ProMotor Issue 9

ProMotor your FREE environmentally friendly motoring magazine

E e n E i z a R g Fa M

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VW’s New Golf TSI Now With 2 Party Tricks!

Volkswagen Golf 6 TSI // Hummer H3 V8 // Ferrari 599XX // Aston Martin One-77 // Lotus Evora

BRIDGETSONE PRODUCTION CARS // POLO CUP // CANAL WALK GYMKHANA // RALLY DRIVER DIES // MORE...

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Issue 9 - MAY 2009

THIS WEEK IN PROMOTOR bridgestone production cars

VW GOLF 6 TSI

Gymkhana News

Aston Martin One-77

KCB Rally Accident

Wesbank V8’s

Ferrari 599xx Thanks to our contributors : Motorpics, Quickpic, David Taylor

International Circuit

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We Drive : VW’s new GOLF 6 TSI

The Small Engine with 2 Party Tricks!

Article and Images By : David Taylor

The Golf 6 has hit the South African market and ProMotor was afforded the opportunity to put Volkswagen’s latest offering through its paces.

The new Golf 6 boasts some great new features, one of which is VW’s quest for sound deadening. The TSI when idling at an intersection is virtually silent and many a driver could be fooled in thinking that they have stalled the vehicle. Reducing driving noise is not an easy task and VW have placed special dampening film in the windscreen, acoustically sealed the engine from the cabin as well as redesign the seals in the doors and windows. While on the open road, the car is actually rather quiet and feels very refined.

Other new features include Park Distance cameras as well as Park Assist, which is a revolutionary new system. Park Assist takes the hassle out of parallel parking as the car will literally park itself with very little input from the driver.

After a brief presentation, launch attendees were offered a choice of models to test drive. The 1.6 N/A Golf as well as the eagerly anticipated TSI derivatives were on hand.

Being a petrol head, I instinctively made a beeline for the 1.4 TSI Highline. This particular variant features a 1.4 turbo and supercharged 4 cylinder motor. With these two vital

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Turbo & Supercharged

parts in the engine, the TSI Highline produces 118Kw and 240Nm which are astonishing figures for a motor of such small capacity.

Once clear of the traffic, the little 1.4 motor proved to be a wonderful surprise. Initially I had underestimated it but the combination of turbo and supercharger was potent. The TSI Highline picked up speed very quickly and in-gear acceleration was rapid. There was very little lag and power was delivered in a smooth manner. On paper, the TSI should hit 100km/h in only 8 seconds and reach a top speed of 220km/h. A clear road and a swift right foot saw the TSI come close to the acceleration figures while the top speed remained untested. Road holding is exceptional too and the car never seemed to lose grip.

The TSI Highline comes very well specced. Features such as Sports seats, fog lights, 17� alloy wheels and a very loud audio system come standard. In fact pretty

much everything you need is fitted to the vehicle.

The options available include is a sunroof, rear view camera, parallel parking assist and a higher powered audio unit.

Safety wise VW have not compromised. A plethora of airbags as well as ABS, EBD, ESP and ASR are fitted to the new Golf 6.

Volkswagen has made a solid and well built successor to the current Golf 5. The new Golf 6 will prove a popular choice amongst VW fans and the new TSI derivatives will be seen as mini-GTIs until the new GTI arrives in the middle of the year. The only drawback has to be the pricing. The world car market is suffering immense financial damage yet car makers feel that they can charge high prices. The base model 1.6 Trendline retails for R217 000, the 1.4 TSI Trendline at R223 000, the 1.4 TSI Highline at R272 500 and the 2.0 TDI Highline goes for R297 000. Premium prices for a premium car.

Hummer H3 V8

Mighty Hummer Gets V8 General Motor’s South Africa has introduced an all-new HUMMER H3 V8 with a more powerful 5.3L V8 engine that delivers an impressive 224kW @ 5200rpm and 434Nm @ 4000rpm.

The front section of the frame and engine compartment of the H3 V8 was modified to fit the new engine, and a special oil pan was designed to ensure constant oil pressure when driving on steep grades. An improved steering system enhances on-road feel and off-road reliability, while a cast-iron front differential case replaced the aluminium one to better handle torque output. New engine mounts, a thicker front prop shaft, higher torsion bar rates to support the increased mass, and specific shock valving are all unique to the V8.

The V8 not only gives you the space and comfort to enjoy the drive, but also the perfect viewing position to fully appreciate what is happening outside your windows.

The V8 body retains the unique, instantly recognizable style of HUMMER, but with an even more commanding presence. Striking good looks and outstanding on- and off- road handling are thus guaranteed.

The big news in the new HUMMER is under the hood.

The 5.3L V8, partnered with Hydra-Matic 4L60-E electronically four-speed automatic transmission, enables a maximum towing capacity of 2448kg. The V8 is the HUMMER H3 taken further and beyond – 44kW more power, 104Nm more torque and 861kg more towing capacity than the current model 3.7 L model. Improved and maximised, the H3 V8 is designed to get you “out there” and “up there” even faster and more efficiently.

This beast accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in 8.2 seconds – an impressive feat when you consider it weighs around 2.3 tons!

The V8 will be available in Adventure and Luxury spec levels. In the Adventure that means low range gearing of 4.03:1 versus the 2.64:1 in the luxury, electronic selectable full locking front and rear diffs and aggressively tuned shock absorbers. The Luxury gets goodies like chrome wheels and GM have also added reverse cameras, which will come in handy in town, to all 2009 HUMMERS (3.7’s and 5.3 V8’s).

The H3 V8 Luxury edition is priced at R 531 887 compared to the R 541 886 of the H3 V8 Adventure model with the 2009 H3 3.7 L Luxury available from R495 250.

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Ferrari 599XX

X-Treme Italian Stallion Ferrari 599XX is an extreme track car and is based on the current Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. Despite the visual similarities, it is internally where the main differences lie. Ferrari’s engineers have carried out extensive work on the engine to make it more responsive and even faster than its road going counterpart. The combustion chambers as well as the inlet and exhaust tracts have been tweaked extensively.

These modifications, combined with the fact that internal attrition has been reduced and the maximum revs have been boosted to 9,000 rpm, helped achieve the target power output of 700 hp at 9,000 rpm. Weight saving was also a particular important factor and the weight of the engine unit components was significantly reduced. A prime example of this is the intake plenums which are now manufactured in carbon-fibre. A new gearbox shift strategy cuts overall gear shift times to 60 milliseconds.

The Ferrari 599XX is characterised by an innovative electronic concept called the “High Performance Dynamic Concept”.

This means that the car has been designed to get the maximum performance from

it by managing the combination of the car’s mechanical limits with the potential of its electronic controls. The mechanical and electronic systems work in tandem to get the maximum performance from the driver under testing conditions. With the electronics assisting under high performance driving, consistent lap times are easily attainable. The sporty handling has also been improved thanks to the adoption of second generation SCM suspension system. Track usage is also made easier thanks to the new “virtual car engineer”, a screen in the car that provides a real-time indication of the vehicle’s efficiency.

