As has become customary over the past few years the South African circuit racing season kicks off on the last weekend in January when the International Passion For Speed takes place at Zwartkops Raceway, west of Pretoria.
Headlining the 2016 edition will be the Castrol South African Tourist Trophy race for Pre-1968 Le Mans and GT Cars. Last year Rui Campos came away victorious in his Lola T70. He will be back again to defend his title this year. He will be joined on the grid by two more Lolas one piloted by Mark and Jonathan du Toit, the other by Mark Lauth.
Like last year, there will be a number of Ford GT40s on the grid. Swedes Kenner Persson and Jan Kling have made the trip to South Africa again with their cars. Brit Chris Wilson will be at the wheel of his GT40 as will South Africans Oliver Dalais and Larry Wilford. Regular visitor to South Africa, Hollander Michiel Campagne, will be in his Grand Sport Corvette with Swede Claus Poulson in a similar car.
Crowd favorite Sarel van der Merwe will share a Daytona Coupe with Michael Briggs and as will the father / daughter combination of Peter and Paige Lindenberg.
The TT is not all about the fast cars at the head of the field, the racing among the competitors in the lower classes is just as fierce. A number of Austen Healeys, three Lotus Elans, two Chevron B8s, four Cobras, two GSM Darts, Chris Clarke’s Morgan, some MGs and an Mpiti will be part of the action.
The 45-minute race, which includes a mandatory 3-minute pit stop, is scheduled to get underway at 13h20.
Hennie Groenewald
Image by: Paul Bedford – Action Images
In the SKF Pre-1966 Legend Production Cars the South African drivers will be challenged by a trio of Ford Mustangs. Swede Christian Nordahl will be joined by Frans van Maarschakwaard and Harm van Putten of the Netherlands.
They will pit their skills against Sarel van der Merwe (Ford Galaxie) and Hennie Groenewald (Plymouth) who should fight it out at the head of the field although Jonathan du Toit (Chev Bel-Air), Paolo Cavalieri (Ford Galaxie), Mark du Toit (Chev Biscayne) and Thomas Falkiner (Studebaker Golden Hawk) are all capable spoiling their party.
Racing gets underway at 07h00 on Saturday morning and the last event of the full day of racing is scheduled to finish around 18h00.
Full weekend tickets can be bought at Computicket before the event for a discounted rate of R170 per adult and R100 per student, with children under 12 going in for free.
Tickets will be available at the gate on Saturday. They will cost R190 per adult and R110 per student. Children under 12 will be admitted free.
