ProMotor your FREE environmentally friendly motoring magazine
E e n E i z a R g Fa M
www.promotor.co.za
Meet the NEW
MEGANE RS250
RENAULT MEGANE RS250 /// MINI COOPER CABRIO /// VOLKSWAGENS SCIROCCO /// NISMO 370Z
THE SASOL RALLY TAKES OVER THE LOWVELD /// ALL THE SASOL RALLY PREVIEWS IN THIS WEEKS ISSUE
SMS “PROMOTOR + YOUR EMAIL” to 34599 to Subscribe
Issue 7 - APRIL 2009
THIS WEEK IN PROMOTOR
Renault Megane
NISMO 370Z
9
0 20
S W E VI E PR ms tea e th
LY All p L t u A u abo ng LR
Mini Cooper Cabrio
O d all eari S g SA Rea
subscribe today Subscription to ProMotor is FREE!! Register your e-mail address at www.ProMotor.co.za or sms “ProMotor + YOUR EMAIL” to 34599 (sms costs R2).
Your details will remain confidential and will NOT be distributed to anyone! If you would like to get in touch with us, please feel free to contact Anton Wannenburg on 082 929 6120 or e-mail info@promotor.co.za
First Impressions
MEET THE NEW
RS250 Article by : David Taylor
The new Renault Mégane RS was recently unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show and promises to be an outstanding vehicle with its exhilarating performance and handling. The combination of its new 250hp engine, unmistakable sporting coupé credentials and choice of two chassis (‘Sport’ and ‘Cup’ with limited slip differential) makes it very clear that Renault is determined to be crowned king of the hot hatch brigade. With a brand new 2-litre 16-valve turbocharged petrol engine, the Renault Megane RS is capable of hitting 100km/h in under 6 seconds. The powerplant boasts a maximum power output of 250hp (184kW) at 5,500rpm and peak torque of 340Nm from 3,000rpm. Compared to its predecessor, a gain of 20hp and 40Nm was achieved over the Mégane R26.R which itself is considered a great benchmark in the hot hatch kingdom. The Renault Sport 2.0 T engine’s twin-scroll turbo has very little lag and is particularly flexible at lows revs, with 80 per cent of maximum torque available from 1,900 rpm. Its broad powerband makes it an absolute pleasure to drive everyday but is more than capable of delivering brisk performance when
pushed to the redline. The new Mégane RS features a six-speed manual gearbox and the RenaultSport engineers have tweaked the acoustics of the motor to produce a sporty sound under acceleration. The suspension of the new Renault Mégane RS is the very same found on the current Mégane RS and there are two types of chassis available. These are the ‘Sport’ chassis or the ‘Cup’ chassis, which comes with a limited slip differential for even greater traction. The power steering has also been revised and now features sportier calibration and this results in greater precision and even more feedback from the road. Renault Mégane RS is equipped with ESC which can be fully disabled to allowed owners to enjoy their car’s full potential a round a race track.
Auto Xtra Centurion 012 682 9900
Renault Megane RS250
‘Renault Mégane RS profits fully from Renault Sport Technologies’
Visually the new Mégane RS is a lot different from the The new Megane RS goes on sale later this year and is current RS yet still has the undeniably sporty looks. The front expected on South African shores during the first quarter bumper features LED daytime running lights, as well as a of 2010. splitter which pays respect to the low-slung nose of the R28 Formula 1 car. Nice 18-inch aluminium alloy rims, central exhaust tailpipe and rear diffuser complete the sporty look. The interior appointments, too, exude the world of motor sport, from the extra lateral support for the seats, to the analogue rev-counter with visual and audible gearshift indicator, the aluminium pedal cover and the specific steering wheel complete with thumb rests. The Renault Sport signature is prominent inside the car: on the headrests, rev-counter background and dashboard.
http://www.promotor.co.za
ALL NEW “Z” Article by : David Taylor
The new Nissan 370Z has barely settled down on the global showroom and already the tuners have started unveiling custom masterpieces. One of these such tuners is Nissan’s Nismo, and they aim to please true sports car enthusiasts by offering unique performance and design direct from the factory. Just like its predecessor of two years ago, the new Nismo Nissan 370Z is a true Z fanatics dream, featuring a 350-horsepower 3.7-liter V6, racing-inspired exterior and interior styling, a specially tuned suspension and special custom super-lightweight 19-inch forged alloy wheels. “The NISMO name is known throughout the world as the leading supplier of race-bred, factory-tuned, extreme performance Nissan parts, accessories and vehicles,” said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA). “The new, second-generation Nismo Z proudly - and deservedly - wears the NISMO badge, carrying on the tradition of bringing racing-inspired performance and engineering to the street.” The 2009 Nismo Nissan 370Z was developed by NNA’s Specialty Vehicles Group in conjunction with Autech Japan, Nissan’s longstanding conversion partner. The current 370Z powerplant is the 3.7 litre DOHC V6 and in Nismo guise, now produces 350hp. This added power is the result of an H – configured exhaust system design and muffler tuning, along with an optimized Engine Control Unit. Nismo’s touch can also be found on the car’s suspension. When compared to the standard Nissan 370Z, the Nismo vehicle now features front spring rates that have been dialed up 15%, rear spring rates up 10%, front stabilizer
bar rate upped 15% and the rear stabilizer bar is now 50% stiffer. The roll stiffness rate has been increased by 15% and front and rear damping factors have been increased by 40% and 140% respectively. The Nismo 370Z has unique 5-spoke Nissan-branded 19inch RAYS forged aluminum-alloy wheels (19×9.5-inch front, 19×10.5-inch rear) mounted with Yokohama ADVAN Sport Y-rated high-performance tires (P245/40ZR19 front, P285/35ZR19 rear). Braking is provided by standard NISMO Sport Brakes with large diameter 14.0-inch front and 13.8inch rear vented rotors with 4-piston front and 2-piston rear aluminum calipers. Braking backup is fitted in the form of Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). A Viscous Limited-Slip Differential (VLSD) is standard on all Nismo Nissan 370Zs, along with Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC). Along with these engineering and performance upgrades comes a complete cosmetic upgrade. The front bumper features functional and fully integrated aerodynamic canard design at each corner for improved downforce and a fully integrated chin spoiler. Special side skirts and a unique rear bumper help control the airflow under the vehicle, while the functional rear spoiler increases downforce. The Nismo Nissan 370Z exterior also appears wider. The Nismo Nissan 370Z is offered in five exterior colors: Pearl White, Brilliant Silver, Magnetic Black, Solid Red and Platinum Graphite.