The Ferrari 599XX’s aerodynamics were honed in numerous wind tunnel test sessions with the result that the car now boasts 280 kg of downforce at 200 km/h (630 kg at 300 km/h). The front underside of the body is completely faired-in and the vents that channel hot air from the engine bay have been moved to the bonnet.

Ferrari’s engineers have a reputation for swopping Formula One technology into

their road cars. In this case they have used F1-derived “doughnuts” which partly cover the brake discs and wheel rim which improve aerodynamics and brake cooling.

Carbon-fibre as well as composites have been used extensively and the engineers drew on their experience in working with aluminium to keep the weight down.

The development of increasingly highperformance materials has also benefited the carbon-ceramic material braking system. The brake pads are now made from carbon-fibre which means that the calipers are smaller whilst guaranteeing the same efficiency. The new racing carbon ceramic braking system also delivers shorter braking distances and is generally more efficient due to the weight saving.

The Ferrari 599XX comes with slick tyres (29/67 R19 Front and 31/71 R19 Rear) specifically developed to maximise stability in cornering and increase lateral acceleration. They are fitted to 19 x 11J wheel rims at the front and 19 x 12J at the rear.

Aston Martin One-77

Magnificent Style

Aston Martin One-77 Aston Martin One-77 technical showcase made its debut the Geneva Auto Salon on 3 March 2009. Chassis no.1 was on display providing show goers with a jaw dropping glimpse of what has to be Aston Martin’s finest model.

There is no doubting that the One-77 is Aston Martin’s definitive sports car and represents everything that Aston Martin stands for. The technology, the hand-craftsmanship of the hand rolled aluminium panels as well as the attention to detail are all there. This car will pretty much eclipse any previous Aston Martin. The performance and durability phase of the Aston Martin One-77’s intensive development program is soon to commence and the 79th Geneva Auto Salon provided the perfect stage on which to reveal the remarkable engineering, advanced technology and exotic materials that lie beneath the Aston Martin One-77’s extraordinary exterior.

Dr Ulrich Bez Chief Executive was a proud man as he unveiled the Aston Martin One-77. “Right from the very beginning of the project the vision for Aston Martin One-77 was very simple: It had to combine high-technology with hand-built craftsmanship, and demonstrate the unique capabilities and passion of our designers, engineers and technical partners.

Quite simply it had to be the ultimate expression of Aston Martin. As you can now see, we have achieved that goal in magnificent style.”

The Aston Martin One-77’s structural core is a lightweight and immensely rigid carbon fibre monocoque. Conceived and designed at Aston Martin’s Gaydon HQ, the monocoque, or ‘tub’, has been built in partnership with Multimatic (MTC).

As world leaders in carbon composite technology, advanced vehicle analysis and dynamic simulation, MTC brings unrivalled specialist capabilities to the exacting challenge of the Aston Martin One-77 program.

Employing the classic formula of double wishbones at each corner, the Aston Martin One-77 features inboard suspension front and rear, with pushrods employed to transfer vertical suspension movements to the horizontally mounted spring/ damper units. A practice taken directly from racing car design, the main advantages of inboard suspension are a reduction in unsprung weight and the ability to package the suspension components more effectively.

The dampers are fully adjustable and feature advanced Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve (DSSV) technology; a world-first for a road car application. These special valves are state-of-the-art even at the highest levels of motorsport, and use high-precision machined components to enable the shock-absorbing characteristics of the damper to be changed without having to remove them from the car, as is the norm.

Once the Aston Martin One-77 has been delivered to its owner, the car’s suspension characteristics will be precisely set-up

by Aston Martin engineers to suit their exact requirements, from settings suitable for the ultimate long-distance GT, to a machine capable of conquering the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

While functionality and efficiency are paramount in the design and construction of the Aston Martin One-77, so too is aesthetic beauty. To this end every single component has been crafted from the finest materials with absolute attention to detail. From the mesmerising weave of the glossy carbon fibre tub and the abstract, sculptural beauty of the dry sump’s

oil reservoir, to the unerring precision of the billet machined aluminium suspension mounts, the Aston Martin One-77’s rolling chassis is an automotive masterpiece.

Naturally, such a chassis demands - and gets - an equally exceptional engine. It comes in the form of a potent 7.3litre, naturally aspirated V12 engine. Thanks to the adoption of a dry-sump oil system, the engine is mounted 100mm lower than in any previous V12-engined Aston Martin road car, which helps keep the Aston Martin One-77’s centre-ofgravity as low as possible. To further aid agility and endow the Aston Martin One-77 with progressive handling and stable, predictable on-limit behaviour, the engine is also mounted 257mm aft relative to the front wheel centreline. In so doing the front-mid-engined layout shared by all of Aston Martin’s current road car range has been taken to a new level.

The Aston Martin One-77’s magnificent power unit is an extreme evolution of the 6.0-litre V12 engines fitted to the current Aston Martin models. Similar to the collaboration with MTC for the build of the chassis, Aston Martin has chosen a world-leading partner with which to develop the motor: legendary engine builders, Cosworth. It has proved to be the perfect collaboration, as Chris Porritt explains.

“Our brief to the engine team was for them to take the 6.0litre V12 as far as it could go, both in terms of output and weight reduction. The targets were a power output of no less than 700bhp with a 10 per cent reduction in engine mass. Incredibly, the Aston Martin and Cosworth engineers achieved a mass reduction of some 25 per cent, and although we’ve yet to complete the final engine calibration work, I’m confident we’ll see in excess of 700bhp. It’s an awesome accomplishment, but one that’s typical of the One-77 project, for it has consistently brought out the very best in everyone involved.”

With Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres (255/35 ZR20 front, 335/30 ZR20 rear) developed specifically for the Aston Martin One77, all 700+bhp is transmitted to the road through the rear wheels via a new six-speed gearbox. Column-mounted paddles behind the steering wheel control the shifts and thissequential manual is a new generation of Aston Martin’s familiar transmission. Though it is made specifically for the Aston Martin One-77 and features specially strengthened internals to cope with the tremendous power and torque, the lessons learned in its development will ultimately find their way into the company’s series production models.

Carbon Ceramic Matrix brake technology has been used as the basis for the Aston Martin One-77’s braking system.

The internals of the callipers have been re-engineered to transmit less heat from the brake pads into the brake fluid, while the discs themselves have been developed to ensure the maximum possible contact area between the face of the disc and the brake pads for improved stopping power. Due to the Aston Martin One-77’s increased performance, special attention has also been paid to brake cooling, as the brakes have less time to cool between bursts of acceleration.

