Summarize

A splendid day of historic motor racing greeted Gauteng race fans to the new season as the first of two weekends of among South Africa’s favourite race weekends, the 24th annual Zwartkops Passion for Speed delivered its usual, magic blend of fun, excitement and nostalgia on Saturday.

Topping the bill, the Pre-74 Sports Prototypes saw Larry Wilford’s Springbok Series Lola T70 Coupe and Antonie Marx’s Tiga Mazda rotary overcome Dutch visitor Michiel Campagne’s monster Can Am McLaren M8F to win the first heat. Franco Di Matteo’s Mustang was fourth from Hennie Groenewald’s Camaro and Jonathan du Toit’s Chevron B8. Jason Campos’ Porsche RSR won Class B, Philip Pantazis Datsun 260Z C and Clive Wilmot’s Escort E. Campagne gained revenge over Wilford, du Toit, Lee Thompson’s Astra, Marx and Rui Campos’ Shelby in a dramatic race 2 when several cars went off on oil spilled by Groenewald’s expiring V8.

Another eternal Passion for Speed favourite, the monster Marlboro Crane Hire Pre’66 Legends of the 9 Hour Touring Cars once again thrilled in 2025. Seef Fourie Junior won the opening race in his Mercury Cougar from Mark du Toit’s Fairlane, Italian visitor Nicky Pastorelli’s Galaxie, Jonathan du Toit in a Chevy Nova. Class B winner Hennie Groenewald’s Escort followed from Ben Morgenrood’s Mustang and Dutch Class B visitor Frans van Maarschalkerwaard in his yellow Corvette. 

Pastorelli struck back to take race 2 from overall winner Mark, and Jonathan du Toit, Lee Thompson’s Chevy Belair, Morgenrood, Colin Ellison’s Ford Thunderbolt, and van Maarschalkerwaard. Sophos Pantazis’ Datsun 240Z took both smaller Legends races from Carel Pienaar’s Lotus Cortina, Alan Poulter’s Volvo 122s. Jonty Needham’s Cortina Perana, Marc Miller’s Alfa and Rory Nossiter’s Mini in race 1. And from Jaco Krynauw’s 240Z, Needham, Poulter and Djurk Venter’s Escort in race 2.

James Temple added another coveted Passion for Speed 45 minute Le Mans Sports & GT Tourist Trophy to his cabinet with his Shelby Daytona Coupe from Oliver Dalais’ Ford GT40, Steve Clark’s Cobra, Djurk Venter in another Daytona, Anthony Taylor’s BMW 328iS and John and Chad Ten Doeschate in a Marauder.

Dean Venter stormed to a double South African Historic Single Seater victory driving a Formula Ford Titan MK4 similar to the one Jody Scheckter raced back in the day. Andrew Horne’s Royale RP31 was second from Formula 3 interloper Josh Dovey’s Chevron B20, Ford men, Ryan Budd’s Ray 92 and Dulon drivers Paul Richardson and Wihan Tiedt. Venter beat Richardson, Ben van der Westhuizen‘s Royale RP 21, Steve Venter in a Van Diemen RF76, Tiedt and Des Hillary’s Dulon in race 2.

The Formula Vee class was of great significance on its 60th birthday. Michael Kernick did the double in the Capital his dad raced back in the day ahead of S&J duo Tony Beecher’s MK9 and Blane de Meilon’s MK5, Jody Morrison’s Cobra Tribute, Gary de Klerk’s Eagle and Paige Lindenberg doing it for the ladies in the Witter Vee that Judy Witter won the title with back in the ‘70s.

Hennie Groenewald took his Datsun 240Z to both Evapco HRSA Classic Sprint race wins from Andre van der Merwe Porsche RSR, Class C winner Werner Kotze’s Mazda R100, Andre ten Napel’s Scirocco, George Avvakoumides’ RSR, Oliver Broome’s Chev SS and Mario Rossi’s Alfa Romeo GTV6. Reg Sutton and Jonathan Konig’s Scirocco shared Class D and Sophos Pantazis’ 240Z and George Economides’ Escort the E wins. 

Racing on their own, Dion Valentine won both Class G and H races in his Mini over Oliver Broome’s Cortina, Roger Houston’s Alfa Giulia and Escort men Ian Odendaal and David Armstrong. Henry Fourie and Regard van Zyl’s Alfa Berlinas won classes G and H. Ollie Broome was first on the road overall in the Evapco HRSA Pursuit handicap from Dion Valentine, Ian Odendaal, Roger Houston’s Alfa Romeo, Cor Kraamwinkel’s BMW and Ken Price. 

Two contemporary Northern Regions championships also got their 2025 seasons underway. The DOE Formula Vees celebrated that incredible 60 years of racing with drivers sharing their cars for the weekend. Peter Hills and Fabio Tafani took the opening heat from Kyle Watt and Craig Watt, Vaughn Hills and Lee Thompson, Brandon Hills and Anthony Taylor, Gert van den Berg and Dennis Johns, and Theodore Vermaak and American visitor Trevor Carmody. Johns and van den Berg turned the tables to win race 2 from overall winners Thompson and Vaughn, with Taylor and Brandon Hills third from Jaco Smit and Alan Holm, Tafani and Peter Hills, and Tjaden Tromp and Shaun vd Linde.

That swarm of BMW M Performance Parts Racers entertained with close and exciting racing as ever, as Renier Smith beat Class B rivals Nek Makris and Andreas Meier to the overall win, and Rob Gearing took Class C from Hein van der Merwe and Oz Biagioni. In the smaller class race, Bilal Ahmed took Class D from Bernard De Gouveia and Dawie Olivier, Eddie Rodrigues Class E from Roland Hopkins and Johan Miller, and Shaun Dodd beat Zaheer Seedat and Shriyav Naidu to Class F honours on a monster 38 car grid.

Fans were also treated to a Formula 1 display of a Sasol Jordan and a Minardi in glorious halcyon action amongst the regular host of Zwartkops off-track fun and attractions. Fear not if you missed out, it all happens all over again at this weekend’s second leg Passion for Speed at Red-Star this coming Saturday 8 February. Find out more at www.redstarraceway.co.za now!