Volkswagen Scirocco Article by : David Taylor
Volkswagen has unveiled the return of the legendary Scirocco to the South African market with the aim of continuing the story of the original. The first and second generations of this car were the most successful Volkswagen coupé models of all time with about 800,000 units sold. The third generation Volkswagen Scirocco offers a cutting edge design and features numerous high-end technologies such as DCC adaptive chassis control as well as a new 7-speed DSG dual clutch transmission. The Scirocco features one TDI and three TSIs powerplants. At the market introduction Volkswagen will offer the Scirocco with two TSI engines (118 kW / 160hp and 147 kW / 200hp). Hard on its heels will be a TDI (103 kW / 140 hp) and yet another TSI (90 kW / 122hp) will be added to the range. The engines are all optimized for performance yet are still friendly to the pocket. Across the entire range one can expect around 5.4 to 7.7 liters per 100km. The TSI engine features the combined power of both a turbocharger and a supercharger to
tion a r e gen rocco d r 3 ci “The agen S esign” sw dge d k l o V ge n i t t cu a s r offe
deliver high power from a relatively low capacity engine. The fabled 6-speed DSG is an option on the Scirocco and comes highly recommended. It is perhaps one of the most smooth and precisely shifting out of all these 21st century semi auto ‘boxes. A 7-speed DSG will be available overseas for the Scirocco but this new transmission is unconfirmed for the local market at the time of writing. Volkswagen have done a fantastic job on the styling of the new Scirocco. Its shape will be instantly recognizable and there will be no mistaking the identity of this car when it appears in your rear view mirror. The rear has raised some eyebrows amongst the motoring fraternity but there is no denying that this is a rather attractive vehicle. Volkswagen’s Scirocco boasts the new DCC adaptive chassis control system. The damper characteristics are controlled here as well as the Adaptive chassis control. This system offers three programs “Normal”, “Sport” and “Com-
fort”. The important factor is that the adaptive chassis control improves the driving traits of the Volkswagen Scirocco and the suspension is continually adapted to the roadway and driving situation. The system also responds to accelerator, brake and steering inputs. Inside, the Scirocco does not disappoint. Standard equipment includes 17-inch alloy wheels, height-adjustable driver and front passenger seats, leather steering wheel, parking brake handle and shifting lever grip, sport seats, split folding rear seatbacks, power windows, air conditioning, ESP, braking assistant, six airbags and power steering. The top of the range 147Kw model gains chrome tailpipes, a “Titanium black” roof liner and a sound generator.
To advertise in the ProMotor Magazine e-mail info@promotor.co.za
Mini Cooper S Cabrio
“Expect performance to be brisk from both variants”
Article by : David Taylor
The next generation of MINI cabriolets have hit local shores and are a vast improvement over their predecessors. The design has evolved considerable and now offers increased functionality, specially tuned suspension, powerful yet efficient engines as well as the latest safety technology. The new MINI Convertible’s durable soft-top with integrated sliding roof function takes care of the driver and passengers from inclement weather when in place. The roof can be lowered in 15 seconds flat at a speed of up to 32kph. The roof folds down neatly into the rear of the car and the accurate folding cleverly removes any moisture and avoids any pressure spots or friction which would otherwise cause excessive wear or discoloration of the material. Two engine options are available for the new MINI Cooper Convertible. A 1.6-liter, fourcylinder engine featuring fully variable valve management for maximum output of 88kw at 6,000 rpm. The hotter MINI Cooper S Cabrio is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with a Twin-Scroll turbocharger and direct gasoline injection producing 128kw. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard with a six-speed auto is an option for those who wish to rest their left legs. Both engines are
assembled at the BMW Group’s Hams Hall Engine Plant in the UK and then sent to the MINI Plant in Oxford. Expect performance to be brisk from both variants. The Cooper S is the quicker of the two and 100km/h arrives in just 7.0 seconds with the manual gearbox. Top speed is around 220km/h. The new MINI Convertible now has significantly upgraded suspension technology and now features wheel suspension, precise electromechanical power steering, powerful brake system and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) which are all standard features.
