Classics and passion at Zwartkops

Published Jan 31, 2012

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The motorsport season at Zwartkops Raceway, west of Pretoria, traditionally opens with the annual international classic race meeting on the last weekend in January, held this year under the banner “Passion for Speed”.

And a passion it was, with hundreds of competitors crowding the pits and more than 12 000 spectators waving and cheering as the circuit reverberated to the sound of big old rumbling V8's, snarling Porsche flat-sixes and crackling supercharged fours.

The cars included the ex-Michael Schumacher Benetton-Ford B194, which was driven by Dutchman Jan Lammers, and a 1965 BRM P261 fitted with a two-litre V8 Tasman Series engine and driven by Le Mans winner Richard Attwood.

The two races for international sports prototypes were David and Goliath battles between the light and nimble 1969 Chevron B19 of Brit John Sheldon, and the huge, dark green 1969 Lola T70 driven by local V8 Supercar hero Hennie Groenewald, who received a special award as Driver of the Day.

Unfortunately a loose wheel on the Lola resulted in its retirement from the first race, which allowed Sheldon to romp to a clear victory, followed by Jonathan du Toit in a Chevron B8. Groenewald turned the tables in the second race and took the win after the race was red-flagged as the rain started falling and the cars began to spin and skid on their slick tyres.

Sheldon won overall on combined results for the two races though, with Andre Bezuidenhout (1974 Martini Porsche) taking runner-up spot from Peter Bailey (1970 Porsche 917).

Colin Frost (Lucky Strike Porsche 917) won Class B, with Brian Algar (1974 Porsche 911 RS) collecting the honours in Class C, while Carel Pienaar (1969 Chevrolet Camaro) was the only finisher in Class E.

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