Passion for Speed: Zwartkops historic racing

The Zwartkops Raceway yesterday released details about next year’s Passion for Speed Historic Car Racing Festival, to be held at the venue on the weekend of January 29, 30 and 31. The event has attracted more than 320 entries, of which 45 will be overseas visitors.

The bill-topping SA Tourist Trophy races for Pre-1968 Sports and GT cars will boast 13 drivers from overseas. There will be two Ford GT40s from Sweden and one from Britain.

British entrants will also bring a McLaren, three Austin Healey 3000 models, a Jaguar E-Type, a Lotus Elan and a Chevron B8. Sweden will supply a Corvette Grand Sport, a Lotus Elan and a Chevron B8.

South African drivers will man three Lola T70 models, two Daytona coupes, two Ford GT40s, three Cobras, a Lotus Elan, a Chevron B8 and a Dart Flamingo V8.

Sarel van der Merwe will return to the series, driving a Ford Galaxie in the Pre-66 Legend Production Car races. He will face the Plymouth Fury of Hennie Groenewald, overseas and local Ford Mustangs, Mark du Toit’s Chev Biscayne, Jonathan du Toit’s Chev Bel Air, Thomas Falkiner’s Studebaker Golden Hawk, plus various other Ford Galaxies, Chev Camaros, an Alfa Romeo GTA, three Lotus Cortinas, two Mini Coopers, one BMW 2002 and five Alfa Giulias.

The races for Pre-74 International Sports Racing Prototypes will offer a Sauber, three Chevron B19s, a Lola 210 and a Lola T70 from overseas, plus three Porsche 917s, two Ford GT40s, two Lola T70s, an Automo and eight Porsche RSRs from SA.

The Champion of Champions Pre-68 Saloon Car events will sport three Chev Camaros and a Ford Galaxie from overseas, versus local entries, such as Thomas Falkiner (Ford Mustang), Hennie Groenewald (Ford Comet), Leeroy Poulter (Ford Fairlane), Jonathan du Toit (Chev Nova), Jaki Scheckter (Ford Galaxie) and Mark du Toit (Chev Camaro).

There will be races for Formula Junior cars, with a total of 23 entries from Britain and Denmark, Pre-66 Little Giant cars, SA Single Seaters, Pre-84 Production Cars and Extreme Supercars. On the Sunday, the South African Tourist Trophy for Superbikes up to the 1980s will boast 12 international participants and more then 100 local riders.

Official qualifying and racing will happen on Friday, January 29. The car racing will be held on the Saturday, with the bikes racing on the Sunday.

To find out more, call the Zwartkops office at 082-390-6016.