Mini Pricing Pricing is Cooper R272 500 R288 600 (auto) Cooper S R327 500 R343 600 (auto)
To advertise in the ProMotor Magazine e-mail info@promotor.co.za
EVENT PREVIEW
SASOL RALLY 24/25 APRIL The Sasol Rally, in association with Mpumalanga Tourism, sees the resumption of an unrivalled championship battle unfolding in a tense, exciting and spectacular show of gravel racing from the top drawer, where the real winners are the spectators that flock to the stages in their thousands to witness this amazing contest first-hand. The 2009 Sasol South African Rally Championship is already on track to provide some of the most brilliant motorsport action ever, with two factory-entered Castrol Toyota and three BP Volkswagen Polos locked in a tense fight for title honours. After two rounds, there is a tie at the top of the points table between the first round winners Johnny Gemmell/Peter Marsh and round two victors Hergen Fekken/Pierre Arries. Four of the five works drivers have, at some point, headed the timesheets on the opening two rounds so far, with ultra close split second action the order of the day. On the Toyota Dealer Rally at the beginning of April for example, the two S2000 BP Volkswagens were split by one second with one stage to run, setting the scene for an incredible final stage showdown. The 19th Sasol Rally, organized by the highly experienced SA Motorsport Club, will offer spectators a wealth of entertainment, both on and off the special stages. Sasol are pulling out all the stops to entertain the fans and create a rally with a difference. The Castrol Toyota squad will field first round winners Johnny Gemmell and Peter Marsh in a S2000 Auris, who head up the championship table with 44 points after claiming the bottom step of the podium on the second round. Gemmell was on course to win the Toyota Rally, but thick dust on day two cost him the lead. The Sasol Rally hasn’t been kind to the Toyota team in recent years, so the team will be looking to turn their bogey event into a victory celebration. Mark Cronjé/Robert Paisley in the second Castrol Toyota Auris have been frighteningly quick this year - too quick on occasion, crashing out in Natal while comfortably leading - and they too will want to bank solid points in what is going to be a tough year of racing. Cronjé scored his maiden win last year so has the recipe to add to his trophy collection. The talented BP Ultimate Volkswagen team have on their books the last three SA Rally Champions, a formidable line-up of winning experience headed by the current champions and the most recent winner Hergen Fekken/Pierre Arries in their VW Polo. They too have 44 points to their name and must rank as the fastest team in the sport. Not to be outdone, 2007 champions and the most experienced driver in the field is Jan Habig/Douglas Judd, third in the title standings with 38 points. Bad luck cost them places in Natal, but a storming drive in the Cape saw the pair finish a fighting second to Fekken. Habig is as fast as
ever and hungry to win again so watch him fly through the tight and twisty forest stages. Enzo Kuun and Guy Hodgson, the 2006 champions, are out of luck at the moment, but Kuun won the Sasol Rally last year and loves the tight forest stages. He is as determined as ever to show the world he has what it takes to stand on the top step of the podium again in such exalted company. A bevy of privateer entries are lurking just behind the factory-run teams, ready to pounce should they slip. Heading the ‘second division’ is Jean-Pierre Damseaux and co-driver Andre Vermeulen in their S2000 Team Total Toyota RunX. Damseaux was also a first time winner on the Swartland Rally last September, but has opened his 2009 account with two non-finishes. Fernando Rueda and Cobus Vrey (S2000 Team Total Toyota RunX) joins the top class for the first time this season and is learning very quickly what the sharp end of the field is all about. He ended in the points in KZN but retired from his home event with a broken gearbox. Japie van Niekerk/Robin Houghton are getting quicker on each outing in their S2000 New Africa Developments Toyota RunX and after a fighting 6th in the Cape, will be looking to edge closer to the works teams. Nicholas Ryan/Geoff Tyrer return in their private S2000 Toyota RunX after missing round two due to budget constraints. Ryan twice crashed heavily last year, but was on the podium on the 2008 Sasol Rally, so he cannot be discounted for a repeat result just because his car is unbranded. Theuns Joubert/Hennie Botes, newcomers this year to the S2000 class, have amassed 25 points in their Salom Group Volkswagen Polo after two solid performances designed to earn seat time and finish, which they did inside the top 10 each time. Class A7, the country’s top two-wheel drive class has a new driving force in the shape of Stevan Wilken and Greg Gericke and their Pannar Seeds/Triton Express Volkswagen Polo. The young Natal charger has racked up back-to-back wins and leads the class title standings with 18 points, against the 12 of their main rivals Evan Hutchinson/Elvéne Coetzee. Elvéne is the daughter of former rally winner Kassie Coetzee and a highly regarded co-driver. The Motorite Toyota RunX pair, plagued by a mysterious misfire on both outings this year, drove hard to claim second in class each time and just missed out on a maiden win, so the die are cast for this class. Class champions Chris de Wit/Dean Redelinghuys have suffered two very rare engine breakages in a row - before turning a wheel in anger this year. The Team Total pair has hopefully sorted their gremlins, thought to be fuel injector related, or their title aspirations will implode like their engine.
EVENT PREVIEW Schalk Burger/Armand du Toit, the reigning Northern Regions Rally Champions, have also endured a harrowing start to the season, failing to log a point in their Spike Energy Drink Toyota Corolla. Michael Otto/ Tommy du Toit (Liqui Moly Toyota Corolla) withdrew from the Cape rally to sort their car and should be on the pace with the front runners on the Sasol Rally. The slowest of the trio of Team Total class A6 entries, Craig Trott/Robbie Coetzee, lead the title chase with a win and second place to date, proving the old motorsport adage that to finish first, first you must finish. The fastest pair is unquestionably the Toyota Auris driven by Mohammed Moosa/Grant Martin. Moosa crashed out of a two minute lead in KZN and claimed a solid win in the Cape. Tied on 9 class points with Moosa is the newcomer to the class Rodney Visagie/Carolyn Swan, class winners on debut but a retiree last time out. Three points separate the trio so watch the sparks fly. Stephanie and Willem Hugo (Wiel Toyota Corolla) should make the trip from Namibia after recording a last stage retirement on the Toyota Rally while well on track to earn a wad of points. The young student and her father are very capable and can become a threat to the Total boys. Class A5 features an intense struggle for supremacy between the two BP Ultimate Volkswagen Citi Golfs of double-winner and 2007 class champions Gugu Zulu/Carl Peskin and 2008 title-holders Andre Cleenwerck/Des de Fortier. These two trade mere seconds and are probably the two most evenly matched cars in the field. This race is one not to be missed. Student Morné Janse Van Rensburg, a matriculant last year, and co-driver Dewald Hattingh are quietly accumulating points in their GC Diesel Volkswagen Citi Golf and should unobtrusively collect more in Mpumalanga, especially if the BP duo push each other too hard, as happened last year when Cleenwerck rolled in the popular Spitskop stage. Riyad Jaffer, a former circuit racer will start his third rally in the Sasol Toyota Yaris, ably guided by Henry Dearlove. Jaffer had a torrid debut in KZN and retired in stage 1 in the Cape, so will be under pressure in his most important event of the year. Vusi Mabanga/Shaun Visser (Team Total Toyota Yaris) drove brilliantly in the Cape to score a class A5 podium and is highly motivated to repeat this result on the Sasol. 