Everyone’s Passion for Speed alive at packed Zwartkops

The 2025 South African circuit racing calendar got off to an exhilarating start this past weekend (31 January – 1 February) at The Zwartkops International World of Motoring with the 24^th edition of the iconic Passion For Speed.

The hot weekend in South Africa’s capital city saw temperatures at the circuit rise even further with spectacular racing, coupled with a variety of additional entertainment activities enjoyed by the sizeable crowd.

There was early drama in the day’s flagship event, the 45-minute SA Tourist Trophy for Pre’66/68 Le Mans Sports & GT, including Classic Touring Cars. First the car that finished in second place last year, the Ginetta G4R driven by Josh and Jake Dovey, ground to a halt on the opening lap. A couple of laps later, Stuart Kidgell (Alfa Romeo 147 GTA) ended up in the tyre barrier at turn four. Then it was the turn of previous winner Warren Lombard (Pepboys Automotive Cobra) to experience problems. He stopped on the exit of turn two, although he was able to get going again.

With the race not yet five laps old, the engine in Peter Bailey’s Ford GT40 let go, spilling oil all over the approach to turn five. Seer Fourie Jnr (Ford Daytona) was first on the scene and spun up the escape road, just managing to avoid Bailey’s car as he controlled the Daytona. Anthony Taylor (BMW 328i) took a trip through the gravel trap before Steve Clark (Cobra), Mike O’Sullivan (All Things Motoring Honda Ballade) and Franco Resca (CR Speed MG BGT) were all caught out by the oil. With O’Sullivan and Resca stuck in the gravel trap, the safety car was deployed to allow the marshals to remove them and clean up the oil spill.

At that stage, pole-sitter James Temple (Lindenberg Racing Ford Daytona Coupe) has built up a gap over Jonathan and Mark du Toit (Trans Africa Racing Ford GT40) with Oliver Dalais (Marlboro Crane Hire Ford GT40) in third. Dalais immediately dived into the pits for his pit stop, with Temple following a few laps later. The du Toit brothers then led the way and stayed out until almost the end of the safety car period before making their compulsory stop. Unfortunately for them, their GT40 cried enough after 20 laps when they had worked their way back up to fourth on the road.

Early stoppers, Temple and Dalais were slowly making their way back up the field, with Temple taking the lead after 23 laps, a lead he held until the flag to take his third SA TT crown. Dalais had to settle for second ahead of Clark drove his heart out after having to make a pit stop to have his bonnet removed after it came loose, which dropped him almost to the back of the pack.

The top three on the road filled the top three places in Class A. Djurk Venter (Lindenberg Racing Shelby Daytona Coupe) took fourth place overall and, with it, the Class C win. Taylor finished a lap down on Venter in fifth, doing enough to take Class B. Sixth overall and second in Class C went to John and Chad Ten Doeschate (Marauder Mk 3) ahead of Class D winners John Simpson and Clive Wilmot (The Institute for Driver Safety Alfa GT Junior). Kosie Swanepoel (Toyota Celica), Chris Davison and Stuart Mack (Opel Superboss), and Ben van der Westhuizen (Marauder Mk 2) rounded out the top ten.

The Formula Vee races did not form part of the 2025 championship, that only gets underway at the beginning of March. To add to the entertainment, the Formula Vee committee decided to ask the regular drivers to share their cars with racers that competed in   Formula Vees in the past. The led to a combined grid of drivers who had claimed 19 Formula Vee championships in the past.

The opening heat had the regular drivers at the wheel of their cars. Peter Hills (Mangaza Racing Rhema 2) was not headed as he led the way from pole position to take the win by over five seconds. The dice for the other podium positions featured three of his Mangaza Racing teammates who delivered wheel-to-wheel action for the entire 8-lap race. When the flag came out it was Kyle Watt (Rhema 2) who got the better of Vaughn Hills (VMAX) and Brandon Hills (Rhema 2). Gert van den Berg (DOE Quality Parts & Start My Car Rhema 2), who started at the back of the grid after missing qualifying due to mechanical issues, worked his way through the pack to take fifth ahead of teammate Theodore Vermaak (DOE Quality Parts & Start My Car Forza).

In the second race Lee Thompson and Dennis Johns had he crowd on the edges of their seats as they fought for the lead while managing to open a huge gap over the rest of the field. I looked like Thompson had done just enough to take the win, but Johns had other ideas, taking the lead with three corners to go and hanging on to the flag. A bit further back, Anthony Taylor got the better of Alan Holm to take the final podium place. Fabio Tafani and Shaun van der Linde rounded out the top six.

Sophos Pantazis (Datsun 240Z) dominated the Pre’66/68 Little Giants including U2 races, taking both heat wins from pole position and securing the U2+ class win in the process. He was followed over the line in the first heat by Carel Pienaar (Kameeldoring Motorsport Lotus Cortina) and Alan Poulter (the Tom Campher Volvo Cars Johannesburg Volvo 122s), all three of them in the U2+ class.

