“And they shall mount up on eagle wings! Young men and woman will dream dreams, and the older men and woman will run and not grow weary.” – Isaiah Chapter 38 – Holy Bible
The 24th Passion for Speed at Zwartkops Raceway and Red Star Raceway were two weeks of incredible racing. Past, present and laying the foundation for the future through inspiration and participation.
At the outset, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made these events possible—the promoters, administrators, race control, marshals, and the dedicated teams in the pits who spent countless hours preparing the race cars. A special thank you also goes to the drivers who shared their machines and brought the spirit of motorsport to life. The year began with some challenges, particularly with the rollout of MSA’s new licensing and club registration system, which caused significant frustration among competitors, leading some to withdraw from the event. However, thanks to the determination and ingenuity of our race secretaries, most issues were resolved, allowing us to focus on what truly matters—the thrill of racing and the passion that drives us all.
The final results of both events, along with the provisional points table, are attached to this newsletter. As always, there were several standout performances on track that deserve special mention.
The Grid
The International Sports Racing Prototypes delivered an unforgettable spectacle. Michiel Campagne, in his mighty 1971 McLaren M8F, went head-to-head with Mark du Toit’s Lola T70 Spyder, creating a thrilling matchup. Larry Wilford’s stunning Lola T70 MK3B and Jonathan’s incredible Chevron B8 further added to the excitement. The classic Westbank V8s also made their mark, with Franco di Matteo piloting the legendary Sarel van der Merwe Mustang and Lee Thompson in the powerful Peter Gough Opel Astra. Unfortunately, there was an incident between the Colin Frost/Neil Lobb Gunston T70 Lola and Phillip Pantazis’ Datsun 260Z Trans-Am, though it was relatively minor. However, a more serious incident occurred when Russell Fear’s Lola Spyder suffered a steering arm failure, resulting in a hard collision with Stephan Clark’s Chevron B8.
The undeniable highlight of the two weekends in the International Sports Racing Prototypes was the thrilling battle between Michiel Campagne’s blue McLaren M8F and Mark du Toit’s Lola T70 at Red Star Raceway. While the McLaren struggled to match Mark’s pace through the tighter sections of the circuit, it came alive on the long straight, hitting a breathtaking 280–300 km/h. Mark fought hard to stay in the slipstream, but in the end, the two crossed the finish line just 0.3 seconds apart—an unforgettable duel!
Legends Pre 1973 Le Mans Sports & GT – 45 Minute
James Temple had a dominant weekend at both Zwartkops and Red Star Raceway. Behind the wheel of his Shelby Cobra, he was in top form, delivering flawless performances to secure victory at both events.
At Zwartkops, Oliver Dalias delivered one of his finest performances, securing an impressive second place overall. Stephen Clark, in the Olthoff tribute Cobra, put in a strong drive to claim third. A last-minute entry from the back of the grid, following serious damage to the Chevron B8, added to the drama. Unfortunately, both of the other GT40s were forced to retire—Trans Africa Racing’s GT40 suffered electrical issues, while the Bailey GT40 endured a massive blow-up. Despite some setbacks, Warren Lombard managed to push through and secure fourth place in the top class. It was great to see Anthony Taylor back in action, taking the Class B victory in his BMW, while Djurk Venter put in a strong performance to win Class C in his Shelby. In Class D, Robbie Frank held his own in the nimble Lotus 23C, securing a well-earned victory. However, one car stood out above the rest—Kosie Swanepoel, racing his late father’s legendary, index-winning Toyota Celica. A fitting tribute to a remarkable racing legacy.
The Big V8 Legends of the 9 Hour
Nicky Pastorelli returned to the track in the iconic Pablo Clark Ford Fairlane. Unfortunately, prolonged safety car periods prevented him from fully unleashing both his skill and the car’s true potential. Seef Fourie JNR, on the other hand, stole the show in the Cougar—an ugly, heavy beast that, under Seef’s command, became a force to be reckoned with. At Red Star, this car was both thrilling and terrifying to watch, especially on the main straight. Despite its weight, the Cougar flew down the track, and somehow, Seef managed to tame it and bring it to a halt when needed!
At Zwartkops, Seef Fourie JNR’s Cougar faced early misfortune when the steering wheel broke during the first heat. Then, at Red Star, disaster struck again as the brake disk degenerated in the first heat. However, despite these setbacks, Seef’s resilience shone through, and by the end of the day, he was sitting atop the leaderboard. It was also great to see Collin Ellison back on track. Unfortunately, his Chevron had some mechanical issues, but the Ford Fairlane was in top form.
Mark, in his green Fairlane, fought hard, but in the end, it was Seef who finished just ahead of him. James Temple put in a solid performance in the Escort, securing a well-earned 3rd place, while Ben Morgenrood followed closely behind, finishing in 4th.
As usual, Paige Lindenberg took the top spot in Class B, showcasing her consistent skill. The international contingent wasn’t far behind, with Jaap van der Ende piloting his 1976 Ford Mustang, Harmen van Putten in the 1966 Chevrolet Corvette, and Frans van Maarschalkerwaard in the 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby, all putting in impressive performances. Jonathan Needham also impressed, making a strong debut in his “new” 1968 Ford Mustang, acquitting himself well throughout the race.
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The U2 and U2+ Class
Sophos Pantazis claimed victory at Zwartkops in his 240Z Datsun, with Carel Pienaar’s beautifully restored Lotus Corina finishing just behind. Overall, it was Djurk Venter in his Escort who emerged as the leader of the U2+ championship after competing in the back events. In the U2 class, Marc Miller continued to show strong form in his Alfa Giulia, but this time, he was tied with Roger Houston for the top spot.
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LITTLE Giants
It was a maiden win for Nicolas Christofides in his stunning 1964 Alfa Romeo GT Junior. A fantastic drive saw him beat Kyle Brink in his Mini and Ishmael Baloyi in the GSM Dart. At Red Star, the recently restored GSM Flamingo of John Ten Doeschate faced an unfortunate altercation and clutch issues, but the car bounced back in spectacular fashion, winning both heats at Zwartkops. Class C and D belonged to the Minis from KZN, with Maahir Wahab and Donovan Meyer leading the charge. The Ford Cortina of Chris and Richard Williams finished a strong second in their class.
Future Events
- Ignition TV
The flighting will take place shortly – it is a magnificent production. Watch and record for prosperity
- Next Event
Zwartkops on the 5th of April – All categories
- Projects
There are a number of projects in the pipe line. Will keep everyone updated with next newsletters
- Meeting At Duimpies
To be advised