16 year old Ashley Haigh Smith/Hilton Auffrey (React Toyota Yaris) continues to learn the ropes and will make his first Sasol Rally start. Rounding out the modified entry is Piet Bakkes/Johan Aucamp in their Sasol Komatipoort Volkswagen Citi Golf, hoping to end their run of nonfinishes and Benjamin Pinho/AN Other in the little Ford Ka. PRODUCTION CARS: The iconic burbling Subaru exhaust note and popping anti-lag system on the Mitsubishi Lancer announce the arrival of the premier class N4 turbo-charged, four-wheel drive machinery, headed by the current category champions Charl Wilken and Greg Godrich in their Sasol/Konica Minolta Subaru Impreza N14. Wilken dominated the class last year, winning more stages than all his rivals put together, and so far in 2009, is well ahead on the championship log, following a stunning 2nd overall on the season-opening Tour Natal Rally and another comfortable win in the recent Cape Rally, where they finished 7th overall. Wilken is in top form and in spite of two relatively easy wins, has not yet shown the full potential of the new Sasol Impreza hatchback, which must be a daunting thought for his rivals. Visser du Plessis/Gerhard Snyman, in a similar Prodrive-built Pirteksupported Subaru Impreza, is the most likely pair to dislodge Wilken from the top of the podium, and the tight forest stages of the Sasol Rally could provide their best opportunity yet to succeed. Du Plessis, a former TV soapie star, retired from the opening round and finished as runner-up in the Cape. Mike Nathan, the 2007 class N2 champion, is back in rallying with Derek Jacobs reading the notes, driving the ex-Fernando Rueda Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, which they have used to good effect to score a pair of podium places and clock up 23 points, twelve behind Wilken and nine ahead of Du Plessis. Tjaart Coetzee/Raymond Heenop have the ex-Hein Lategan SAC Diesel Trucks Subaru Impreza, and should put up a good fight in the
Sabie forests. Coetzee will have to look out for the local pairing of Joos/Danie Stassen, bringing their De Goede Finance Subaru Impreza STI out for its first run of the season. The Nelspruit brothers have a huge following on their home event and usually go exceptionally well and will target a podium finish. Chase Attwell and Brian Carrihill have their third outing together in their Subaru Impreza STi. The young Zimbabwean charger ended third in the Cape but was excluded for a road infringement, so has all the motivation to go for the podium again. Gary Berndt/Lohan Spies (Subaru Bruma Impreza GT) and Murray Lloyd/ Ralph Lehman (MLC Computer Solutions Subaru Impreza GT) are regular competitors in the Northern Regions Rally Championship and may well earn points for a top six finish in their older cars. Dave Compton/Pierre Jordaan have been untouchable in class N3, rocketing their Sasol Toyota RunX to two consecutive victories so far, even beating the modified class A6 runners on the fast, flowing roads of the Overberg region. Compton, a former production car circuit racer, is deceptively quick and will again be the main contender for win number three. Chasing hard should be the similar Toyota RunX of East Rand husband and wife Riaan and Hester Erasmus. The Erasmuses have Rodney Visagie’s 2008 championship-winning car, which has the potential to challenge the dominant Sasol machine. ROUTE: Off track entertainment starts on Thursday afternoon with the Sasol Pit Stop in Sabie. The public will be able to experience the comprehensive Sasol Motorsport programme, meet racing celebrities, interact with the Sasol brand and view technical displays of the Sasol range of products in a wide-ranging programme of pre-event entertainment. Scrutineering takes place in the Sabie Town Square, where the public can view the car close-up and chat to the crews. Sasol will run a ‘win a ride in a rally car’ competition and Sasol Rally souvenirs and memorabilia will be on sale, while there’s plenty of give-aways from the commentator’s vans along the route. The Sasol Rally consists of 14 special stages covering 170km of special stage racing, with a total route of 470km. The rally starts from the Sabie Town Square at 11am on Friday, 24th April and immediately takes crews into a series of four gravel stages, all located close to Sabie town. The first stage is next to Long Tom Pass, followed by a stage around Rosehaugh and Hendriksdal, ending near the Witklip Dam. Stage three is a new version of the Witklip Dam stage with stage four at the Spitskop Village, one of the best viewing spots on the entire event. The traditional supper break at the York Sports Ground precedes the Sabie Town Twister at 18h00 and the Sasol White River stage at 20h00. Saturday kicks off at 07h45 with the Sasol Sensational stage, the established Nelspruit Spaghetti Junction Super Special, where evenly-matched cars compete side-by-side over a mirror image course in the heart of Mpumalanga’s capital city. It’s back on to gravel for stages 8 and 9, which are re-runs of stages two and three respectively before tackling a stage near Klein Sabie on the Graskop road, which will be repeated later in the day as stage 12. Stage 11 is a repeat of stage 1, stage 13 is a re0run of the spectacular Spitskop stage, and the final stage is the Sasol Finale, which starts at 15h45 and takes rally cars into the Nelspruit Showgrounds stadium at full racing speeds, across the flying finish and to the final time control. Sasol will provide a spectacular stage setting for the podium ceremony, which fans are welcome to stay and watch.
SASOL/KONICA MINOLTA RALLY TEAM
SASOL RALLY TEAM PREVIEW
GUNNING TO INCREASE CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD Pic by Dave Ledbitter
With a relatively healthy points lead after only two rounds of the 2009 Sasol South African Rally Championship, the current SA Production Car Rally Champions Charl Wilken and Greg Godrich head into arguably their most important event of the season, fully intending to increase their lead at the top of the leader board. The Sasol/Konica Minolta Team will feel a little added pressure to deliver a top result for the hundreds of Sasol guests and many thousands of fans that traditionally line the 14 stage route through the Mpumulanga forests around Sabie, Nelspruit and White River.
