It’s off to Pretoria West yet again on Nov.3rd for the Historic Tour at Zwartkops, which will also see the closing round of this year’s EV Dynamics Inland Championship.
In Motul MPC, Keegan Pottas has ruled supreme in Class A all year, but behind him in Class B, Dirk Lawrence (JDM Tuning Honda Ballade) and Paul van Niekerk (EV Dynamics Golf) are tied at the top of the leader board, on 80 points each and predicting a winner will be a tough task. To complicate matters further, Ian Ehlers (FEC Golf) and Bjorn Gerbert (FAS Pty LTD Alfa GTV6) have both enjoyed pretty good seasons of their own and could upset the leaders’ best laid plans on the day. George Economides (Wealth Avenue BMW 328i) and Paul Saayman (Golf) may also be on hand to steal some glory.
Giles Darroch (EV Dynamics Golf) has dominated Class C, but the runner up spot could still go to Andy Gossman (VW Golf), Paul Verios (Acrotek Golf), Wayne Lebotschy (Shield Golf), or Waldo Swiegers (Golf). Shane Kroon will be absent due to family commitments. In Class D, Franco di Matteo (Deltec Ford Laser) has things pretty much under control, but Ebrahim Peck (Geardown Gearbox Golf), Kenny Darroch (EV Dynamics Golf) Don Mackay (EV Dynamics Golf) and Duane Brown (Brown’s Auto Fiesta) have all had good outings of late and will want to finish the season on a high note. Wayne Pereira (Golf) has claimed the Class E title. In Motul Clubmans, Marius Jacobs (AAA Recovery Centre Opel Tigra) will take on Richard Cooley (Tata India), Willie Hepburn (Amtec/SABAT Rekord), and Doug Fear (Backdraft Cobra) In the overall standings di Matteo leads Giles Darroch and Dirk Lawrence by a narrow margin and the winner will likely only be decided after the two rounds are done and dusted. Pottas, van Niekerk and Wayne Pereira are next up in the standings and will also be chasing a good place in the finishing order.
The Liquimoly Inex Legends will cap an excellent season in which they almost always displayed their extremely competitive nature. In the Masters ClassJustin Robertson leads Richard van Heerde and Johan vd Venter and looks likely to clinch the class championship. Fellow Masters Gerhard and Charl Roux, Sean Moore, who has been in scintillating form of late, Ian Upton and Giles Moore have all done much to contribute to the success of the Inex Legends this year. Jason Loosemore and Richard Upton have both been superstars in 2018. Although the former only won his first race at the last outing, he has been in top form all season long, also competing in oval racing . As the outgoing overall champion, Upton missed the first two rounds but since his return has repeatedly shown the form which took him to the title in 2017. The pair trail Steven Levin in the Pro Class, but a narrow points difference between the trio means that anyone of them could still clinch the winner’s laurel. Last but not least, Willie Erasmus has competed in the last few rounds and for the Legends veteran, it’s like he’s never been away, always a feature at the sharp end.
In the Semi-Pro Class, Dane van Heerde has matched his father Richard’s expectations, no doubt, in his debut season and has been in the thick of the action all year. He leads Chris Hoy who has steadily improved in his own rookie year. Young Lion Jagger Robertson has walked tall all year mixing it with the vastly more experienced ensemble around him, doing dad Justin proud. 5th in the overall standings going into the last round underlines just what an awesome season this youngster has had. Justin Robertson leads the overall classification, with Richard van Heerde 2nd, and Gerhard Roux 3rd. Edward Cotterell and Morne du Toit are the newbies in the field.
The Midvaal Historics have also been hugely entertaining in 2018, and Travis Jansen leads the pack overall with 140 points going into the last round, with Johan Swanepoel a mere 3 points behind. Ken Price and Franz Jensen are next up and looking to finish with a flourish as well. Glen Buttle and Gavin Lundin complete the top 6 in the standings. With such a huge field at every round this year, a slew of other names will also make their mark. Johan Venter, Eugene Gows, Andries Draper and Rene JV Rensburg are just some of them. In the Alfa Trofeo Challenge, Bjorn Gerbert in the Alfa GTV 6 will take on the likes of Mario Rossi (GTV6), Henry Fourie (Berlina), Philip Hendricks (Alfa Sud) and Jose Carvalho (155). 27 entries have been received for this category alone.
Formula Monoposto will share the allotted race time with Historic Formula Ford. Gerard Geldenhuys should take control in his F1600 FMA but in Formula Libre B Mac Odendaal (CRS Auto Witbank) has often called the shots this year. He will face stern opposition from Carel van Heerden, (92 Gti Swift) and James Reeves (83 Ray). In Formula M, Karen Geldenhuys (Abacu Divisions) has often shown the boys up this year, but husband Org will give her a hard time. Hylton Morrow (Chaplin’s Eye Care Formula M) turned out in a new car at the last round (2007 Formula M) and had a good outing. More of the same would not be unlikely. Alongside them, Cornel Smit (Sunshine Gun ARO Formula M), Koos Posthumus (KMZM Industries Formula M), C.Le Roux (Pigments and Masterbatches FM) and Louis van der Merwe (VW Commercial Witbank)) will again be contest the midfield places furiously, as they have done so often this year. Last but not least, Blaine de Meillon, Devon Kyle Dickinson Jannie Geyser and Tony Beecher will trip over themselves in the Formula Vees.