A little further down the field, Marc Miller (Alfa Romeo Giulia Super) got the better of Francesco Lombardi (Alfa Romeo Giulia Super) to take the U2 class win. Class A went to Chad Ten Doeschate (GSM Dart) from Kyle Brink (Austin Mini Cooper). Ishmael Baloyi (GSM Dart) had a comfortable win in Class C, as did Donovan Meyer (Mini Clubman) in Class D.

Pienaar had to again settle for second place behind Pantazis in the second race, but this time Jaco Krynauw (Datson 240Z) ended third on the road and third in the U2+ class. It was another second place in the U2 class for Lombardi, this time behind Roger Houston (Alfa Romeo Giulia Super). Ten Doeschate again led the way from Brink in Class A with Baloyi victorious in Class C although he was less than half a second ahead of Alan Hooper (Alfo Giulia). Class D went to Haamid R Wahab (Chess Service Station Mini Cooper S) 

Jonathan du Toit (Trans Africa Racing Chevron B8) led the field away from pole position in the opening race of the Legends of the 9 Hour Pre ’00 ISP and Trans-Am category but Larry Wilford (FUCHS Lubricants Lolo T70) took the lead of the race after the first lap. A brief safety car period to allow the marshals to recover a car stranded in the kitty litter at turn five, bunched the field up. Wilford led the field away from the re-start followed by Jonathan du Toit and Mark du Toit (Trans Africa Racing Lola T70), but both suffered problems in the latter stages if the race, allowing Antonie Marx (Shelby Can-Am) and Michiel Campagne (McLaren M8F) through to complete the podium.

Jason Campos (Porsche 911) took Class B from Peter Bailey (Porsche 917) and Andre van der Merwe (Evapco Porsche), while Class C honours went to Phillip Pantazis (Datsun 260Z).

The second race was also interrupted by a safety car intervention but, this time, Campagne had got the McLaren to the front of the pack and took the overall and Class A wins from Wilford and Jonathan du Toit. Campos again took Class B from Bailey and van der Merwe, while Class C went to the Kameeldoring Motorsport Datsun 240Z piloted by Clive Wilmot.

Mark du Toit (Trans Africa Racing Ford Fairlane) led the Pre ’66 Production Cars  field away from pole position and held on to that lead until Seef Fourie Jnr (Ford Cougar) forced his way past with two laps to go after working his way through from seventh on the grid. Italian visitor Nicky Pasterelli (NGK Pablo Clark Racing Ford Galaxie) claimed third ahead of Jonathan du Toit (Trans Africa Racing Chev Nova), Hennie Groenewald (Kameeldoring Motorsport Ford Escort RS2000) and Ben Morgenrood (Ben Morgenrood Ford Mustang).

In the second heat, Pasterelli took the lead after two laps and held off Mark du Toit to take the win. Jonathan du Toit ended third ahead of Lee Thompson (Trans Africa Racing Chev Belair), Morgenrood and Colin Ellison (Spanjaard Ford Thunderbolt). 

Ian Schofield (Investchem March 77B) had things under control at the front of the first Historic Single Seaters race, but mechanical failure sidelined him, leaving Dean Venter (WH Auctioneers Titan Mk 4) and Andrew Horne (Xena Chemicals Royale RP31) to fight for victory. Venter just managed to get the better of Horne to take the win. Behind them, Josh Dovey brought his Chevron B20 F3 home in third. Ryan Budd (Buddlite Racing Ford Ray 92), Paul Richardson (Aztek Procurement Services Dulon LD9) and Wihan Tiedt (Dulon Mk1) rounded out the top six.

Dovey won Class A, while Horne took Class B from Budd and Mac Odendaal (CRS Auto Centre Ray). Venter topped Class C ahead of Richardson and Tiedt. Class D went to Michael Kernick (Capital Mk 1 Formula Vee) who got the better of Tony Beecher (S&J Mk9 Formula Vee) and Blane de Meilon (Fire Break SA S&J Mk5 Formula Vee). Colin Clay (Lotus 23C) won Class E with Rodney Green (1946 MG Single Seater) claiming Class F.

Horne and Venter resumed their fight for overall victory in the second heat with Venter again taking victory by the narrowest of margins. Budd and Richardson had a race-long scrap for the final podium position. It went the way of Budd by just under half a second. Dovey and Ben van der Westhuizen (Pioneer Plastics Royale RP21) ended in fifth and sixth respectively.

Dovey took his second Class A win of the day. Horne, Budd and Odendaal completed the podium in Class B, while Venter took Class C from Richardson and van der Westhuizen. The Class D podium was a repeat of the first race, Kernick winning from Beecher and de Meilon. Clay topped Class E with Class F going to Green.