With a projected weight of 1,500kg the One-77 will occupy the very highest echelons of road car performance. Top speed is predicted to be in excess of 200mph, with a 0-100 km/h time in approximately 3.5sec. Once it goes on sale, the Aston Martin One-77 will be one of the world’s most exclusive and desirable sports cars.

Lotus Evora

Hand Crafted

The Lotus Evora is the first all-new Lotus since the iconic Lotus Elise made its debut way back in 1995 and it enters the sports car market as currently the world’s only mid-engined 2+2. Powered by a Lotustuned 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 280bhp, and weighing just 1350 kg, the Lotus Evora promises breathtaking performance. During preliminary testing around the famous Nürburgring, the Lotus chassis engineers report that it is extremely agile and great fun to drive despite the car being camouflaged with cladding to hide it from press photographers.

Being a Lotus, the Evora will have excellent performance and exemplary handling however a first for the brand is a refined and luxury interior. Elegant trimmings in the cabin as well as a long equipment list such as an advanced touch-screen multi-media system and electric power-fold door mirrors make the Evora even more desirable. The cabin is easier to enter as wider, taller door apertures and narrower sills make getting in and out of the cabin a less athletic undertaking when compared to the likes of the Elise, Exige and Europa.

Power will come from a Toyota-supplied all-alloy 2GR-FE 3.5-litre V6 DOHC, with dual VVT-i. However this power plant will be running a Lotus-tuned map resulting in better performance and response. Power is transmitted to the wheels via a 6-speed gearbox.

Expect performance to be brisk with the 100km/h mark arriving in under 5 seconds. The Evora will have a top speed of around 250km/h.

The Lotus Evora will be hand crafted and built on a dedicated new assembly line within Lotus’s advanced manufacturing facility at Hethel in the east of England. Capacity limitations will restrict production to approximately 2000 cars a year ensuring that the Evora becomes an exclusive sports car.

Mike Kimberley, CEO of Group Lotus plc, has this to say about the exciting new model: “The Lotus Evora is the biggest milestone Lotus has achieved since the Elise was born 13 years ago and is part of our bold five year strategic plan, which includes the introduction of new cars and technologies to many more markets around the world. The Lotus Evora also represents Lotus core values of performance through light weight and efficiency and proves that you can have phenomenal performance, fuel efficiency elegant design and practicality all in a class leading mid-engine 2+2 sportscar, which will meet global safety and homologation standards” Mike Kimberley continues, “Looking to the future, we will continue to research, develop and produce lighter, more efficient vehicles which are linked to our extensive and wellregarded work on all aspects of future fuels, alternative engines and electric and hybrid vehicle solutions for the future. We all have an environmental responsibility to future generations and the Lotus Evora is another example where Lotus is seen to make significant steps towards improving the efficiency and sustainability of the motorcar keeping Britain at the forefront of the high technology motor industry.” -

Article By : David Taylor

Bridgestone Production Cars

Team Afrox cooking with gas in production car championship The Team Afrox pair of Anthony Taylor and Robert Wolk in their BMW 330is return to Bridgestone Production Car Championship action at Killarney circuit in Cape Town this weekend after a sixweek break.

Taylor, 2007 national production car champion, established a nine-point lead in class A over reigning champion Johan Fourie (Audi) with a Midas-touch performance in the previous round at Kyalami, where he scored a win and a second, thus endearing himself to new sponsor Midas.

The former SA drivers’ champion has now won two of the first four races so far this season and is relishing the opportunity to further increase his championship lead over Fourie at a circuit he thoroughly enjoys.

“It’s been a long break between race

The former national Formula Ford champion is keen to re-establish his credentials as a potential race winner in Cape Town and get his season back on track. “It was not the start I was looking for,” said Wolk.

Afrox and our other sponsors, we are in an excellent position to stay ahead of the pack.”

Team Afrox is proud to be associated with the following sponsors: Afrox, subSaharan Africa’s largest gases, safety and welding supplier – www.afrox.com; Castrol, a true pioneer in the oil and lubrication business, leading the field in terms of research, development, and technology – www.castrol.com; Midas, marketers and distributors of quality replacement automotive products and services through over 265 outlets countrywide – www.midas.co.za; SNR Bearings, a leading French manufacturer of bearings for the automotive, aerospace and general industry for nearly a century – www.snrbearings.com

“This is always a tightly contested championship,” said Team Afrox manager Donovan van Heerden. “The BMW 330i has proved itself to be very competitive and with the professional backing of

Team Afrox also acknowledges its specialist official supplier and technical partners: Autobahn Approved Repair Centre, Hi-Tech Mag Repairs, Powerbrake and Sax Shocks.

meetings and I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel,” said Taylor.

Team-mate Wolk followed up his unfortunate start to the new season in Port Elizabeth, where he was involved in a big crash in the first race that kept him out of the rest of the day’s on-track activities, with a conservative approach to Kyalami’s two races and finished a safe sixth in each.

TEAM FORD RACING EAGER TO CHALLENGE FOR TOP SPOT IN THE CAPE Killarney, Cape Town Pretoria: Team Ford Racing is heading back to the coast for round three of the Bridgestone Production Car Championship taking place at Cape Town’s Killarney circuit on 9 May 2009. Ford driver’s Gary Formato and Shaun Duminy will be hoping to top the time sheets in their Nando’s sponsored Ford Focus ST racers.

Formato is currently lying in second place in the Class T championship battle and will be hoping to close the gap on the current log leader Graeme Nathan.

“I’m really looking forward to the Killarney event,” says Formato. “It is an opportunity for us to make up some ground in the championship.

Having said that it will be no easy task, the competition is likely to be as tough as ever as teams settle into the season.”

In the lead up to the Cape Town-based event there have been some amendments to the base weights of the Class T cars, which positively impacts on the Ford team.

“We struggled with a heavy car in the first two rounds of the championship but we will

receive some respite at this outing. With the long back straight at Killarney, weight can have a big impact on the outcome of the race. It’s hard to say at this point how the new base weights will impact the field, however we have every confidence in the Focus ST and are looking forward to a great event,” adds Formato.

Teammate Shaun Duminy is eagerly anticipating this weekend’s event. The Ford driver is looking forward to entertaining the enthusiastic Cape Town crowd. “I’ve been looking forward to this event.

We have a great car underneath us and hopefully we’ll be able to give the Ford fans something to cheer about,” he comments.

Qualifying and both races will take place on Saturday 9 May 2009, so fans can expect a jam packed schedule of top class motorsport.

“There is always a great turnout at Killarney. There will be plenty of action with qualifying and both the races scheduled for this Saturday and we fully intend to challenge for top honours,” concludes Formato.

SAM Racing prepared for Killarney resumption of hostilities The Wesbank Super Series resumes at Killarney circuit in Cape Town this weekend (May 8 and 9) and the SAM Racing team can’t wait to get back into action after the six-week break since the last round at Kyalami in March.

rounds at Aldo Scribante and Kyalami. His championship chances were dented when he failed to score in the other two races and he will be looking to break through with a first win of the season in Cape Town.