their event. For the event itself, our aim is to take our third straight Production Car win and increase our championship lead. We’ve had a good run so far and the Sasol/Konica Minolta team appears to have the measure of the competition, but you can never relax in this sport”, Wilken continued. “I will also try to get as high an overall position as possible as those points accumulate towards our championship. Besides the top three overall positions,
After two back-to-back Production Car and Class N4 wins from two starts, including a magnificent drive to 2nd overall on the season opener in KwaZulu Natal, Wilken is relishing unleashing his stateof-the art Prodrive on a very different type of event. “We’ve had the flowing and very slippery roads in the cane fields in Natal and the ultra high speed stages in the Western Cape; now we have a technical, fairly rough rally that is much slower that the first two events. There are some very tricky, quick bits and a few nasty jumps that can catch you out. You also have to watch out for damp patches in the deep shade in the forests that can be very slippery so it’s an event that requires 100% concentration from the first stage to the last stage”, Wilken explained. “The popularity of the rally makes it quite a challenge to get from one control point to the next without taking chances on public roads but the sight of thousands of fans deep in the forests appreciating your driving makes the extra stress worthwhile.” “It’s a very important rally for us as we are the main thrust of Sasol’s sponsorship and it’s always important to put on a great show on
www.rallynews.co.za /// www.promotor.co.za /// www.sasolracing.co.za
there is only a one point difference between any of the remaining places from 4th to 20th, so it is crucial to have as many people between ourselves and whoever comes second to maximize our championship points haul”. Second in the Production Car standings is the Cape Town pairing of Mike Nathan/Derek Jacobs in their AWI Mitsubishi Lancer, following two steady drives to 9th and 10th places respectively in the opening quarter of the season. Nathan, the 2007 class N2 champion, returns to the sport after a year’s sabbatical and is steadily finding his feet in big N4 production car class. Visser du Plessis and Gerhard Snyman got their 2009 campaign off the ground in the Cape with a runner up place to Wilken, taking their Pirtek Subaru Impreza to 8th overall, one place behind the Sasol/Konica Minolta car after a bruising run. Du Plessis, the 2007 Production Car Champion, is likely to push the champions hard in a bid to make up the 22 point deficit after retiring from the Kwazulu Natal round with gearbox problems. Nelspruit brothers Joos and Danie Stassen will have many fans out in the stages cheering their De Goede Finance Subaru Impreza as the pair embarks on their first outing of the year. The Stassens grew up in the area and know the roads well, which can be a help or a hindrance – last year it was a hindrance as they failed to finish. Young Zimbabwean charger Chase Atwell and codriver Brian Carrihill will want to avenge their exclusion
from the last round, costing them a maiden class podium. The fearless driver pushes his Subaru Impreza hard and fireworks are sure to fly between the Stassens, Nathan and Attwell for the final podium step. Two regional competitors, Gary Berndt/Lohan Spies (Subaru Bruma Impreza GT) and Murray Lloyd/Ralph Lehman (MLC Computer Solutions Impreza GT) will fight their own battle for best of the older generation Subarus and either, or both, could end up in the points given a clean run and casualties amongst the newer machinery. The two-wheel drive N3 class is the domain of Dave Compton/ Pierre Jordaan and the blisteringly quick Sasol Toyota RunX. Two relatively easy class wins have given the former circuit racer a comfortable 12 point lead over Capetonians Abduraghman Amlay/Yusuf Ganief in a similar Toyota RunX. The Cape Town pair will have their hands full with the exchampionship –winning RunX of the husband and wife pairing of Hester and Riaan Erasmus, the defending class N2 champions. The pair ran well in KZN on their class debut but retired with mechanical problems but should feature on the class podium come Saturday afternoon. The Sasol Rally starts in Sabie at 11h00 on Friday, 24th April and takes in four gravel stages and two crowd-pleasing tarmac stages through the streets of Sabie and White River. Saturday features the now traditional Spaghetti Junction stage in Nelspruit and a further seven gravel stages, finishing at the Nelspruit Showgrounds later in the afternoon.
www.rallynews.co.za /// www.promotor.co.za /// www.sasolracing.co.za
CASTROL TOYOTA RALLY TEAM
SASOL RALLY TEAM PREVIEW
Castrol Toyota Ready for tough Sasol Rally fight The factory Castrol Toyota team arrives in Sabie for the 3rd round of the Sasol South African Rally Championship heading the leaderboard courtesy of Johnny Gemmell and co-driver Peter Marsh, winners of the opening round in KwaZulu Natal in their S2000 Castrol Toyota Auris. Toyota, winners of 17 Manufacturer’s Championships – the last 11 in succession – have won 94 championship rallies, substantially more than any other manufacturer in the history of the sport. The two world-leading brands recently renewed their long term sponsorship for a further three years, taking the successful Castrol Toyota partnership well past the three decade mark. Championship leader Gemmell has fond memories of the Sasol Rally as it was the first national rally he entered in 1999, then running a historic Toyota Corolla MK1 and saw him record his first victory as a works Castrol Toyota driver in 2007. “I enjoy the Sasol Rally and have a wealth of fond memories of the event, from my first national event, a couple of production car wins to my first victory for Toyota”, Gemmell reminisced. “It is a tricky event, far more challenging than first meets the eye. Sasol put enormous effort into making it spectator friendly and the atmosphere in the stages is quite incredible”. Gemmell added: “Last year was not a good event for us after both Mark and I went off on the first day. That is a memory we want to erase and the best way of doing that is to repeat what we did on the second day of last year’s event, when we set the fastest times on every stage running under the Superally rules. The Toyota Auris is a brilliant package, so much better then the RunX was in so many areas”.
