Feast of racing to launch club series at Zwartkops

The 2014 Extreme Racing Festival series will kick off in robust style at the Zwartkops Raceway near Pretoria next weekend.


The opening round will be a two-day event, with a multitude of competitors from a wide variety of racing categories taking part.

The series, created last year, proved a huge success with the inland competitors, circuits and spectators.

Organisers expect this year’s events to be equally popular, with the opening event boasting 300 entries.

Heading up this weekend’s meeting will be one race on Friday and two Saturday races for G&H Transport Extreme Supercars, with some of the country’s quickest clubbie racing vehicles in action.

Top contenders should include Deon du Plessis (BPT KTM X-Bow), Charl Arangies (Motul Dodge Viper V10), Gianni Giannoccaro (Auto Alpina BMW M3 GTR), Greg Parton (Drizit KTM X-Bow), George Avvakoumides (Ocean Basket Porsche RSR), Jonathan du Toit (TAR Ferrari 430) and Oliver Dalais (Marlboro Crane Porsche Cup).

Others to watch will be Mark du Toit (TAR Audi S4), Willem van der Westhuizen (C3 Engineers Porsche RSR), Anton Cronje (Subaru WRX), Chris Wishart (Dodge Viper), Ricky Giannoccaro (G&H Transport BMW M3 GTR) and Lee Jones (MBS BMW).

Hilton Nieuwenhuizen (ASAP Peugeot 207) should start as favourite in the Goldwagen/Northern Bolt & Tool Superhatch events, on Saturday, with his closest opposition Brett Garland (Jonnesway Honda Civic), Jaco Kriel (IDG Opel Superboss), Robyn Kruger (Steamsure VW Polo) and Mark du Toit (TAR Honda Civic), Class B watch out for Jacques Joubert and Nic Martin, in class C Morne Human (Action Ford Fiesta), Melanie Spur (Wealth Ave, Castrol Opel Corsa),

The Big Boss Auto Super Saloons racing both days, should provide much spectacle, with leading competitors Devin Robertson (Liqui Moly Renault Megane), Mike Meyer (Germiston Brake Mazda RX7), George Smith (Exclusive Glass Jaguar XKR), Lionel Kruger (Panic Motors Tigra), Gerhard Fourie (Renault Rotary), Rian van Niekerk (Hanwill Toyota Tigra) and Willie le Roux (Mazda Rotary).

A large entry should tackle the Comsol VW Challenge races on Friday. Gavin Ross (Norbrake Polo), Gerhard Henning (Toyota Replacement Polo), Philip Croeser (Giulio Sabatini Polo), Etienne Prinsloo (Saskin Polo), Andy Gossman (Chamdor Veridot Golf), Rory Atkinson (Comsol Polo), Wouter Roos (Nathans Polo) and Graeme Nathan (Trend Properties Polo) should be at the front end.

The Hankook Formula Vee races should see a battle on the 21st, between Greg Wilson (Reflex Solutions Rhema), Scott Temple (Ferodo Rhema), Jaco Schriks (Office Direct Rhema), Henk Swanepoel (Renexcon Rhema), Michael Mastnak (Reflex Solutions Forza) and Alan Holm (Laserprint Rhema).

A 20-car grid will tackle the Speed & Sound 111 Sports and Saloons car races, on the 22nd with George Bezuidenhout (Forkman Nissan Primera) the man to beat.

He will face tough opposition from people like Ralph Kernes (Mitsubishi Evo), Jannie van Rooyen (Goldwagen VW Scirocco), Andy Gossman (Chamdor Veridot Golf), Mark Harvey (Adapt Porsche 924), Brett Langston (Xtra Shoes Golf), Lucas Bezuidenhout (Pta Noord Toyota Altezza) and Joel Silva (BMW E36).

The Libra Productions Silver Cup events should see Rinus Plomp (RSi Autobody Subaru WRX), Lucas Bezuidenhout (Pta Noord Toyota Altezza) and Johan Snyman (Lotus Elise) at the front end.

The weekend’s quickest lap times should be set by the 250 Superkart brigade, with 10 of the incredibly quick machines expected on the grid on Friday.

Also amazingly quick around Zwartkops should be the Inex Legends cars, with Devin Robertson, Seef Fourie and Franco di Matteo the leading contenders. Singer Nicholas Louw will have a race outing, and his efforts will be watched with interest.

A large variety of cars will tackle the Formula Monoposto single-seater races.

Front runners should include Vic Pitro (Divic Swift VW), John Maurien (Willard Van Diemen), Izak Pistorius (DAW VW), Philip Steyn (Swift Toyota), plus the giant-killing Isando Supa Quick Kawasaki Formula M of youngster Charles Williamson.

Topping the two-wheeler events will be two Red Square Kawasaki ZX10 Master Cup races.

Riders to beat will include Brian Bontekoning (Jaguar Power ZX10R), Pieter de Vos (Spada ZX10R), Kyle Robinson (Tech Group ZX10R), Graeme van Breda (Van Breda ZX10R), Andre’ van Vollenstee (Stunt SA ZX10R) and Johan Fourie (Silverton Nut ZX10R).

Richard Carmody (Kawasaki), Etienne Nelson (Cabac BMW), Jesse Boshoff (Triumph Daytona), Brian Bontekoning (Kawasaki), Kyran de Lange (Midas Triumph), Rodney McLachlan (Count Air Kawasaki) and Ryan Hunter (Yamaha) should be the men to watch in the Thunderbike events.

There will also be races for Alfa Trofeo cars and Brunch Run Motorcycles.

Admission per day will cost R80 per adult and R50 per scholar, while kids under the age of 12 will go in for free. Alternatively, weekend tickets will cost R100 per adult and R70 per student.