SAM’s Nissan Dealer Team of Leeroy Poulter (GP Windscreens Nissan 350Z) and Marco da Cunha (Tubular Nissan 350Z) will resume hostilities with their Audi, BMW and Subaru rivals in class A of the Bridgestone SA Production Car Championship. SAM team-mates Wesleigh Orr (Global Consulting Formula VW) and Paulo da Cunha (Tubular Formula VW) return to contest the singleseater Formula Volkswagen Championship.

Team-mate Da Cunha, younger brother of Marco, has had an eventful start to his new season, crashing in qualifying in Port Elizabeth and spinning out of contention at Kyalami, but still managing to score enough points to be eighth in the championship.

Poulter, former national production car champion and reigning European and World Rotax Max DD2 karting champion, is joint fourth in class A of the Bridgestone Production Car Championship, and will be keen to build on a successful last outing at Kyalami where he won the first race from second on the grid ahead of another former champion, Anthony Taylor (BMW 330i), and defending champion Johan Fourie (Audi A4 quattro).

Da Cunha was out of luck at Kyalami, finishing the first race in eighth place after a circuit breaker switch came loose and dropping out of race two with electrical problems.

Former Rotax Max and Rok world karting champion Orr is fifth in the Formula Volkswagen Championship despite two fighting runnerup finishes in the first two

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“It was just as well we had a long break between rounds,” said SAM Racing principal Lee Philips. “We had to repair the damage to Leeroy’s Nissan following the clash with Fourie at Kyalami when the two were contesting third place in race two. We also had a bit of work to do on Wesleigh’s FVW after the engine cover worked loose and folded back on itself in the last race at Kyalami.

“We’re confident we have the pace in both categories to register wins this weekend.

Marco has not enjoyed the best of luck to date and is due a good result, while Wesleigh has matched the race winner’s lap times in both rounds to date.”

SAM Racing acknowledges and thanks its sponsors for their continued support: Tubular Technical Construction, Exa Motor Group, Ferodo, GP Windscreens, Global Consulting Solutions, Exa Platinum Rentals, Top Car Paint & Panel, Tri Dent Middelburg, Hi Tech Mag Repairs, Sax Shocks, Signs For You and Fish & Meat City.

Volkswagen Cup

Champion Young Drivers fired up for Cape Town races The Champion Young Driver team of Gennaro Bonafede and Devin Robertson in the Champion spark plug-backed Volkswagen Polos is strongly placed to contest top honours in this weekend’s (May 8 and 9) third round of the Engen Volkswagen Cup national championship.

Robertson, rookie of the year in 2008 and at 16 the youngest driver in the competition, has had a great start to his second season, following up a second place in the opening race of the year in Port Elizabeth in March with a win in race two, and a third and a fourth in round two at Kyalami six weeks ago. He is currently second in the championship, four points behind Matthew Hodges and 15 points ahead of Miguel Pasqualli.

“I’m enjoying being part of the Champion Young Driver team,” said the youngster, who prefers to do his talking on the race track.

Team-mate Bonafede, rookie of the year in 2007, is sixth after making up for a disappointing opening round in Port

Elizabeth by finishing second overall for the day at Kyalami.

A mysterious misfire kept the 17-year-old out of qualifying and race one at Aldo Scribante, but he was right back in contention in the last round with a second and a third. “There is still room for improvement,” said the Pretoria University first year engineering student.

Bonafede, son of multiple SA rally champion co-driver Vito, will be keen to erase the painful memory of his last visit to Cape Town in the final round of the 2008 championship in November. He had arrived at Killarney still in the running to win the title, but endured a frustrating weekend to drop out of contention.

The two talented Champion-backed teenagers have shown they are up to the robust challenges and door handle-todoor handle dicing that characterise this exciting one-make formula and can be expected to feature strongly in the results at Killarney this weekend.

Patrik Vermaak Writes

1st Canal Walk Gymkhana

Seventy five teams enjoyed a fantastic day in surprisingly pleasant weather on Saturday 2 May 2009 and spectators were treated to some of the most scintillating performances seen at any gymkhana event. Possibly the fact that the gymkhana formed part of the superb Canal Walk Motor Show created just that little bit more of a flair to the occasion and everyone dug deep to deliver their best.

Having won the 4th Glomix Bricks and Blocks Gymkhana in wet conditions at Flamingo’s Langebaan on 31 January 2009 the prospect of rain had Jehan de Jongh and Johan Swart in confident mood but even they were surprised when they managed to win in dry conditions on Saturday 2 May 2009. The popular winemakers displayed exceptional skill to steer their well sorted H&H Motors

Spares Wellington class C VW Golf MkI 1600 towards a well deserved second overall victory, beating some of the best teams in the Western Cape.

Izak van Zyl had Jehan de Jongh as navigator in the Dynotech class G VW Golf GTi 2.0 16v Turbo and though he claims to have given Izak all the motivation he could manage the much more powerfull Golf had to accept second place by 0.34 seconds after a tense day. Making it an almost dominant Ouens Racing podium it was Danye and Marcile Louw in third spot with the very same H&H Motor Spares Wellington class C VW Golf MkI 1600.

Being brother-in-law and sister to Jehan making this a special occasion indeed.

Jacques du Plessis and Walter van Dyk drove with a maturity never displayed

before and the very rapid Du Plessis Auto class C Toyota Conquest RSi 1600 really worked up a sweat enroute to a fine fourth overall. Fanie du Toit scared his wife, Melanie, with two 360 spins during the recent 22nd Casino Mykonos Gymkhana in Langebaan and it was Kobus Wilson who guided the very quick class A Mazda Rustler 2.0i LDV to a closely fought fifth overall.

Rubbing further salt into the wounds of the already battle scarred field it was Jehan de Jongh and Johan Swart beating Danye and Marcile Louw to sixth overall sharing the H&H Motor Spares Wellington class B VW Golf MkI 1800.

Two cars, four entries and all finishing in the top seven! Jean-dré Pepper and André van Eden celebrated their return in their recently completed class B GTi Challenge VW Golf MkI 1800 by beating

1st Canal Walk Gymkhana close friends and serious GTi Challenge rivals, Tersius van Tonder and Willie Schutte to eighth overall. Tersius recently dominated his class on a very wet Killarney but with no rain arriving he was 0.29 seconds shy of his Jean-dré on this occasion. Something that Jeandré will not let him forget about!

Duncan Jepthas and Nashrene Schloss found the tight circuit difficult to negotiate and the Powerflow Exhausts class G VW Golf 2.0 TSi broke a CV in protest before settling for tenth overall.

