Magazine Archive

ProTour in association with The Citizen
National Regional & Club Championship Racing
Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit Midrand
26 January 2008

Formula Vee
Hollard Shelby Can Am
Investchem Formula Ford
Altech Porsche Challenge
Goldwagen VW Challenge
Altech Kawasaki Masters ZX10 Cup

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With our newly crowned champions for 2007 looking forward to carrying the numbers 1 (Dave Fourie – Altech Porsche Unlimited) and 101 (Piet Nortje – Altech Porsche 924) on their cars the 2008 Altech Porsche Challenge Series looks forward to another season of fast, close and spirited racing.
The 2008 season marks the 3rd season the series has been sponsored by Altech, a name that has grown and become synonymous with our series. A name the series carries proudly on all of its racing cars and competitors race suites.
The series will partake in 8 of the 10 race meetings the Pro-Tour have on the 2008 calendar. The series will travel to Killarney Cape Town in May which marks another milestone. It will be the first time that the series has competed in a championship scoring race meeting at Killarney since the early 1990’s.
The season overview for the two categories looks and paints an interesting picture.

Altech Porsche 924
The Altech Porsche 924 series will run on a handicap format for 2008 as it has since 2003. This means the slowest cars start first and the faster cars start further and further back till you get to the scratch driver (Fastest Car). The cars will start the race spread out but as the laps go by it becomes more and more of a tight mix of fast and slow cars. A traffic jam of 4 or 5 cars into the last corner of the race is a common occurrence in this series.
The series only runs Porsche 924 racing cars on R-rated rubber and involves racing drivers having to nominate a lap time they believe they will not go faster than prior to the first heat and nominating a second time prior to their second heat. If they drive within this nominated time they finish the race and qualify in the results. Should the driver go faster than his nominated time he is disqualified from the race and results for that heat.
This season will see the introduction of many new faces who have chosen to enter this highly spirited and close run series. They will be doing battle with some seasoned professionals in the series who have learnt and mastered the art of the handicap racing format, let’s see who comes out tops in 2008.

Altech Porsche Unlimited
The 2008 season promises to provide the spectator in the stands and on television a series with a difference. We have reduced the number of time based classes from 6 to 5 and have introduced a 924-only class into the series. The 924-only class will race in the first heat of the day and provide some close action packed racing

The Altech Porsche Challenge and Execuline Shelby Can-Am series are once again as in 2007 going to race their second heats as a combined race. This creates a spectacle of anywhere from 35 to 45 cars in a race.
Although they are scored as separate championships it is and will once again be the crowed puller and premier race. Running over a longer distance than the other races on the day it is often a balance between speed and tyre wear that will decide the result. The Altech Porsche Series will resume battle with Execuline Shelby Can-Am’s as to who takes line honours and may it be a season full of good racing amongst all in the series.

Shelby Can-Am’s as to who takes line honours and may it be a season full of good racing amongst all in the series.
The potential of GT40’s, Lola’s and TVR’s all racing in the 2008 season could make this series even more of a spectacle that in previous season’s. To all aspiring GT and Supercar enthusiasts this is a series not to be missed, given the opportunity.
To all fellow competitors and spectators may the Altech Porsche Challenge Series Drivers wish you a great 2008 and enjoy the racing on the Pro-Tour this season.

List of Competitors

The Porsche Club Of South Africa

The Porsche Club of South Africa is the "Umbrella" Club under which three regional clubs operate namely, Porsche Club Central (Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga,North West & Free State), Porsche Club Cape (Western, Eastern & Northern Cape) and Porsche Club Kwa-Zulu Natal.
The Porsche Club of South Africa celebrates its 50th year of existence in 2008, making it one of the oldest marque car clubs in the country. It is also Porsche’s 60th anniversary as a motor car manufacturer in 2008.

The calendar is made up of competition and socially orientated events. The time trial series is for members who would like to explore the handling of their road cars in a safe and controlled environment. Various instruction sessions are held throughout the year, for members to learn their cars better, and to become advanced drivers. The social side is made up of various 'fun' days, the customary breakfast runs and picnics, and this all culminates in the Annual Parade which is held over a long weekend.

A highlight not to be missed is the Regional Annual Concours, which is of an incredibly high standard. Some of the best examples in the world of the Porsche marque go on show at the Concours. The club also produces regional newsletters, which are distributed to all members and sponsors, covering events and articles of interest to Porsche club members.

