Racing first for Backdraft
Durban-based Backdraft Racing is breaking new motor sport ground by entering a team comprising previously disadvantaged personnel – from the transporter driver through to the race car drivers – at the next round of the South African Endurance Series at the iconic East London Grand Prix circuit on October 2.
The first-ever all-black racing team includes drivers Kwanele Letlaka and the young up-and-coming Xolela Njumbuxa, who is an Eastern Cape competitor and is being guided by Sparky Bright, the newly upgraded team manager Sandile Khumalo from Backdraft Racing in Durban.
The race crew will be Philane Dlamini and Nhlanhla Mshibe, also a Backdraft legend. This team will have full support from Tony Martin, the founder of Backdraft and a motor sport legend himself. “To my knowledge there has never been a complete team of colour anywhere in the world,” said Martin.
“My observations are that almost all of motor sport’s so-called transformation is just window dressing. “It is our intention to provide this team with everything they need, including training by experts, to ensure they can be competitive and hopefully take that enthusiasm back with them to share with family and friends, to raise the awareness of motor sport in townships.”
Earlier this year, Backdraft Racing rocked the motor sport community by announcing it intended loaning 10 race-ready Roadsters to new teams for the 2020 SA Endurance Racing Series.
Backdraft Racing is headed up by former South African Driver’s Champion and Daytona 24-Hour winner, Tony Martin, who said, “Everything I have today has come from racing, so this idea is both a way to give something back to the sport I love and to add a new dimension to the SA Endurance Racing series.
“It is not a gimmick, and the cars are all prepared to within a couple of horsepower of one another other and are identical in every other way. They are extremely competitive, not only against one another, other but will be able to challenge other marques involved in the series. “We have loaned cars to teams capable of competing at this level of racing,” said Martin, “and all we are asking in return is they guarantee to be ready and present for both practice and the race at each event in the series.”
The Backdraft Roadsters are open-top racers powered by a 300hp Lexus V8 engine driving the rear wheels through a BMW gearbox and BMW limited slip differential. “These cars are given out to teams for a minimal fee and include complete insurance for damage sustained while racing. The insurance aspect of our racing is a first in our country and maybe in the world. For a minimal fee, if you write your car off, a new car is delivered before the following race,” said Martin.