Riaz Noordien and Nashrene Schloss next up in the very rapid class B Toyota Corolla Sprinter 1800. The surprise being that Riaz had actually succeeded in beating Nashrene in her own car, but then, being female she was more focused on borrowing his credit card for a shopping spree later the evening!

Jacobus and Albertus, swopping sides in nineteenth place with their 20v class C Team REACT Toyota Conquest RSi 1600.

Ruan Reynders and Herman Mathee truly impressive with another class F victory in their Ford Escort Sport MkII 2.0i and a top twenty position as bonus to a superb effort. This Ford making them the most popular combination present as far as commentator, Pieter Swanepoel, was concerned! Jacques Otto and Emilé Blanché second in class and 21st overall in the rapid Toyota 1600 powered Nissan LDV but rest assured they intend wiping the grin off Swanepoel’s face come Saturday 6 June 2009 when the 5th Glomix Bricks and Blocks Gymkhana takes place at Flamingo’s Langebaan.

Pierre Schoeman looked confident in the neatly prepared Strand Fitment

Brent Laurings and Duncan Andrews pushed the yellow class A Opel Kadett GTE 2.0 to it’s limits and finding them down in twelfth spot simply indicates the standard of competition present on the day.

Trading carburetors for fuel injection the class B VW Golf MkI 1800 of Günther and Louise Appelgryn certainly performed flawlessly and it will simply take a few events to adapt to the new performance levels of this car before they move higher than the thirteenth spot earned at Canal Walk. Top ladies crew, Nashrene Schloss and Louise Appelgryn fourteenth after another dominant display in the green Toyota Corolla Sprinter 1800. It was however very encouraging to see more all lady drivers enter the fray. Brothers, Albertus and Jacobus Loubser, drove

Centre class A VW Golf GTi 2.0 and navigator, Marinelle Kock, will certainly have a few stories to tell as teacher at the Jan Kriel School Kuilsrivier. “Juffrou kan goed rigting hou!” Morné Roux and Monica Robbertse looked much more impressive than their eventual 23rd place overall but possibly pushed a little too hard in the class A Mazda 323 EGi 2.0 16v, even managing a uncharacteristic spin during their final run. Kobus Wilson and Jean-Pierre Robberts as always impressive with their J.P.W.Transport Worcester class F Nissan LDV 1400 with the sneezing class G CTi Turbo VW Golf MkI 2.0 of Walter van Dyk and Jacques du Plessis hot on their heels.

Kosie Weyers have become quite a name on the circuits of SA and it was great to welcome him and Johan Crafford in their Blitz Buy and Sell class B GTi Challenge VW Golf MkI 1800. Unfamiliar territory

well to claim fifteenth slot in their neatly turned out 20v class C Team REACT Toyota Conquest RSi 1600 and regular appearances have certainly seen their confidence bolstered.

Sixteenth spot for the dominant class E Everson Construction BMW 325i of Danie Smuts and Louise Kellerman again an indication of just how tight the route was at Canal Walk but they surprised as top rear wheel drive team home on the day. Contesting class B it was Nashrene Schloss and Riaz Noordien next in line with the overworked Toyota Corolla Sprinter 1800 sounding as though it could be in need of some new CV’s at the end of the event. Lindsey Carlse and Edward Kruger impressed by placing their Reynolds / Secpronet Security class A VW Golf MkI 2.0 eighteenth with the Loubser brothers,

for track racers but they bit the bullet and eventually finished a credible 26th overall on their gymkhana debut. Morné Roux and Monica Robbertse used their experience to finish 27th in their regular class B VW Golf MkI 1800 with the class D winning S.U.P.Auto Opel Corsa 1.3 of Gary Meyer and Sharon Hammond 28th after some entertaining displays of three wheeling action. With Petra Zulch (alias M) still on a secret mission it was Richard “Tazz” Hough that navigated for Johann Zulch in the No 13 class E Van der Merwe Houtsaery BMW 325i and even 007 got it sideways on the day.

Eric Nel had his GTi Challenge racer on display inside Canal Walk and with Francois Erasmus pointing directions in the class G VW Polo GTi Turbo they completed the top thirty finishers on the day. Peet van der Walt and Lizelle van Rensburg placed their PSW class B GTi Challenge racing VW Golf MkI 1800

1st Canal Walk Gymkhana 31st despite flailing oil pressure. Hennie Odendaal and Willie Schutte 32nd in their Boetzendaal Radiators class B VW Golf MkI 1800 after another confidence building event. Jean Boetzkes planning his wedding whilst Hennie Odendaal concentrated on important matters such as improving his driving skills! Francois Erasmus and Eric Nel proved very entertaining in their three wheeling class B Supa Quick Brackenfell VW Golf MkI 1800 and 33rd overall reflected a good effort.

Having traded his class A Opel Kadett GSi 2.0 for occasional runs in the family class C Toyota Sprinter 1600 a beaming Morné Olivier enjoyed every minute in his recently acquired ex-Dirk Vermeulen class E BMW 325i. Richard Hough navigating for Morné and then also claiming 43rd spot as driver of his own class F BMW 320i with Danie Smuts as navigator. Edwrad Kruger and Lindsey Carlse proved that a 1300 MkI Golf is almost indestructible by revving it off the dial enroute to 44th spot.

Jan Nel another to make an overdue return in his very neat Supercharged Toyota 1600 powered class G Lotus Super 7 and if the grin worn by debutant navigator, Vanessa Brown, is anything to judge buy this combination is going to worry the leading teams in due course.

Robin Wakeford and Jaco Matthee enjoyed every minute in their class C Toyota Corolla 1600 and 35th spot was well deserved. The very attractive red class G SEAT Cupra Turbo 1800 of Raynere Joubert and Danie Smuts only 36th on this occasion, failing to stretch it’s legs on the tight route. Róaan and Pierre Schoeman confused the commentators by spraying their class B VW Golf MkI 1800 blue but it certainly seems to have made it quicker enroute to 37th spot.

Jaco Matthee and Robin Wakeford swopped roles and managed 38th in their impressive 1981 class F Toyota Corolla 1600 rwd with the very hard working No 39 class F Nissan 1400 LDV of Herman Mathee and Ruan Reynders 39th overall after another tough day at the office. Sharon Hammond and Lizelle van Rensburg broke the accelerator cable on their neat class I STB VW Golf MkI 1800 but still claimed 40th spot, showing that her GTi Challenge experience have certainly served her well. Charl Carr and Heinrich Kleinschmidt delivered another spirited performance in their class D Opel Corsa Classic 1400, claiming another superb second place in class.

Female SA Land Speed record holder, Jeanette Kok-Kritzinger, shared the PSW class B GTi Challenge VW Golf MkI 1800 with Lizelle van Rensburg and celebrated her return to the gymkhana series with 45th place after a determined effort. Their efforts cut short with flailing oil pressure on the new car intended to promote female participation in motorsport.