The Porsche Challenge Series fall under the competition arm of the Porsche Club Central. It is a series whose roots go back to the early 1990’s when Porsche club members decided to initiate a racing series and have a mix of 911’s from the late 1960’s to the early 1990’s. As the years went by so the series grew and some very exotic and extremely fast Porsche racing vehicles started partaking. The series unfortunately lost its way in 1997 culminating in no championship being run in 1998. However with a new vigour and keen drive by the committee the series re-started as a club series in 1999. The series was run on a handicap basis like the current Porsche 924 series runs in 2008

As the seasons have gone by certain milestones have been reached, some of the more noteable are:

2002 – The first 924 is seen in the series. The numbers of these very well balanced, front-engine cars grew at a rapid pace as the season went by.

2003 – The racing series realised that the speed differential between the slower cars and faster cars in the handicap series was becoming dangerous and so decided to split the series into two categories. The Porsche 924 series and the Porsche Unlimited Series. A decision to run the Porsche Unlimited Series as a scratch race with a rolling start encourages more competitors to enter this series for 2004.

2005 – The Porsche Challenge Series runs a very successful season and at the end of this a decision is made to change the Porsche Unlimited Series from a Club series to a Regional Series.

2006 – The Porsche Challenge Series runs a Porsche 924 Handicap Series with large entries and the Porsche Unlimited Series completes its first season as a Regional Series. Due to the success of both categories the series signs a sponsor in the form of Altech. The series is shown on television at four race meetings, another landmark.

2007 – Altech remains on as naming rights and commercial rights sponsor of the series. The series takes another step forward and the number of competitors increases even more. The series travels down to East London and partakes in a Championship scoring event for the first time since it’s re-introduction in 1999. Television coverage is provided for all eight race meetings in the season.

2008 – The third season that Altech are on board as the naming rights and commercial rights sponsors. Television coverage will be provided for all eight race meetings in the season. The series will travel down to Killarney, Cape Town for the first time as a championship scoring event since its re-introduction in 1999.

As can be seen the Porsche Club provides a vast mix of events for the Porsche enthusiast to partake in. If you are not racing in the Altech Porsche Challenge come and watch this action packed day on the Pro-Tour Series. Also feel free to find out more about our other offerings to our club members and join in the Porsche Family.

Execuline gives SA’s exciting sports car championship a new look

Now entering its 10th season as South Africa’s only national championship sports car class, the fleet of Carroll Shelby designed and built Nissan V6 powered Can Am cars will be fitted with a new, much more modern and aerodynamically efficient body.

Perhaps even more importantly the 10-round national racing series will be known as the Execuline Shelby Championship in deference to new naming rights sponsor Execuline.

“It just goes to show that if you have an exciting, well managed series with a professional image not only do drivers and teams find it easier to attract decent sponsors but big companies with an image to protect also see it as a marketing or advertising opportunity,” said association chairman and former champion Neil Lobb.

“Vehicle insurance specialists Execuline is the preferred underwriter of executive motor vehicles within the broker community and being associated with an attractive, well supported racing series will create awareness for everyone involved in motorsport from spectators to mechanics,” he added

Other series sponsors are car care products Spanjaard Ltd, Carrera eye wear, removal specialists British International and as in the past, all cars will be using tried and trusted Goodyear Eagle racing tyres.

The new body’s shape was penned by engineering student Greg Bailey who used computer based wind tunnel software, “the same as most Formula One and Le Mans teams use. It will definitely make the cars faster,” he pointed out.

The first race of the 2008 Execuline Shelby Championship takes place at Kyalami on 26 January followed by the A1GP event held on a unique street circuit on Durban’s beachfront on 23 and 24 February.

With a new look and a new naming rights sponsor, the 2008 Execuline Shelby Can Am championship gets underway at Kyalami on Saturday 26th January.

Boasting a new, more modern and aerodynamically efficient body and a new sponsor in vehicle insurance specialists Execuline, the season promises to attract a lot of attention as it takes in all the major centres. Last year there were only eight rounds but with the Pro Tour now adding Cape Town and Port Elizabeth to its destinations it has increased to 10 rounds.

The new style body is reckoned to be worth up to half a second at most of the longer circuits as it’s not only a more slippery shape, but it also generates more downforce which will give the cars an extra dose of speed through high-speed corners.

Reigning champion Darryn Lobb (DK Woodcraft) is determined to get his title defence off to a quick and forceful start, but he will be under pressure from the likes of seasoned campaigners Rui Campos (Hugo Boss) and Alan Eve. Driving the distinctive Hi-Q Plettenberg Bay liveried car is Chris Hart who intends making the long trip from Plettenberg Bay a worthwhile one and a lot of his rivals reckon he’s long overdue for a win.

