GALLERY OF CHAMPIONS
South African motorsport displayed its wide versatility in 2018 – a major factor in the local adrenaline game’s continued survival. No fewer than 31 categories competed for national championship or series titles, both on tarmac and dirt. Since we never have enough space to give them all their due during the season, we have a tradition of honouring them at the end of the year. This week, Andre de Kock brings you the first half of the two-part series of the 2018 National Gallery of Champions. 1. TOP HONOURS
Despite a huge crash in mid-season, Michael Stephen took the overall Sasol Global Touring Car championship in the Engen Audi.
2. TIGHT STUFF
The Engen Polo Cup title chase was without any doubt the country’s most closely contested. Jeffrey Kruger clinched the crown in the 17th of the season‘s 18 races with his Universal Health Polo.
3.COMPLETELY CONSISTENT
Despite close competition, Keegan Masters won most of the year’s Sasol GTC 2 races to clinch the title in his works VW Golf GTI with two races to spare.
4. TWO-WHEEL FLING
Michael White rode hard and fast – once with a broken hand – to clinch the South African SuperGP championship on his Consortium Shipping Yamaha R1.
5. PEDAL TO THE METAL
Bloemfontein teenager Stuart White beat off a number of tough challengers to tie down the year’s Investchem Formula 1600 championship in his Fantastic Racing Mygale.
6. YOUNG HOTSHOT
Kewyn Snyman, 19, took his Mag Workshop KTM 390 to the Super400 championship.
7. BLAZE OF GLORY
The 600GP title went to Blaze Baker on his King Price Yamaha.
8. IT’S A GUY THING
The long-time partnership of Guy Botterill and Simon Vacy-Lyle took their Gazoo Toyota Etios to a narrow overall victory in the year’s South African National Rally Championship.
9. ROUGH STUFF
Giniel de Villiers and Dennis Murphy took the Toyota Gazoo Hilux to the overall Production Vehicle victory of the South African Cross Country Championship this season.
10. BAT OUT OF HELL
Old-timer Lance Isaacs clinched the year’s overall Bridgestone Thunderbike title via speed and relentless consistency on his Supabets BMW S1000RR.
11. KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY
The father-daughter team of Coetzee Labuschagne and Sandra LabuschagneJonck won the overall Cross Country Special Vehicle class in their 4x4 Mega World Porter.
12. MASTERFUL STUFF
The year’s overall Red Square Kawasaki Masters Series title went to Sven Grune in his self-sponsored Kawasaki ZX10R, after a series of huge battles with fellow master Graeme van Breda.
13. ‘SCHRIKS’ VIR NIKS
Single-seater fundi Jaco Schriks took the 2018 Hankook Formula Vee series overall in his immaculately prepared and hard driven Bean Child Coffee Merchants Rhema 2.
14. EXOTIC, FAST, WILD
The year’s G&H Transport Extreme Supercar series went to Charl Arangies, after a number of incredibly fast performances in the Stradale Aston Martin Vantage V12.