Heinrich Kleinschmidt and Charl Carr had the class C Nissan Sentra 1600 dancing on three wheels for most of the day and claimed 46th spot with the equally entertaining class B Drafthire VW Golf MkII 1800 of Lawton van Oordt and Eugene van der Heever 47th. Father and daughter, Jacobus and Lizelle Smit, took their KS Panelbeaters class E BMW 325i to 48th with the turbocharged class G Team Dragon Nissan Almera 1600 of Zaine Louw and Pieter Nel 49th after another steady performance. Benjamin Dixon and Gerald Hoenderdos added another consistent result behind their class C Toyota Conquest RSi 1600.

Grinning from ear to ear Mark Zeeman and Edward Kruger thrashed through the route in their ex-Thorsten Pey class E BMW 328i and clearly there is much more to come from this well prepared vehicle. Spening much of his life at sea it was great to see Dan Traut (convinced there is no pun intended with his surname) and Eric Nel back in action

with their class E BMW 325i and 52nd showed that they certainly did not pick up too much rust.

Ashley Haigh-Smith impressed Patrick Vermaak by finishing the event with not a single bent rim on the class C Team REACT Mitsubishi Lancer GT1600 rally car and certainly proved very entertaining to the spectators with some interesting lines and aggressive driving. Very stable but heavy and lacking grunt the Mitsu could only be coaxed into 53rd spot but much was learned from the experience and he will be back in future. Stiaan Kriel and birthday boy, Pierre Appelgryn, had ample power but preferred to burn rubber in their awesome class E Nissan 350Z, something the spectators appreciated.

They were voted the most spectacular team on the day!

Marcel Grovers and Grant Steenveld 55th overall in the Drafthire class B VW Golf MkII 1800 with a very spectacular 2008 WP Seniors Rally Drivers Champion, Abduraghman Amlay, and Nashrene Schloss slithering their way to 56th spot in the class B Toyota Run X RSi 1800 of a very unsuspecting Mrs Amlay. Manie also had his championship winning Gp N3 Toyota Run X RSi on display inside Canal Walk and between runs he was actually still coaching his U/13 soccer team! A dedicated sportsman if ever there was one.

Louise Kellerman and Marcile Louw placed the Everson Construction class I BMW 325i 57th with the 8v class A Mazda 323 Sting of Jean-Pierre Robberts and Kobus Wilson 58th despite running bearings on their final run. Willie Schutte and Hennie Odendaal enjoyed their outing in the class C VW Golf MkI 1600 thoroughly and finished just ahead of the dueling Bart Smit Snr and Jnr combination in their class F dent & Scratch Boutique Nissan LDV 1400.

This time father beat son. Ebrahim Mia and Riaz Noordien 62nd in their class

1st Canal Walk Gymkhana B Toyota Conquest 1800 after some entertaining runs whilst Ettiene Swart and Izak van Zyl finished 63rd in the impressive class G Opel Corsa DTi 1700 LDV. Andrew Pojie and Tasneem Parker have not had good outings since popping the engine of their class F BMW 320i and after having attacked Patrick Vermaak on the route they wisely tucked in the horns and settled for 64th place. Ebraheem de Long and Nashrene Schloss another combination that needed to trim the enthusiasm displayed in their class F Nissan SSS 1800 after some much too enthusiastic slides. Monica Robbertse and Tasneem Parker added more experience with 66th spot in their class I VW Golf MkI 1800 , just ahead of debutant driver, Lizelle van Rensburg, and Jeanette Kok-Kritzinger in the class I PSW VW Golf MkI 1800.

Kirsten-Leigh Lansdell had André van Heerden assisting on her debut event in her standard class D Opel Corsa 1.3 and certainly did herself proud enroute to 68th spot. Lloyd and Stuart Lingeveldt completed their debut event in 69th place with their class F Toyota Corolla 1600 rwd. What was remarkable was the fact that this is a specially adapted vehicle which allows Lloyd to drive with only one leg. Arnold de Leeuw and Eugene van der Heever the final team home in their class A Nissan Sentra 2.0.

Izak van Zyl again topped the single seater category with the fastest time of the day in his exceptionally quick Birel 407cc Kart.Ryno pentz was pretty impressive in the 250cc Dico Honda powered Formula M racer but had no answer to the rapid lawnmower. DeeJay Booysen could not utilize the 400cc Honda engine in his Dico Formula M racer and settled for third spot with the incredible Berto Hanekom fourth aboard (debatable as to exactly where he is supposedly seated on or off this machine) his Yamaha Banshee 350.

Clubmans racer, Stanley Fielding, fifth in his neat OPD Ford Escort MkII 2.0 after a character building outing minus navigator.

It was an honour to form part of the impressive Canal Walk Motor Show and though there were the normal growing pains of any new event the gymkhana crews would certainly enjoy returning

to this venue in future. Thank you to Wilmarie Janse van Rensburg, Christie Stanbridge and Jeanette Kok-Kritzinger for the opportunity. Behind the scenes it was Robin Wakeford and Jaco Matthee that took care of the footwork with much valued support from Albertus and Jacobus Loubser. No club can survive without enthusiastic members and they did WBMK proud.

Arriving early morning to meet the MSA track inspection team consisting of Brian Jeffries (Chairman MSA Regional Motorsport), Dave Malan (WC Rally Sub Chairman) and Jimmy Pantony saw gymkhana events enhance it’s credibility when they received the green light. Though it is hoped to never actually utilize them, the sport also now have two qualified officials who may conduct electronic breathalyzer tests with the properly calibrated and approved equipment. No threat to anyone, we strive to keep the sport healthy! Marius Bester opened drivers briefing in appropriate manner and thankfully the weather turned out for the better.

Marius Roux is taking a well deserved break from scrutineering duties and Albertus Loubser and Michael Ramshaw have been appointed in his place. Their dedication and thorough work can only be complimented on the day with various teams having to return after failing initial scrutineering.

Pierre van der Westhuizen returned as veteran Clerk of the Course with Daniël Terblanché the MSA Steward.

Neville Gleeson as always managed the Jayen Timer whilst André Mitchell and Suné Nortjé recorded every time for another almost instant result after 300 successful timed runs! On course Dewald Nortjé started teams and Meghan Nortjé controlled the finish line.

Xandré du Toit had Paul Arendse and Johan Lerm join him as Judges of Fact with Arie Stylen on circuit as marshal.

Acquiring two new cordless microphones raised the standard of commentary until the team discovered that both worked on the same frequency. Fortunately Pieter Swanepoel and Marius Bester are rarely phased by any handicaps and they managed to keep spectators and competitors well informed throughout the day. Anette Vermaak as always the overworked and underpaid secretary of the meeting with technical assistance from Craig Blanckenberg. André Brinkman did his usual stirling job as

line up marshal in the tight confines of the pit area whilst Liz Terblanché earned the Marshal of the Day award for duty at the pit entrance.

