MOTORSPORT IS NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE
Having watched a bit of the WEC 24 Hours of Le Mans last month, I have come to realise modern motor racing is not for me. Ninety per cent of the cars are lathered with sponsors that vary from cooldrink companies and tyre manufacturers.
What is missing? The very brand that should be represented on the racetrack! I have no idea whether I’m watching a Ford, Nissan, Porsche, Audi, VW or Toyota. Whether it is propelled by a combustion engine or some sort of low-consumption batteryelectric hybrid, motorsport at this level is for the non-petrolheads of our time.
Soon all racing cars will be propelled by electric motors (think Formula E). The term “motorsport” seems almost out of place. Thank God for motorcycle racing. I want to see the name Kawasaki or Ducati displayed on the bike and the rider. I can shout for them because I know the brand. I have not missed one motorcycle race since TV began broadcasting the races.
JOHAN TERBLANCHE
Wemmershoek
[Johan, thanks for your note but let me urge you not to give up on all motorsport just yet. I think it’s fair to say I’m one of the most motorsport-obsessed CAR editors in recent times and I can assure you there is excellent motorsport out there; you’ve just got to know where to look. Granted, this year’s Covid-curtailed 24 Hours of Le Mans was not the greatest example, with only two team entries in LMP1 – Toyota and Rebellion – and a severely depleted GT class which also saw the Porsche 911s noticeably and curiously off the pace. For excellent endurance racing, I recommend the Nürburgring 24 Hour, traditionally run the weekend after Le Mans. The ADAC GT Masters produces awesome racing and features two South Africans, Kelvin van der Linde and Jordan Pepper; easily streamed on Youtube. And do yourself a favour and search for the 2020 British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) online which uses a simple but effective ballast system to keep the racing close. Every time a driver wins, the car gets penalty weight added and this accumulates throughout the entire season. The field is huge, the racing is impossibly close and, best of all, the vehicles are instantly recognisable – editor.]