Surprise turn at Passion for Speed
BRILLIANT on-track action, a large crowd and variable weather conditions typified this year’s international Passion for Speed historic racing showcase at the Zwartkops Raceway near Pretoria at the weekend.
The day’s two premier events for SKF Pre-1966 Legend Production Saloon Cars produced lots of action, some mechanical mayhem and varied results.
The opening race saw pre-event favourites Sarel van der Merwe (Ford Galaxie) and Hennie Groenewald (Plymouth Fury) sidelined when their cars broke down.
That left Ferdi van Niekerk Junior (Ford Galaxie) to take victory, ahead of Jonathan du Toit (Chev Nova), Paolo Cavalieri (Ford Galaxie), Peter Lindenberg (Ford Mustang) and Leeroy Poulter (Chev Belair).
Both Van der Merwe and Groenewald returned to race two with different cars – Groenewald in a Mercury Comet and Van der Merwe in a Chev Belair.
Groenewald and Van Niekerk diced mightily for most of the race, until Van Niekerk spun his Galaxie at high speed coming into the pit straight.
Groenewald took the victory, followed by Cavalieri, Poulter, Lindenberg, Du Toit and Clive Densham (Alfa Romeo GTA).
Officially, the day’s main event was the 45-minute Castrol Tourist Trophy race for Pre-1968 Le Mans Sports and GT cars.
The opening corner saw Mike Briggs crash his Daytona Coupe and many competitors opted to do their mandatory three-minute pit stop right away.
That led to a number of lead changes, but the race was eventually won by Peter Bailey (Ford GT40), followed by Mark/Jonathan du Toit (Lola T70) and Donald Duncan/Steve Hart (McLaren). Rain hit the first heat for Castrol Pre-1974 Sports Racing Prototypes, turning Zwartkops into a skating rink. Some competitors chose not to chance the conditions, while those who did ended up spinning all over the place.
In the end, Andre Bezuidenhout (Porsche RSR) won, ahead of Keegan Campos (Porsche RSR) and Colin Ellison (Chevron B19).
Race two was run in brilliant sunshine and saw Franco Scribante (Chevron) take the flag ahead of Roman de Beer (Lola T70) and Jonathan du Toit (Chevron B8).
Rally and off-road racing ace Leeroy Poulter gave the McLaren 650 its South African motorsport debut in the G& H Transport Extreme Supercar races.
He did so in style, winning the first heat from Franco Scribante (Ferrari 430) and Simon Murray (Lamborghini Galardo).
Poulter led race two as well, but spun after an uncharacteristic mistake. That left Murray to win from Scribante and Dawie Olivier (BMW M3).
The next event at the Zwartkops Raceway will be a round of this year’s Historic Tour on Saturday, March 4.