A special word of thanks to Lindsey Carlse and Secpronet Security for the assiatance provided by their four security personnel present on the day.

Brent Laurings and Nampak Corrugated assisted with the handy paper dustbins in the pit area and we thank everyone who made use of these. The area was pleasantly clean when the PIC Projects Fencing was removed late afternoon.

The appeal to competitors and crew to assist in packing up afterwards attracted the regular few but once again we thank the likes of Benjamin Dixon who assisted to the end. To Mr Otto, father of Jacques, a big thank you for the sponsorship of the 40 fence mounting stands and Jacques for actually building them. Though not competing this year it was great to have the breakdown of Keith Dorrell present as support whilst the SA Paramedic squad consisted of Nickey Parker, Shadley Abarahams and Tyson Unger.

Last but not least a hearty thank you to Tiger Wheel & Tyre Canal Walk for the provision of the tyre barrier and the kind gesture of providing competitors and officials with “boerewors rolls” throughout the day. Good news ia that Brian Sadie have indicated that this might not be the last time we hear of a Tiger Wheel & Tyre involvement with the Witzenberg Motorklub Gymkhana Championship either! As always Daniël Burger and Jannie Slabbert took care of the official event DVD whilst Leatitia Bester, Eric Joseph and Frank Pey recorded the action on digital stills.

Canal Walk commissioned their own official photographer and we also had Nishaam Ebrahim representing www. raceweb.co.za for the first time.

With both Jean-dré Pepper and Tersius van Tonder running under the Uniref banner it was great to see Donevan Denyssen represented by these drivers at the 1st Canal Walk Gymkhana.

Remember , on Saturday 6 June 2009 Donevan Denyssen will also be supporting round 6 of the 2009 series when the 5th Glomix Bricks and Blocks Gymkhana takes place at the popular Flamingo’s Restaurant and Dance Club in Langebaan.

Do not miss the action!

BMW Car Club Gauteng.

Kyalami BMW vs. Subaru Track Day Challenge.

BMW Car Club Gauteng invites you and your customers to join us at the annual Kyalami BMW vs. Subaru Track Day Challenge.

The BMW Car Club pride is at stake as they defend their 2008 crown against hard charging Subaru owners. Every year the fastest and maddest BMWs and Subarus turn out to compete for top honours in their various classes in a timed lap format. Cars are grouped together according to their previous track times and are set off in intervals in a battle for the fastest lap time.

A track day is the perfect opportunity for any driver or owner to explore the dynamic abilities of their cars. Novices are welcome to join in too and do not need to worry about getting in the way of the fastest cars. They are run in a novice class. Should the driver prove to be a little quicker than expected, we will reclass the driver so that he/she can compete with cars and drivers of similar capabilities. Highly experienced BMW Driver Training instructors will be available during the morning sessions to assist drivers with technique, braking points, apex points and exit points. The event is fully marshalled by Kyalami and is a Motorsport South Africa accredited event, so be assured safety is the top priority.

Whether you come as a spectator or you would like to participate, this is a not-to-be-missed event. Entry to spectators is free and the gates open from 07:00. The day ends with a prize giving at 17:00. Food and drink are available for purchase throughout the day. We will also be holding our popular BMW motorsport exhibition, where you can see BMWs that have been successful in motorsport from past and present in action on the track.

Should you wish to participate, please go to our website at www.bmwcarclub.co.za for registration and event details.

You will need to be a BMW Car Club Gauteng member, and you will need to apply for a MSA Circuit licence. All of these details are available on the website.

If you have any other queries, you can contact the organisers at the numbers below.

Event Organisers: Troy Cochran troy@bmwcarclub.co.za 082 576 1178 Register at bmwcarclub.co.za

Ryan Herd ryan@bmwcarclub.co.za 083 225 8057

KCB Rallying

DRIVER RIYAZ KURJI CRASHES TO DEATH UGANDAN driver Riyaz Kurji died on the spot on Saturday afternoon during the KCB Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally after his Crane Bank Subaru Impreza N8 rammed into a tree when he was enjoying a three minute lead over Zambians Muna Singh / David Sihoka (Madison Subaru Impreza N10).

Crane Bank-supported Ugandan posted amazing stage time leads that saw him open up a two minute 30 second cushion at lunch break on Muna / Sihoka, whose time at this stage was 00:56:40.

The Pearl is the median race of this season’s five-event FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) after the Kobil Rally of Tanzania and the KCB Safari Rally Kenya held in February and April respectively.

After Kurji’s death, Muna and Sihoka clocked 01:45:25 to win the rally by a sound three minute 12 seconds over secondplaced Zimbabweans James Whyte and Philip Archenoul in a similar Jailing Motorsport Subaru N10.

Kurji, navigated by compatriot Sayed Kadri, who survived the tragedy, dominated the Pearl from the opening day on Friday when he won the 4.4-km SSS and was leading the pack unitl his death.

Ugandans Emmanuel Katto and Moses Matovu in an EMKA Subaru N14 timed 01:50:17 to claim third position.

The Meyjes and De Jager Motorsport team Heads for Tzaneen THE tranquil forests surrounding Tzaneen will once again be overpowered by the sound of rally cars driven in anger this coming weekend, when the Meyjes and De Jager Motorsport team as well as 30 other rally crews will start the second round of the Northern Regions Rally Championship.

The Meyjes and De Jager Motorsport team, consisting of Erik de Jager and Robbie Coetzee, will be in the thick of the class S1 fight, after a disappointing first round in Belfast. The team finished fourth in class in the previous round, after the little VW Citi Golf was plagued by several punctures. The team will however be aiming to repeat or better their performance on last year’s Tzaneen rally, where they claimed a third in class s1. “ I enjoy these kinds of roads although they don’t suite the car very well, we

will most probably opt for a cautious approach and see how close to the pace we are after the first few stages, before attacking” Erik said.

The Bathroom Bizarre Tzaneen Rally is one of only 2 forest rallies forming part of the Northern Regions Rally Championship, and has a reputation for having unique challenges. According to the organizers this year’s rally will be no exception as it will consist of tricky and technical roads through the plantations with trees only centimetres away. The Dam stage also has a reputation for several mud holes, ditches and standing water in corners, which won’t make it any easier.

“It’s been quite a long break for me with almost two months without any rallies, Robbie will however be on form after doing three National events with team Total, which will be an advantage to me.”

Erik concluded

Another unique quality of the Tzaneen rally is that it is the only televised round of the Northern Regions Rally Championship, giving rally crews and their sponsors great exposure.

The rally will start at around 9:30 in the Misty River Spur parking area, were cars will depart for the first stage. Spectator guides will be available at the start of the rally as well as at Simpson Motors. Be sure not to miss the special rally segment in the local Tzaneen newspapper, the Letaba Herald.

