Ekurhuleni racing team conquers 24-hour race

Their objective was to just finish the race.

In the end, the Black Art Racing Team from Ekurhuleni ended up on the podium after a gruelling 24-hour iLamuna endurance race at the Red Star Raceway in Delmas on October 29 and 30.

Starting from the back after missing qualifying due to mechanical challenges, the team consisting Clare Vale and Dean Hogg from Benoni, Morne Jurgens from Boksburg, David Huddy from Bedfordview and mechanic Armand Bronkhorst from Boksburg, ran a disciplined race to finish in second place.

“As we progressed, we thought a top 10 was possible and then a top five. In the morning we were second. We only lost by six laps,” said Clare.

The iLamuna is the only 24-hour race in Africa and requires a reliable car and drivers whose concentration is at full throttle at all times.

The race is about taking a jalopy, spending not more than R50 000 on the mechanics, and then throwing it on a race track and letting it run for 24 hours.

It was the ultimate endurance and durability test for drivers and cars on a 4.2km track with 67 cars at the start and only 48 at the finish.

“It’s intense because you have to be focused especially at night. You got to pay attention. You can’t just fall asleep because there are other cars on the track,” Clare added.

Driving an old Halloween-themed VW Golf named Liewe Heksie, the car’s durability was all thanks to Armand and the crew’s meticulous work pre-race and on the paddock.

“We started building the car three weeks prior. We did all the mechanics and made sure the car was reliable.

Despite the minor challenges, the experience and finishing on the podium were amazing,” Armand said.

Like the 24-hour Le Mans, such a race is physically demanding. According to Clare, when exhaustion kicked in and the muscles started aching, they had to ignore that and focus on the goal.

“You almost can’t prepare for an endurance race because there’s nothing like it. We were running on adrenaline.”
Clare explained it’s not about how you start but getting your car across the finish line.

Liewe Heksie came out of the contest unscathed albeit with minor scratches and a dent on the driver’s door.

“I couldn’t believe it. We were all in tears and jumping around at the finish,” she said.

Women in motorsport

Clare was one of the four women racing in the event. She said women are capable of achieving the same things as men in the sport.

“If you want something, one has to work towards it. Look at Banyana Banyana. In the beginning, no one took them seriously. Look at them now, they are superstars.

“It’s teams like these that are leading the way for women in sport. Women are shining and this draws more support and makes sponsors see women in sport differently.”

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