Gemmell’s prediction for the 2009 Sasol Rally is a little more circumspect. “There are six drivers capable of taking the win. It is incredibly close at the front and just one little slip can see you drop a handful of seconds that is nearly impossible to make up again. We’re tied with Hergen (Fekken) for the championship lead and hope to cement that place a little more firmly after the Sasol Rally”. For Mark Cronje and Robert Paisley in the second Castrol Toyota Auris S2000, it will be a case of upping their pace after a confidence boosting 4th place on the Toyota Dealer Rally earlier this month. Cronje was the runaway leader on the first day of the Tour Natal in March until crashing out. “It will take a little while longer to erase that memory”, said Cronje. “I’m looking forward to the Sasol Rally because the nature of the stages suits the Auris, which has incredible mid-range torque and traction”. “I plan on upping our pace and fighting for a place on the podium and expect to be in the hunt. It’s important to find the right blend of speed while preserving the car. The Sasol Rally has a reputation for a ‘sting in the tail’; just when you think you’re over the worst, the rally bites hard. Many famous names have fallen foul of that”. Cronje claimed his maiden win on the Volkswagen Rally last year, and is overdue a visit to the top step of the podium. Another first time winner last year was Jean-Pierre Damseaux and his S2000 Team Total Toyota RunX. With new co-driver Andre Vermeulen, the pair is desperate to turn their season around after two non-finishes so far, one the result of a driving error and the most recent a rare engine failure. Damseaux’s skills are beyond doubt, and the Somerset West son of ten times champion Serge, remains a dark horse for victory. Jumping from Production Cars to a class S2000 Team Total Toyota RunX for 2009, Fernando Rueda/Cobus Vrey had a
good start to the year in KZN with a solid 6th overall but fell foul of gearbox problems in the Cape. They will expect to again be in the top 6 come Saturday afternoon. Japie van Niekerk and Robin Houghton, in their crisp white New Africa Developments Toyota RunX had the reverse fortunes of Rueda. Two rolls in Natal were followed by a fighting 6th on the Toyota Rally, with more still to come. Van Niekerk had his first production car win on the Sasol Rally, so will be another top contender for a strong result. Nicholas Ryan and Geoff Tyrer, podium finishers on last year’s Sasol Rally, are competing in selected rounds this season and hoping a strong performance will attract much needed funding for the remainder of the season. The two wheel drive Toyota onslaught is led by Evan Hutchinson and Elvene Coetzee in their Motorite Toyota RunX, who narrowly missed out on their first class A7 win on the Toyota Dealer Rally. Encouraged by their Cape showing, Hutchinson is aiming to take the fight to class leaders Stevan Wilken, who leads by six points. Class A7 champions Chris de Wit/Dean Redelinghuys have yet to start a rally this year after damaging two engines during pre-events testing. They will have to pull out al the stops to make up for lost ground. Team Total’s trio of class A6 runners are fighting their own war with Mohammed Moosa/Grant Martin the favourites for the A6 win in their Toyota Auris. Current class champion Craig Trott and co-driver Robbie Coetzee lead the title race by three points from Moosa, tied with team mate Rodney Visagie/Carolyn Swan (Toyota RunX), winners on the class debut on the Tour Natal.
Riyad Jaffer and Henry Dearlove should be much closer to the class A5 pace in their Sasol Toyota Yaris, which won its class on the last two Sasol rallies. Jaffer will start his 4th ever rally, having done a shakedown on a regional event early this year. Vusi Mabanga/ Shaun Visser (Team Total Toyota Yaris) hope to repeat their podium earned on the Toyota Dealer Rally, while young Ashley Haigh Smith/Hilton Auffrey (React Toyota Yaris) are about to experience their first Sasol Rally. Dave Compton/Pierre Jordaan have dominated class N3 in the Sasol Toyota RunX with two relatively easy wins, and should be amongst the quicker A6 machinery while banking a hat trick of wins as they romp towards the class championship. The Sasol Rally starts in Sabie at 11am on Friday, 24th April, taking in 4 gravel stages and two tarmac night stages through the heart of Sabie and White River. Saturday sees the Toyota crews tackle the Nelspruit SuperSpecial stage before hitting the dirt for another seven gravel stages.
BP VOLKSWAGEN RALLY TEAM
SASOL RALLY TEAM PREVIEW
BP Volkswagen Team Aiming for another Podium
enough skill to unsettle the plans of both leading teams.
THE BP Volkswagen team claimed a single podium finish at the first round of the national rally championship and followed it up with two podium finishes in round two. Round three looms on the horizon and the question has to be asked – what result can be expected this time? The Sasol Rally (24 and 25 April) is a highly challenging event, one of the most demanding of the entire year, and as a result is also one of the most unpredictable for competitors. Just when things appear to be going smoothly, the unexpected is always lying in wait, ready to pounce on the unwary. For defending champions Hergen Fekken and Pierre Arries in their BP Ultimate-powered Volkswagen Polo, this event is important for their aims of a second national title. They have taken an early lead on the scoreboard – which they currently share with rivals Johnny Gemmell and Peter Marsh of Toyota. This sets the scene for the Sasol event to be a tightly fought duel between experienced competitors, both set on the idea of claiming the title. Then there is the small matter of multiple championship winners Jan Habig and Douglas Judd who, while currently in third place according to the points, have more than
Habig and Judd are quietly getting the job done in the early stages of the season, making use of their BP Ultimate power as they both know well that collecting points consistently is more important than pushing the envelope every rally weekend. This approach has ensured them a third place on the scoreboard so far – just six points off the leading pair of challengers. This is the perfect position for these wily competitors to capitalise on any errors made by the leading pair – ready to reap the rewards without having to deal with the pressure. While this strategy might work well for them, it is not the right option for the third team in the BP Volkswagen rally line-up. For Enzo Kuun and Guy Hodgson the incident in the first event which prematurely ended their rally was soon forgotten as they powered to a fifth place finish in round two. The pair will be hungry for points in this event and will have to charge hard at every opportunity to ensure a good result. Finishing well in round three this season will keep Kuun and Hodgson in the hunt for honours. It will require dedication and tenacity on their part while still keeping a sharp eye out for potential problems on the route to be successful. Since the pair were victorious at the 2008 round of this event – where they led the field from start to finish, they will be aiming to repeat their success and prove they are on track for the rest of the season. In the A5 class the battle is expected to continue between the two BP Volkswagen Citi Golf entries. The 2009 championship season has already proved a battleground for these two entries and they have set the benchmark for the other competitors.