Talented Execuline backed Jennifer Murray is the beauty among the beasts. The former Formula Ford and kart racer she made her debut in the series last year and immediately impressing with her pace and professional approach.

Brian Algar (Firedart) and Sean Greve (Vulcania Reinforcing) are two drivers who manage to combine pace with consistency while Colin Frost is a sports car racing stalwart and more than capable of bringing the Strocam backed car home in a good points scoring position.

Another driver with heaps of experience in these cars is Dave Beattie (BACE Structural Engineers) who spent some time racing Formula Ford 2000 in England during the ‘80s.

Knocking on the door are the likes of Craig Shorter (Hollard) and
Rob Wall (Vered Estates). They haven’t been in the series for long and showed great improvement throughout last year. Veteran Richard Wood has been in the series since its inception and is a reliable finisher.

A newcomer to keep an eye on is hard charging former Porsche racer Thomas Reib in the Intertrans sponsored car. He’s had a taste of Shelby Can-Am and loved the refined responsiveness of the car.

KZN Porsche enthusiast Sun Moodley (Big Foot Express) will be making his debut in the big league and his progress will be watched with great interest.

With an expected field of over 20 cars the two Execuline Shelby Can-Am races will be watched with great interest.

Execuline Shelby Can-Am Racing is supported by Spanjaard Ltd, Carrera eye wear, British International and Goodyear.

List of Competitors

2008 Formula Vee Racing Season Makes Early Start

For the two hundred odd Pro Tour competitors, the 2008 season gets off to an early start. The first race meeting of the year, will be run at Kyalami on the 26th January 2008, with National Championship races, for Execuline Shelby Can Am Sports Cars, Investchem Formula Ford Zetec and Formula Vee, Regional Championship races, for Altech Porsche Unlimited and Goldwagen Volkswagen Challenge and Club Championship events, for Altech Kawasaki ZX10R Masters Cup and Altech Porsche 924.

The big question on everyone’s mind, is that having succeeded in becoming the first driver in forty two years, to secure three consecutive South African National Formula Vee Championship titles, can Alan Holm (No1 Laser Sprint Rhema 2) make it four in a row? Out to make sure that he does not, will be Dennis Johns (No2 Geyser Attorneys Goldco Midas Rhema 2), Peter Hills (No3 Vacuform Rhema 2) and possibly A1 Team South Africa Rookie Driver Wesleigh Orr (Rhema 2). The talk is that Orr, will run selected South African Formula Vee events, where these do not clash with his international racing commitments. It is therefore highly unlikely that he will race at Kyalami, on the 26th January, as the New Zealand A1 Grand Prix takes place, the Sunday before the Kyalami event and the first practice sessions, for the Australian A1 Grand Prix, take place the Friday after the Kyalami event. Holm’s 2008 title campaign could also have an added distraction, after the recent birth of a son, the Holm’s first child.

The battle for the lead at Kyalami, should therefore be a repeat of the 2007 opening round, between the four current and ex National Champions Holm, Johns, Hills and Symm Grobler (No4 Auto Mecca Rhema 2) but possibly, with a different outcome. Snapping at their heels and eager to produce an upset, will be the likes of Jaco Schriks (No5 Laser Sprint Rhema 2), Trevor Bland (No6 Office Direct Rhema 2) and the two Development Drivers, Zaahir Essa (Rhema 1) and Courtney Steenveld, in a brand new Rhema 2, to replace the Rhema 1 he rolled during morning warm up, at the final Kyalami event of the 2007 season. Azeem Bomberg (Rhema 1) has shown that he also has the pace to get up among them, as well. An unknown quantity for 2008, at this stage, is Nico Blignaut (Gilus IT SAP Rhema 2), with Blignaut having upgraded to the new car, during the off season.

Joining other regulars, like Jannie Geyser (Geyser Attorneys Vision), Gareth Jackson (Laser Sprint Rhema 2), Ben Pienaar (BJ Pro Welding Rhema 1), Johan Gouws (Computer Associates Mantis), Jannie Geyser Jnr (Geyser Attorneys Rhema 2), Gert Van Den Berg (Rhema1), Doug MacDonald (Fantastic Racing Rhema 1) and Denver Pienaar (Vision), during the course of 2008, will be newcomers Alan Eustice (Execuline Rhema 2), Andrei Overbeek (Omega), Stephen Holly (Arrow), Nicholas Tennant (Tasman) and Chandre Kruger (Sting).

