Bay drag duo runs fastest C63 in SA
Just 10.882 seconds! That’s how long it took for a Richards Bay-based drag racing duo to run a quarter mile (402m) in their 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, setting a new SA record for a naturally aspirated V8 car in the process.
Lintin Govender (owner/driver) and Roysen Chetty (tuner/driver) didn’t expect this result when they took to the Mkhuze airstrip at a KZN Motor Racing event on 4 June, but say they had a ‘feeling’ the car was going to ‘surprise’ them.
'The car had been standing for quite some time and was actually for sale with a keen buyer already after it, but we decided to give one last run,’ says an ecstatic Lintin.
‘It was fast but never before broke the 11-second barrier; its previous best time being 11.2 seconds.
'However, on this day it surprised us, as well as everybody else at the event.
'It really was an emotional moment for us because we’ve been trying for years,' Lintin says.
The C63's first good run of the day was a 10.985 with Lintin as the driver.
Then, with Roysen behind the steering wheel, the unthinkable happened and the big AMG went even faster.
Lintin says when Roysen got back to the pit area, he didn't believe his friend and racing partner's good news until he saw the official printed time slip.
‘Lintin and I then went back to our gazebo and just sat down, stunned, shocked and at the same time very happy about what happened,’ says Roysen.
The two Bay speedsters have been friends since their teens, and have together built up and raced a number of cars since then.
Lintin is the owner of Raylin 1 Stop
Service Centre, while Roysen operates Limitless Tuned.
‘We chase each other’s times and that makes it fun, but it’s more about the car than about us,’ Lintin says.
‘It’s an awesome car and driving it is a pleasure, but also dangerous because it’s incredibly powerful and fast.
'After its amazing run at Mkhuze, we’ll be hanging on to SA’s fastest naturally aspirated C63 a bit longer because our next goal is the world record of 10.66 seconds,’ says Roysen.
They have already received challenges from other drag racers based in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape, and look forward to seeing what their monster Merc will do next.
Both Lintin and Roysen say they are extremely grateful for the support of their pit crew, families and friends.
Their next race will be at the Dezzi Raceway outside Port Shepstone where they will aim to go even faster!
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• 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG
• Engine: M156 6.2 litre naturally aspirated V8
• Transmission: MCT 7-speed with TCU tune
• Suspension and brakes: OEM AMG
• Wheels: 19-inch Vossen
• Outputs: 402kW and 702Nm at the wheels
• Fuel: 50/50 pump, ethanol (E50) mix
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• BMC air filters
• Upgraded injectors
• Flex fuel kit
• Limitless tuned carbon fibre induction kit plus custom carbon fibre airboxes and engine cover
• Limitless Tuned custom ECU