So far it is the more seasoned team of Gugu Zulu and Carl Peskin who have been the more successful entry, pushing their BP Ultimate-powered Citi Golf entry to two class victories. While this might appear they have the upper hand, the battle is being fought at full throttle on the rally stages. André Cleenwerck and Des de Fortier have suffered some bad luck this season which has kept them from delivering their best. This still hasn’t prevented the duo from claiming two second place finishes and it is simply a matter of time before they ascend the top step of the podium. When this happens, the on-stage battle between Zulu / Peskin and Cleenwerck / De Fortier will reach fever pitch and the battle is expected to go right down to the wire at season’s end. If this fight becomes a reality at the Sasol Rally, race fans are in for a treat. This will make the A5 class just as exciting at the top-flight S2000 competition.
Subscribe to the FREE ProMotor Magazine TODAY! SMS “ProMotor + YOUR E-MAIL” to
34599 (R2/sms)
Team Pannar Triton Express
SASOL RALLY TEAM PREVIEW
Looking for hat-trick on the Sasol Rally 2009
Article By : Gerry Gericke
The Pannar Triton Express Polo arrives in Sabie for round three of the South African rally championship starting on Friday the April 24, 2009 for the rough and tough Sasol rally. The Sasol rally is essentially a sprint event using short rough forest stages to determine the winner. Thousands of rally enthusiasts are expected to view the event this coming weekend. Heading up the top front wheel drive class A7 Stevan Wilken and Greg Gericke have had an amazing start, with the two young guns winning both rounds of the season so far. With a 10th overall on the Total Tour Natal and 11th overall on the Toyota Dealer Cape rally, the pair are hoping for a hat-trick of results. This is the pairs first year together and the two have combined like veterans of the sport. “I am extremely happy with this year’s result to date, VW Motorsport has been faultless with the preparation of the car, and now it is time for us to perform. Greg and I have had a dream start and we will do our best to keep it that way, Sasol has good memories for me personally so a hat-trick will be on the cards.”
Wilken has moved up from class A6 Polo in 2008 to class A7, these cars top the front wheel drive machines in South African rallying. “It has been quite a learning curve coming from A6, the characteristics of the car are the same as my A6, but being able to use the A7’s extra power is what it’s all about. Greg Gericke has much valuable experience as a Co-driver and knows exactly what it’s all about, moving up through the ranks over the years. ” I’m chuffed with this year’s start, Stevan is young and has the talent to take us all the way, I’m very impressed with the his ability and I’m used to the power so to me it’s just getting the notes spot on and being able to get us to end . The Sasol is rough and tough and if a trouble free event is in order, then we will make it three out of three!” We hereby thank our sponsors who make this all possible: Pannar seeds,Triton express,VW Motorsport,BP Ultimate
REMEMBER THAT YOU CAN GET THE RESULTS OF THE SASOL RALLY ON
rallyrews.co.za
MOTORITEEVENT RACING TEAM PREVIEW
SASOL RALLYCHALLENGE TEAM PREVIEW GOLDWAGEN
HOME TRACK ADVANTAGE Article by : Greg Reilly
Heading for the SASOL in quietly confident mood
The Motorite Racing team of Evan Hutchison and Elvene Coetzee (class A7 Toyota RunX) finds itself in a strong position in only its second season of national championship rallying as it travels to Mpumalanga for the Sasol Rally on April 24 and 25. After the first two rounds of the Sasol SA Rally Championship, the TOTAL Tour Natal in March and the Toyota Dealer Rally in the Western Cape three weeks ago, Hutchison and Coetzee are second in class after two podium finishes. “Yes, Elvene and I have had a good start to our first season together. Our ex-factory Toyota RunX is performing well and I’m a lot more confident with my rally driving. Elvene and I are developing a great in-car relationship and we are looking forward to having a good season together,” said the 2007 national off road racing champion. In fact, Hutchison is having a great 2009 in motor sport. He and Achim Bergmann are leading the special vehicle category of the Absa SA Off Road Championship after winning the first two rounds in their unique four-wheel drive Motorite Racing Revo 1. “We have a busy schedule running both championship campaigns, but I am lucky to have great sponsors and a dedicated back-up team,” said Hutchison. “I struggled a bit last year to combine the different driving styles required for these two forms of dirt road racing. On the one hand, we have a big V8-engined special that can go almost anywhere and then we have a production-based rally car that is more like a racing car. It’s a challenge that I am
thoroughly enjoying.” Hutchison did well to finish fourth in class last year’s Sasol Rally, which was made tougher by heavy rain that fell in the Sabie area before the start. He and Coetzee are backed by Motorite Insurance Administrators, as well as Sabelt by First Race, Castrol and Infiniti Insurance. Motorite Racing is the motor sport division of Motorite Insurance Administrators, the largest independent mechanical breakdown insurance and full maintenance plan service provider and administrator in South Africa.