John Lerm (Racing for Wildlife Sting), will be hoping to have a more active season in 2008, along with Andre Van Der Merwe (Atlas Dry Cleaners Lantis) who will be joined by his son, Shaun, in a similar car. Others who should be back, after sporadic appearances in 2007, will be Kevin Cartmell (Rand Brake Sting), Bobby Nel (USN Rhema 2), and possibly Kyle Bennett (Rhema 1) and Jack Valadas (Racing for Jesus Rhema 1), while James Evans (Tasman) and Hugo Wallendorf (Lantis) should join in, as regular competitors, as the season progresses. If his car is not sold by then, James Leach (Auto Fair Rhema 1) could be in the Kyalami field as well.

Competitors Profiles

Competitors Profiles

Competitors Profiles

InvestChem Formula Ford Championship

Formula Ford, South Africa’s fastest national championship single seater class kicks off its 2008 battle at Kyalami next weekend (26th January).

With reigning champion Jayde Kruger moving up the motorsport ladder, and undecided about his plans, it seems likely that the battle at the front of the popular series will be a no-holds-barred dog-fight between the emerging stars.

Front-runners should be Zimbabwe’s Gerard Peters (Petro Oil Zim) in the ex Kruger Mygale, the cool-headed Mathew Merton (WAP/Alto Mygale), Nicholas van Weely (Magnificent Hardware Van Diemen) and Bloemfontein’s Pieter Norval (Investchem Mygale).

There wasn’t much daylight between the quartet last year and when the likes of former Formula Gti champion Francois van der Merwe (Volare Mygale) and impressive newcomer Alexi Planets (Handsfree Van Diemen) are added to the mix there’s bound to be many laps of thrilling action packed racing.

Waiting to pick up the pieces and take full advantage of the powder keg are the likes of FP Aldrich and Werner Scholtz (Scholtz Civils Van Diemen).

Formula Ford, South Africa’s fastest national championship single seater class kicks off its 2008 battle at Kyalami next weekend (26th January).

With reigning champion Jayde Kruger moving up the motorsport ladder, and undecided about his plans, it seems likely that the battle at the front of the popular series will be a no-holds-barred dog-fight between the emerging stars.

Front-runners should be Zimbabwe’s Gerard Peters (Petro Oil Zim) in the ex Kruger Mygale, the cool-headed Mathew Merton (WAP/Alto Mygale), Nicholas van Weely (Magnificent Hardware Van Diemen) and Bloemfontein’s Pieter Norval (Investchem Mygale).

There wasn’t much daylight between the quartet last year and when the likes of former Formula Gti champion Francois van der Merwe (Volare Mygale) and impressive newcomer Alexi Planets (Handsfree Van Diemen) are added to the mix there’s bound to be many laps of thrilling action packed racing.

Waiting to pick up the pieces and take full advantage of the powder keg are the likes of FP Aldrich and Werner Scholtz (Scholtz Civils Van Diemen).

List of Competitors

Tin Top Spectacular


The first race of the year for the successful Pro Tour Series will see the Goldwagen VW Challenge descend on the popular Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit on Saturday 26 January.

This very popular tin-top formula consistently produced the biggest fields of all of the participating formulas throughout last year. Once again an impressive field can be expected between the different classes on race day!

Technical specifications have remained virtually unchanged apart from the allowance of the 2.0L motor to class A. This has been done to accommodate later model cars running 50kg heavier than the 1.8L. In addition, all the classes will run on the same tyre this year which is expected to have an influence on the lap times of Class P in particular.

The first race of the year is bound to be filled with the customary close racing that only the Goldwagen VW Challenge can provide. Plenty of thrills and spills were witnessed last season and action a plenty is expected from some of the best drivers in the country.

List of Competitors

New cars and drivers leave the individual championships wide open as no one knows quite what to expect yet. There were more than a few surprises in last year’s championship with the series rookies pulling out all the stops and often putting their more experienced opponents to shame. The first race of this season will be watched with baited breath!

Not only will there be more than just the various Class titles on the line but the prized and coveted title of being the overall Goldwagen VW Challenge Champion is also up for grabs.

The success of the new season could not be possible without Series sponsors like Goldwagen, SS Telecoms, Venditor Konica Minolta, Wynns, Sabertek and of course the entire team who have made the Pro Tour the success that it turned out to be in its inaugural year.

List of Competitors