Hennie Groenewald (Kameeldoring Datsun 260Z) claimed a relatively easy win in the opening HRSA Racing series race for Classes A to E. He was followed over the line by Andre van der Merwe and Werner Kotze. Phillip Pantazis (Datsun 260Z) was next up ahead of Andre ten Napel (TNMC Medical Devices VW Sirocco) and Reg Sutton (Ford Escot), who rounded out the top six.

Groenewald’s overall win gave him the Class B victory ahead of van der Merwe. Kotze claimed Class C from Pantazis and ten Napel. Sutton took Class D from Gavin Lundin (The Lube Guys Datsun 1200GX) and Jono Konig (Northern Bolt & Tool VW Sirocco), while Class E went to Sophos Pantazis (Datsun 240Z) from George Economides (East Coast Classics Ford Escort) and Johan Gouws (Keller Williams Realty VW Sirocco).

The podium in the second race was a repeat of the first with Groenewald taking a comfortable win from van der Merwe and Kotze. Ten Napel went one better than in the first race, taking fourth ahead of George Avvakoumides (Euro Shop Equipment Porsche 911) and Oliver Broome (East Coast Classics Chev SS).

Groenewald again topped the Class B standings from van der Merwe. Kotze took another Class C win, this time from Ten Napel and Avvakoumides. Konig won Class D from John McLachlan and Sutton. Economides just got the better of Pantazis to take Class E with Mike Gaines (Ford Escort) in third.

Johan Gouws led Oliver Broome and Dion Valentine over the line in the opening race for Classes F, G and H and Pursuit Challenge. Ian Odendaal (AIM Precission Engineering Ford Escort), Cor Kraamwinkel (BMW 2002) and Marc Miller (Alfa Romeo Giulia Super) were not far behind Valentine.

The second heat was a thriller, with Valentine and Broome swapping positions throughout the race. Valentine was in front when it counted, with Broome having to settle for second. Roger Houston (Alfa Romeo Giulia Super) eventually emerged at the top of a huge scrap for the final podium position. He was closely followed by Odendaal, David Armstrong (Strong Racing Ford Escort) and Francesco Lombardi (Alfa Romeo Giulia Super).

Another highlight was the BMW ///M Performance Parts Race Series, With a capacity field, the group’s races saw Classes A, B & C line up separately from Classes D, E & F.

In Class A, Bob Neill (Delmon Mining BMW M3 E92 Turbo) and Leon Loubser (Monaco Motors BMW E92 335i) traded the two race wins, while Fabio Fedetto (BMW F82 M4) finished third twice.

Defending champion Renier Smith (Fast Development BMW E36 M3 Turbo) started his season with a double-win. Nek Makris (BMW E46 335i) finished as runner-up in both races, while Andreas Meier (CEC PTY LTD BMW E36 STC) took the final podium spot in Race 2, after retiring in Race 1.

Hein van der Merwe (SavSpeed Racing BMW E36 328i Turbo) took the first Class C win from Rob Gearing (BMW E30 335iS) and Salvi Gualiteri (BMW E36 328i Turbo). In Race 2, it was Oz Biagioni (Bio Pool BMW E46 M3) who took victory from Gearing and Anand Naidu (S A Autotech Racing BMW F80 M3)

Bernard de Gouveia (De Gouveia Accountants BMW E46 M3) started his season with a Class D win from Dawie Olivier (International Race Supplies BMW E30 330i), the latter making his return to the Series, and Bilal Ahmed (TT Audio Bmw F30 330d). In Race 2, Ahmed took his maiden win, with Varish Ganpath (Grobler Motorsport BMW E92 335i) second and Olivier third.

Johan Miller (Hei-Jo Trans BMW E36 328i Turbo) started his season with a Class E win after Claudio Jardim (Mixbox Automotive BMW E36 330i) received a jump-start penalty. Eddie Rodrigues (EDDIE7RACING BMW E46 330i) took his first of two runner-up spots, with Roland Hopkins (Rietchard Scrap metal cc BMW E46 330ci) third. Hopkins won Race 2, with Shane Grobler (Grobler Motorsport (BMW E46 330ci Turbo) completing the podium.

Shaun Dodd (Amtec BMW E36 328i) took the inaugural Class F win from Zaheer Seedat (Saltwater Marketing BMW E36 328i) and Ferdi van Staden (BMW E36 330i). In Race 2, debutant Shriyav Naidu (S.A.Autotech Racing BMW E36 M3) took the win from Dodd and Seedat.

Apart from the racing. A host of spectators also got closer to the action as passengers in the Mercedes-Benz AMG Ultimate Hotlaap Challenge, with no less than 100 passenger rides handed out on the day. Another highlight was the demonstration runs performed by Ian Schofield (Minardi M189) and Robert Wolk (Jordan 192), with the crowd thoroughly enjoying the sound from these Formula 1 cars, hailing from 1989 and 1992, respectively.

The second event in this year’s Passion For Speed tour will take place at Red Star Raceway this coming weekend (8-9 February)

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