Michael Stephen tears up track in diverse disciplines
Nelson Mandela Bay’s ace motor racing driver Michael Stephen pulled off a rare feat in October when he became the first driver in South African motorsport history to win two mainstream SA Championships three times in a row.
Michael won the SA production cars premier class from 2011 to 2013 and at Zwartkops Raceway on Saturday he won this year’s edition of the Sasol GTC Championship – also for the third year on the bounce in his imposing jet-black Terry Moss Racing Engen Audi.
With Stephen and teammate Simon Moss claiming a one-two in the championship, they also won the 2018 constructor’s title for Audi.
Two weeks earlier, in a completely different machine, Michael won the DD2 SA Karting Championship (for drivers 32 years and older) also for the third year in a row.
By winning this SA Karting title, he also qualified for the World Karting Finals in Brazil which he will attend from November 23 to December 1.
For two remarkable motor sporting achievements this month, The Herald, in association with SPAR Eastern Cape, is proud to honour Stephen as the Homegrown Hero for the month of October.
HERALD: Eight wins out of 18 races, 15 podiums out of 18 and six pole positions out of the nine available (race 2 is a reverse grid) speak volumes of the dominance you enjoyed this season in GTC.
STEPHEN: Yes, it is a very satisfying achievement and although I focus year by year, we have in fact won every title since the inception of the GTC in 2016.
We’ve stayed there every year as the target on our back has gotten bigger and bigger – so for me that’s hugely rewarding.
HERALD: At 37 years of age, where to next?
STEPHEN: I’m in the zone now and have achieved everything in SA motorsport that I could have wished for. I don’t really want to stop, though, as I’m enjoying it so much still, so I reckon I’ll keep going for the next three years at least.
HERALD: Can you put the team’s achievement into context for us, because there’s more to it than meets the eye?
STEPHEN: Quite right, Simon had his best year ever in the championship in finishing runner-up which was instrumental in us winning the constructor’s title.
It’s worth remembering that we only run the two cars, while a team like BMW was racing four cars.
Each car in action picks up points for the constructor’s so the fact that we pulled it off with half the number of machines that BMW was running speaks volumes of our dominance and reliability.
HERALD: For good measure, you’re also the race engineer for Terry Moss Racing, right?
STEPHEN: It’s certainly an advantage, in my opinion. I do believe it gives me that extra edge over the opposition as I know what to fix when there’s a problem.
We’re a close-knit team and being the race engineer means that nothing gets lost in translation when I’m giving feedback to the team mechanics.
We’re also blessed with a very astute team principal in Terry Moss. He was a formidable competitor in his racing days and his desire to win still burns fiercely and motivates the team.
HERALD: And now you’re off to Brazil for the Karting World Champs as well!
STEPHEN: I’ve always loved the karting as I find it so valuable for mental and physical fitness.
It’s rear-wheel drive and paddle-shift just like the Audi in GTC so it just reinforces everything I’m doing on the big race track.
I’m going to Brazil as this might be my last shot at a karting world title. I’m not sure of my future in this discipline, to be honest, as I want to dedicate more time to my MSR4 Corporate Karting league which has really taken off and now has 60 teams competing every month.
HERALD: We have to ask, your favourite track, Michael?
STEPHEN: Used to be the old Kyalami but now definitely Aldo Scribante here in PE.
They resurfaced the track six months ago, which has transformed motorsport in our region. Everyone is getting far more life from their tyres, including us. For the small privateer, in particular, it’s massive as he can test so much more now as he’s saving a significant amount of money on tyrecosts.