Beningfield’s a fast learner
South Africans have been dormant on the international racing scene for almost 40 years. Since Jody Scheckter’s 1979 Formula One World Championship victory, there has arguably not been a South African who has grabbed international attention in the world of motorsport.
There is renewed hope, however, in Brad Beningfield, 19, a first-year Journalism student at Rhodes who is an up-and-coming young racing driver. The young motorhead has racing in his blood: his father has been a racer for almost 30 years, racing with Sports 2000 and VSP sports cars.
Brad mentions that he was first introduced to racing when he was just a few months old due to his father’s influence and it was at the tender age of four that he realised that he wanted to become a race driver.
Beningfield started taking part in go-kart racing at the age of 14 and got his first race car when he was in Grade 10 at 16. Due to a lack of funding, Brad has been unable to obtain a competitive car. Nevertheless through his hard work, he has been able to make notable achievements.
Beningfield was placed second in the 2015 Formula Vee Championships at Zwartkops raceway, winning the first race ahead of Gert Van den Berg and Alan Holm. The Formula Vee Championships involves single seat racing cars competing against each other which are based primarily on Volkswagen components and are designed to cater for entry into senior motorsport. The aim of this championship is to help develop young racing talent at an affordable rate.
This year Beningfield was a competitor in the 2016 Engen Volkswagen Cup. In order to race in the series, a driver must possess a National Racing Licence and be a member of the Engen Volkswagen Cup Association. The event saw a change in the car model used from the Polo Vivo GT to the New Polo. Beningfield had a few good finishes in the series with fourth overall being his personal best.
In addition to competing in domestic local Championships, Beningfield mentions that he has been invited to compete at international events, however a lack of funding is what preventing him from competing. His goal for the near future is to become a national champion. He aims to win the Formula Ford series, the Volkswagen Cup and a newly launched series called the Sasol Global Touring Cars (GTC) Championship. He also mentions that if he receives financial backing needed to have a competitive car and the assistance of a qualified and experienced mechanic, he will be able to constantly finish in the top five of events that he participates in.
On 26 November, Beningfield will compete in the Extreme festival at Zwartkops.
Read Benningfield’s opinion piece in next week’s edition of Grocott’s Mail.