25th Passion for Speed extravaganza this coming weekend

This year’s South African circuit racing activities will kick off in spectacular and nostalgic fashion at the Zwartkops Raceway near Pretoria this weekend.

The occasion will be the 25th Passion for Speed extravaganza which, with more than 300 participants, will be the country’s biggest motorsport event of 2026.

The day’s top crowd drawcard should be two races for Legends of the 9-Hour Pre-1970 Production Cars.

Top contenders should include Ben Morgenrood (Morgenrood Ford Mustang), Jonathan du Toit (TAR Chev Nova), Seef Fourie (Ford Cougar), Warren Lombard (Studebaker Lark), Mark du Toit (TAR Ford Fairlane), Kosie Swanepoel (Chev Bel Air Widowmaker), Colin Ellison (Ford Thunderbolt) and Hennie Groenewald (Ford Capri Perana).

Joining the locals will be Netherland drivers Michiel Campagne (Chev Smokey Yunick) and Harmen van Putten (Ford Mustang).

The day’s quickest lap times should be set in the races for Pre-74 International Sports Racing Prototypes.

Pre-event favourites must include Larry Wilford (Lola T70 Mk3B), Swede Kennet Persson (McLaren 5B), Mark du Toit (TAR Lola T70), Peter Bailey (Porsche 917), Keegan Campos (Porsche 911 RSR), Rui Campos (Shelby CanAm V8), Lee Thompson (Ecosse Mk 2), Jonathan du Toit (TAR Chevron B8) and George Avvakoumides (Euro Shop Porsche 911).

Officially, the day’s main race will be a 45-minute event for Pre-1966 Le Mans Sports and GT cars, with a mandatory pit stop.

Probable winners must be Warren Lombard (Pepboys Automotive Ford Cobra), Olivier Dalais (Marlboro Crane Hire Ford GT40), James Temple (Lindenberg Ford Daytona Coupe), Alan Meyer (Chevron B8), Peter Bailey (Ford GT40), Jonathan/Mark du Toit (TAR Ford GT40), Ryan Quan-Chai/Patrick Mortier (Ford Cobra), Janne Kling (Ford GT40) and Kosie Swanepoel (Ginetta).

The races for 9-Hour Legends Pre 1968 Little Giants should see the Under Two-litre Class contested by Carel Pienaar (Kameeldoring Lotus Cortina), Alan Poulter (Tom Campher Volvo 122S), Denzil Bhana (MGB GT), Marc Miller (RentMySolar Alfa Giulietta), Francesco Lombardi (Alfa Giulia Sprint), Roger Houston (Alfa Giuilia Sprint) and Chris du Plooy (Volvo 122S).

Chad ten Doeschate (GSM Flamingo), should be the Little Giant to beat, challenged by people like Elke van Vledder (Alfa GT Junior), Ishmael Baloyi (GSM Dart Alfa), John ten Doeschate (GSM Dart Alfa), Deon Schwabsky (Ford Ecort) and Robin Clarke (MGB GT).

The races for (Pre-1906 Classic GT and Trans-Am Cars should produce fierce competition between Lee Thompson (Opel Astra V8), Seef Fourie in Willie Hepburn’s old Opel Rekord V8, Rudolf de Vos (Chev CanAm), Hennie Groenewald (Kameeldoring Chev CanAm), Mark du Toit (TAR Ford GT1), Franco di Matteo (Ford Mustang), Carel Pienaar (Kameeldoring Datsun 240Z), Oliver Broome (BMW E9 CSL), plus the Lamborghini Gallardo entries of Damien Hammond, Sam Hammond, Nathan Hammond and Wayne Roach.

A wide variety of cars will tackle the races for Evapco HRSA cars, led by people like George Avvakoumides (Euro Shop Porsche 911), Franz Jensen (Hamiltons Datsun 1200 GX), Nigel Townsend (Ford Escort), Shaun van der Linde (Kameeldoring Ford Escort), Mike Barbaglia (Alfa GT Junior), Jannie van Rooyen (VW Scirocco), Andre’ ten Napel (VW Scirocco) and Keegan Campos (Porsche 911 RSR).

Others to watch should include Johann van der Walt (Mercedes-Benz 280E), Cor Kraamwinkel (BMW 2002), Fabienne Lanz (Fiat Uno Turbo), John Simpson (Alfa GT Junior), Riaan Draper (Ford Escort), Darren Pragji (Datsun 1200) and Cor Kraamwinkel (BMW 2002).

Single-seater enthusiasts will not be left out in the cold – 22 cars will tackle the races for Historic Single Seaters.

Top contenders should include Ryan Ludik (WH Auctioneers Titan Mk5), Ben van der Westhuizen (Royale RF24), Des Hillary (Dulon MP158), Alan Kernick (Tasman 88 FVee), Michael Hillary (Lotus 23) and Paul Manegold (Wilkie FVee).

Rounding out the day will be two races for BMW M Performance Parts Turbo Cup Cars, with front runners to include Renier Smith (FAST Development BMW M3 Turbo), Bob Neil (Delmon Mining BMW M3 Turbo), Nishal Singh (Autonische BMW M3 Turbo), Lenard Archer (ACD Welkom BMW 335i Turbo), Andreas Meier (CEC PTY BMW E36 Turbo) and Kashen Naicker (Megastar BMW M3 GT Turbo).

The Pablo Clark BMW E9 CSL Batmobile of Maurizio Bianco must be the favourite to win the races for BMW Performance Parts NA cars. He will be pursued by drivers like Bernard de Gouveia (De Gouveia Accountants BMW E46 M3), Trevor Long (Roof Surgeon BMW E36 M3), Philip Mostert (Mosco BMW E30 330i), Olerato Sekudu (Rampage Racing BMW E36 M3), Pieter Lonbard (SMS Alert BMW 320i).

The Zwartkops gates will be open from 6am, with racing scheduled to start at 7am. Admission will cost R240 per adult and R150 per student, with kids under the age of 12 to go in for free. Food and drink will be on sale, or you may take your own, and you are welcome to set up your braai and gazebo on the circuit’s grass banks.

Everybody may visit the pits on foot, and the Zwartkops Mini Moke trains will run between the pit gate and the spectator areas all day.

Andre’ de Kock

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