The Meyjes and De Jager Motorsport team would like to thank the following sponsors, Total Primrose, Mr Auto Engineering, Masenduck Construction, Tops Modjadji’s Kloof, Van Vreedens Panelbeaters as well as the Meyjes & De Jager families.

Clare Vale : Killarney Preview At the Kyalami race in November 2007 Clare Vale became the first lady racer to race in the premier national WesBank V8 Supercar series. From Hout Bay, Cape Town she moved to Johannesburg and started racing 6 years ago in the Shelby Can-Am series. At the last round of the WesBank V8 Supercar series at Kyalami she became the first lady to lead a V8 race in the series’ 26 year history.

Her Gatorback Ram sponsored Mustang produces serious muscle, 600hp and 450kW of power. This makes the WesBank

V8 cars the fastest saloon series in the country and they’re called the ‘Rolling Thunder’ for this very reason. Recently on board are new sponsors, Cape Town based oil and lubricant specialists, Indy Oil. Clare will be looking to impress her new sponsors on their home circuit.

She returns to her home town this weekend looking to build on the success of her last race. She won her first ever race in the Springbok series at the Killarney circuit in 2006 racing a Shelby Can-Am.

This is her second full season in the V8 series and she has gone from strength to strength. Her best finish to date was her trophy winning 5th place at the Aldo Scribante circuit in Port Elizabeth last year.

She will be looking to add to her trophy collection this weekend in Cape Town and judging from her last race at Kyalami she has every chance of doing so.

The race is this Saturday, the 9th of May, at the Killarney circuit near Montague Gardens.

For information please go to www.killarney.co.za.

Peugeot 908

Spa...On the road to Le Mans

Peugeot has chosen the ultra-fast circuit of Spa-Francorchamps – where the best lap posted by the N°7 908 in 2008 represented an average speed of almost 210kph – to fine-tune its preparations for its prime objective of the 2009 season, the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Team Peugeot Total’s 2009 programme is focused on the French endurance classic. Following the recent 12 Hours of Sebring, where all the teams agree that once around the clock is equivalent to 24 hours anywhere else, it has chosen to enter two cars for the 1000km de Spa. The exact line-up has been selected as a function of the drivers’ respective experience in distance terms at the wheel of the 908 HDi FAP. “Spa stands out above all as our last chance for a dress rehearsal in race conditions prior to Le Mans,” stresses Peugeot Sport Director Olivier Quesnel.

“It will give the mechanics an opportunity to carry out pit-stops following the introduction of new regulations. It will also enable us to work on our race strategy, while the drivers will be able to familiarise themselves with racing in traffic and with the 908.

The latter notably concerns Simon

Pagenaud who recently joined us as reserve driver and who will be driving the Pescarolo Sport-run Peugeot 908 HDi FAP at Le Mans. Spa will also give us a chance to validate our latest technical specification. As a consequence, the end result is not our priority. If we need to call a car in to change or check something, as we did at Sebring, then we won’t hesitate.”

N°7 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP Christian Klien (AUT) / Nicolas Minassian (FRA) / Simon Pagenaud (FRA) N°9 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP David Brabham (AUS) / Marc Gené (ESP) / Alexander Wurz (AUT) The two Peugeots will feature a blue and chrome livery, but with different colours for the wing and mirrors. The N°7 car will have white mirrors, with Peugeot written in black on a white wing. The N°9 car will have black mirrors, with Peugeot written in white on a black wing. Both cars will be built to the new specification dictated by the ACO regulations, i.e. including 30kg of ballast. Spa-Francorchamps will consequently be our first chance to measure the influence of this new rule which is intended to level out the performance difference between the diesel and petrol prototypes. The latter

proved faster in the opening race of the season at Barcelona.

“In addition to capping performance, the addition of 30kg of ballast has a big influence on the resistance of mechanical components, especially suspension and brake parts,” says Peugeot Sport’s Technical Director Bruno Famin. “To ensure the safety and reliability of our cars, we have had to rush through an additional validation phase in our schedule, and this was a big constraint at this point in our build-up to Le Mans. We estimate that the new fuel-filler restrictor and the 30kg of ballast represent a loss of about two seconds per lap at Le Mans.

That’s enormous!”

1 000 km de Spa-Francorchamps Timetable: Friday, May 8 16:30-18:00 : free practice 1 Saturday, May 9 9:45-10:45 : free practice 2 13:55-14:15 : qualifying Sunday, May 10 8:30-8:50 : warm-up 12:50-18:50 : race (143 laps of the 6.973km circuit)

SA OFFROAD EVENTS

FORD EAGER TO IMPRESS IN KZN Midlands, KwaZulu-Natal 15th and 16th May, 2009 Team Ford Racing is eager to impress in front of their home crowd with its new diesel powered derivatives at round three of this year’s ABSA Off Road Championship.

The Nissan Sugarbelt 400 will take place in KwaZulu-Natal on 15 and 16 May. Centred around the Beaumont Eston Farmers Club the event is sure to attract an enthusiastic audience.

The Ford Ranger 3,2TDCi enjoyed its season debut at the previous event with Neil Woolridge and Kenny Skjoldhammer piloting the model and Thomas Rundle and Hennie ter Stege in the sister SP vehicle. By all accounts the team enjoyed a strong debut and will be aiming to build on their progress on the Sugarbelt event.

“We always enjoy this event,” says Team Manager Woolridge. “The local fans really support us and we’ll be doing our best to give them something to cheer about. The Ranger 3,2TDCi’s had a good debut last time out. We weren’t without problems but that

is part and parcel with introducing a new car and we will just have to work through the minor glitches that come our way.”

In 2008 the Ford team enjoyed two podium placings on the Sugarbelt event. With the team based in the area it is an event they hold close to their hearts.

Teammates Rundle and ter Stege who joined the team at the start of the season have settled down quickly into the team and are eager to score points. “Organisers have indicated that we are going to need to work hard for our results,” says Rundle. “They have set out a tight route that incorporates a variety of terrain. We are going to have to be on our game if we want to repeat the strong results we achieved at the previous outing.”

Baphumze Rubuluza and Khulile Vakalisa will represent Team Ford Racing in Class E in a 3.0 TDCi Ranger. “We were pleased to get a podium placing at the previous round

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in the Eastern Cape. We have a lot of confidence in the car and are looking forward to getting down to business and challenging for top honours in our class,” says Rubuluza.

The action gets underway at the Beaumont Eston Farmer’s Club on May 15.

“The whole team is looking forward to the event. The organisers have put together some challenging route thus far this season and I’m sure they will continue the trend for this event.

Nonetheless we are confident of a strong result,” concludes Woolridge.

Team Ford Racing recognises the following sponsors for their commitment and belief in the team: Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa, Barden Tyres, Donerre Dampers, Motorvia, Garmin, Hugo's Panel Shop – Pietermaritzburg, Eibach Springs, Sign Solutions and VPS Paint protection

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