Nostalgic spectacle to return to the Zwartkops Raceway
Nostalgic spectacle will return to the Zwartkops Raceway near Pretoria this Saturday, when the venue will host a round of the 2025 Historic Inland Championship.
With 10 racing disciplines and 195 entries taking to the tarmac, a full day of spectacle is assured.
Top billing will belong to the Marboro Crane Hire Pre-1966 Production Cars, with pre-event favourites to include veteran Ben Morgenrood (Morgenrood Ford Mustang), Seef Fourie Junior (TAR Ford Cougar), Mark du Toit (TAR Ford Fairlane), James Temple (Lindenberg Capri Perana), Colin Ellison (Spanjaard Ford Fairlane), Lee Thompson (TAR Chev Camaro), Warren Lombard (Chev Camaro) and Jonathan Needham (Ford Mustang).
The indecently quick Hennie Groenewald could ruin many of the big bangers’ day with his Kameeldoring Ford Escort.
Larry Wilford (FUCHS Lola T70) should be the man to beat in the races for Pre-1970 Le Mans Sports and GT cars, challenged by people like Lee Thompson (Opel Astra V8), Warren Lombard (Pepboys Ford Cobra), Peter Bailey (Ford GT40), Mark du Toit (Lola T70 Spyder), James Temple (Lindenberg Shelby Coupe), Hennie Groenewald (Kameeldoring Chev Camaro), Seef Fourie Junior (Chev Can-Am), Andre’ van der Merwe (Evapco Porsche RSR), Carel Pienaar (Kameeldoring Chev Camaro) and Lee Thompson (Ecosse).
The Silver Cup 2.0 SPS category should see overall podium chasers like Marius Jacobs (AAA Recovery Opel Tigra), MC Lenstey (Forklift Spares Nissan Sentra), Giulio Alraga (Desco Electronics Mazda Tigra), Karel Stols (Rotrix Mazda RX7), Jacobus Brandy (Speedy Opel Tigra), Fred Kruger (JDM Tuning Honda CRX) and Johan Minnaar (Cobra Backdraft).
Single seater fans will not be left out in the cold, with 19 Historic open wheelers to face the starter.
Top contenders should include Ryan Budd (Ford Ray 92), Ben van der Westhuizen (Pioneer Plastics Royale), Mac Odendaal (CRS Auto Ray FF), Alan Kernick (Tempest FF), Des Hillary (Aztek Dulon), Steve Venter (Van Diemen FF) and Paul Richardson (Aztek Dulon).
The Monoposto Formula Libre and Formula M category will have a 15-car field, led by people like JM Gerber (Namib Biltong Formula M), Damien Archer (McNeil Plastics Ray), Hayden Archer (McNeil Plastics Swift), Hylton Morrow (Chaplins Formula M), Louis van der Merwe (Liabri-Otses Swift) and Bruce van Niekerk (Omega 91).
The Clubmans events will bring 27 competitors to the party, with probable winners to include Rodney Kruis (Real Pro Honda Ballade), Dirk Lawrence (JDM Tuning Honda Ballade), Wayne Lebotschy (SHIELD Golf Mk1), Giulio Airaga (Desco Mazda Tigra), Paul Sullivan (Sullivan Morris Nash S4), Adriaan Le Roux (Mercury Caterham), plus the ATS200 Birkens of Anton Muller and Glenton Rebello.
The Marlboro Crane Hire Under Two-litre category should be led by drivers like Carel Pienaar (Kameeldoring Lotus Cortina), Marc Miller (RentMySolar Alfa Giulia), Alan Poulter (Campher Volvo 122S), Deon Schwabsky (Vexalabs Ford Escort), Jonathan Needham (Ford Cortina), Ben van der Westhuizen (Toyota Celica), Francesco Lombardi (Alfa Giulia Sprint) and Roger Houston (Alfa Giulia).
Ishmael Baloyi (TAR Dart Alfa) should be the Little Giants favourite, facing off against drivers like Kyle Brink (CIM Lubricants Mini Cooper S), Nicolas Christofides (Mytravelshop.co.za Alfa GT Junior), Robbie Frank (Elemental Lotus 23B) and Elke van Vledder (Alfa GT Junior).
Mackie Adlem (Adlem Auto Tylon) should be the man to beat in the Lotus Challenge races, challenged by people like David Jermy (Blue Bubbles Taylon), Sean Hewitt (Birkin), Jeff Gable (Blue Bubbles Birkin), Josef Kotze (Top Products Birkin), Brett van Rensburg (JB Systems Birkin), Tinus Botes (CSI Birkin) and JP Nortje (N4 Autocraft Birkin).
Former world champion Devin Rebertson (Big Boss Auto Legend) should win the INEX Legends races, chased by people like Rico Raker (Big Boss Auto Legend), Christian Padayachee (Midas Gem Legend), Karel Stols (Pta Noord Toyota Legend), Anton Repsold (Adadi Estate Legend) and Sebastian Venlov (Inex Legend).
The Evapco HRSA races will boast 35 entries, with front runners to include Andre’ van der Merwe (Evapco Porsche RSR), Hennie Groenewald (Kameeldoring Datsun 240Z), Jannie van Rooyen (VW Scirocco), Carel Pienaar (Kameeldoring Lotus Cortina), Franz Jensen (Hamilton’s Datsun 1200 GX), Michael Lundin (Lube Guys Datsun 1200 GX), Gerrit Murray Alfa Romeo GTV), Nico Bezuidenhout (Lube Guys Datsun 1200 GX), Terence Ladner (Hamiltons VW Scirocco) and Francesco Lombardi (Alfa Giulia Sprint).
The Zwartkops gates will be open from 7am, with racing to commence at 9.30am.
Admission will cost R110 per adult and R90 per student, with kids under the age of 12 going in for free.
Food and drink will be on sale or you may take your own and everybody is invited to visit the pits on foot.
The Zwartkops Mini Moke trains will run between the pit gate and spectator areas throughout the day.
For more information, call the Zwartkops circuit office at 012 384 2299 or visit zwartkops.co.za.
Andre’ de Kock
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