Nova) and Ben Morgenrood (Ford Mustang).
Starting behind the big cars, the SKF Pre-1968 Little Giants class should see frontrunners like Ishmael Baloyi (GSM Dart), Keith van Heerden (D-Type Jaguar), Chris Carlisle-Kitz (Ford Anglia), Mark van Rooyen (Sunbeam Alpine), Melanie Spurr (Ford Consul 315), Jaco Taylor (Alfa Romeo GT Junior) and Robin Clarke (MG Magnette).
Veteran Larry Wilford (Lola T70) should be the man to beat in the races for SKF Sports and GT cars, with his closest adversaries drivers like Warren Lombard (AC Cobra), Jonathan du Toit (Ecosse), Mark du Toit (Lola T70 Spyder), Hennie Groenewald (Chev Camaro), and James Dalais (Ford GT40).
Running behind the sports cars will be SKF Under Two-Litre Saloon Cars, with the top contenders Vic Campher and Alan Poulter in their Volvo 122S entries, Mark Miller (Alfa Romeo Giulia Super), Trevor Tuck (Alfa Romeo Giulia), Jacques Baartman (Alfa Romeo GTV), Carel Pienaar (Lotus Cortina), Francesco Lombardi (Alfa Romeo Giulia) and Ben van der Westhuizen (Lotus Cortina).
The Midvaal Historic race will see a wide variety of cars, with leading podium chasers being Eugene Gouws (Chev Firenza CanAm), Ben Morgenrood (Ford Mustang), Jannie van Rooyen (VW Scirocco), Clive Densham (Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint GT), Seef Fourie (Datsun 160Y), Francois Jacobs (Datsun 1200 GX), Andries Draper (Ford Escort) and Johan Swanepoel (Alfa Berlinetta).
Fans of two-wheeler racing will not be left out in the cold. Racing together, the Bridgestone Thunderbikes and SUB 10 Superbikes will be a spectacle.
The man to beat must be Lance Isaacs (Supa Bets BMW S100RR) chased by people like Nicolas Grobler (Adrenalin Powersport Yamaha R1), Clifford Ogle (Rapid Blue Ducati), Pierre Grobler (Kawasaki ZX10R) and Harry Potgieter (T Squared Kawasaki ZX10R).
The Bridgestone Challenge races should see riders like Michael Dixon (Westside Honda CBR), Naasied Wadhalla (Fast Bike Kawasaki ZX10R) and Francois de Villiers (RSA Suzuki GSXR) fighting
for the top positions.
Ending proceedings will be a four-hour race for Sports and GT cars – round three of the 2018 Mopar South African Endurance Championship series.
The fastest car in the line-up will certainly be Ginetta G57 V8 of Simon Murray and Gavin Cronje
– in fact, should the team put its mind to it, they could set a new overall Zwartkops lap record.
However, the Ginetta will be thirsty and the Zwartkops Raceway demands overall efficiency rather than sheer pace in long-distance events.
Thus, logical victory favourites should be Nick Adcock and Michael Jensen in their AidCall 247 Ligier Evo.
The class for small sportscars will include teams like Josh Dovey/Gerald Wright (Sports 2000) and Steve Venter/Jonathan Nash (TEU SA Nash) while top contenders in the Saloon Car category should include Bradley Scorer/Theo van Vuuren (Arnold Chatz Alfa Romeo Giulietta) and George Smalberger/Heinz Bose (CRC Q20 VW Golf Gti). – Circuit Racing Correspondent
For more information call the Zwartkops office at 012 384 2299 or 082 390 6016. You could also send them an e-mail at
or visitzwartkops.co.za.