ADENCO 400 OFFROAD
Vos and Pitchford win second in a row for Nissan Reigning champions Duncan Vos and Ralph Pitchford showed their class with a come-from-behind win in their Donaldson Nissan Navara in the Eastern Cape 400, round two of the Absa SA Off Road Championship, which finished in Jeffreys Bay on Saturday afternoon. It was their second win in a row and extended Nissan’s winning streak to a record eight victories since the same event last year. The Nissan Motorsport pair finished the 400-km event in a time of 8h 12m 56s, taking the chequered flag 13m 5s ahead of the factory Ford Ranger of Thomas Rundle and Hennie ter Stege. The Norwegian/British pairing of Ivar Erik Tollefsen and Quin Evans in a second Donaldson Nissan Navara was third, 1m 52s behind the Ford, despite completing most of the second half of Saturday’s route without rear brakes. Gary Bertholdt and Andre Vermeulen (Toyota Hilux) were fourth ahead of the similar vehicle of Chris Visser and Japie Badenhorst. The top five were all competing in the premier SP class. Vos and Pitchford had to work hard for their win. After dominating Friday’s 60-km prologue and leading the field from the start on Saturday morning, they were halted just 15 min into the route with brake problems. Pitchford, a trained mechanic who has prepared and serviced bikes and cars for the Dakar Rally, fixed the problem on the side of the road and the pair rejoined the race some eight minutes later in 25th position among the combined production and special vehicles. Vos’s team-mates former champion Hannes Grobler and defending co-drivers’ champion Mohr, who started the race in fourth place, took over the lead in their Donaldson Nissan Navara after Vos stopped and were the first production car into the compulsory halfway service stop. Chasing their first win of the year, they were forced to call it a day on the second loop with gearbox problems. By the time Vos and Pitchford reached the halfway stop they had worked their way into fourth overall in the production vehicle category, behind Grobler and Mohr, Hugo and Jaap
de Bruyn (Toyota Hilux) and Hein Lategan/Chris Birkin (Toyota Hilux). “It was a tough race,” said a weary Vos at the finish. “We had to work really hard to catch up with the leaders after our unscheduled stop. It was not easy in the dust and there was always the danger of picking up a puncture or damaging the car when we overtook the cars in front of us. On top of it all, I experienced car sickness. Ralph was a star fixing our problem. The car is really strong and once we took over the lead we were able to ease off a little to the finish.” Nissan privateers Terence Marsh and Pieter Groenewald (Regent Racing Navara) were out of luck. They were unable to continue after damaging a wheel on the ex-factory car when they hit a rock. Reigning class D champions Coetzee Labuscagne and Johan Gerber (Raysonics Nissan Hardbody) were also non-finishers after experiencing engine problems. Former circuit racing and international karting champion Leeroy Poulter and Rob Howie again impressed in their class E Nissan Hardbody prepared by Nissan Motorsport. In only their second event together, they too were out of luck and had to retire at the halfway point with broken front suspension. Glyn Hall, general manager of Nissan Motorsport: “Duncan and Ralph did very well to recover and win this event. It was another tough test for all the crews, with only 25 of the 56 starters able to reach the finish. We had more problems than we would have liked, but first and third overall is a good result at the end of the day.” Nissan Acknowledges Its Sponsors and Specialist Official Supplier and Technical Partners Nissan Motorsport enjoys a mutually beneficial relationship with Atlas Copco (pneumatic tools), Bosch Automotive, Champion (spark plugs), Donaldson (air filters), Edgecam (machining software specialists), Eibach (springs), Ferodo (brake pads), First Car Rental, LUK (clutches), Mastercraft (tools), Pro Engineering, Sasol Oil (fuels and lubricants) and SKF (bearings).
EVENT PREVIEW
GOLDWAGEN CHALLENGE
HOME TRACK ADVANTAGE Article by : Greg Reilly Saturday 18 April will see the Goldwagen Challenge brigade head for the familiar confines of the Zwartkops Raceway outside of Pretoria for the second round of the 2009 Pro Tour Road Show. With more than forty entries expected, this popular tin top formula will once again field the biggest entry of all of the participating formulas. If the first race of the year is anything to go by, race fans can expect a few surprise results and plenty of racing action. It is still early in the season but a few individuals have already announced their intentions for the year ahead. Lee Thompson (Gallardo IT / Interfile Golf I) threw the gauntlet down to the rest of the Class A competitors in Cape Town. A lot of homework has been done by his peers since then and the racing looks set to be electrifying with no less than seventeen drivers in the class. 2007 Class B Champion Craig Marais (Giulio Sabbatini Auto Stylists Golf I), looks set to make his return to racing in the rough and tumble of Class A. Other favourites capable of topping the leader board include Ray Wilford (Fuchs Lubricants Golf II), Wayne Masters (Jonnesway / Elite Autobody Golf 4), George Economides (Wealth Avenue Golf I) and Waldie Meintjes (Albatros Motors Polo Hatch).
Class P was extremely close at the first round and defending class champion Jakes Jacobs (Brooklyn Panelbeaters Polo) is not going to have things all his own way. Ryan Tholet (Prend Properties Polo Hatch) announced his intentions for the season by sharing the honours with Jacobs in Cape Town. Clayton Le Roux (Martin Le Roux Motors / Paintcor Polo) always performs well while Wouter Roos (Performance Laboratories Polo) continues to show promise. The rest of the field can’t be counted out and close racing is expected throughout. Class C will be watched with much interest as they field their biggest entry in many years. A mix of youth and experience and a dash of feminine determination are bound to have sparks flying. Elna Croeser (Giulio Sabbatini Auto Stylists Golf I) will have a good fight on her hands as the men (and boys) look intent on dethroning the defending class champion. Deon van der Watt (Infraset / Truss Pty Ltd Golf I) has a wealth of experience with young Giles Darroch (Golf I) always a strong contender. Two new comers are set to make their race debuts and will be watched with much interest. Rally Navigator Elvene Coetzee (Accolade / Venditor / MFC Golf I), will bring an extra dose of feminine flair to the class while Junior Max karter Charl Smalberger (Golf 1) is set to make his main circuit debut at the tender age of fourteen! This will make him the youngest ever competitor in the history of VW Challenge.
Class B will also be watched with much interest as the young guns go head to head against some of their more experienced opponents. Eben Rothman (Freddie’s Autospares / Fram Golf I) was the man to beat last time out, but looks set to have his work cut out for him as eleven other drivers are all intent on taking their first win of the season.
Although the individual class honours will be up for grabs, the honour of being the Overall Goldwagen Challenge Champion will also be the goal for many a driver. Thompson currently sits at the top of the leader board, three points ahead of Rothman with Needham a further six points behind in third place.
Dean Lester (Lester Properties Golf I) showed much promise in Cape Town but was plagued with electrical problems which put paid to any chance he had of a good result. Quinton Needham (Ultravision / Thrashcorp Golf I) and Greg Gosman (Marty’s Body & Spray Golf I) showed promise as well with the experience of Peter Thompson (Thompson’s Volkswagen Golf II) always a big threat to the youngsters.
The success of this formula would not be possible without Series sponsors like Goldwagen, Wynns, SS Telecoms, Sabertek, Norbrake, Eduardo Construction, Rapid Motion, Speed & Sound Magazine and of course the entire team who have made the Pro Tour the success that it turned out to be over the last couple of years. Website: www.vwchallenge.co.za
browse // read // watch
http://www.promotor.co.za Register online or SMS “ProMotor + YOUR E-MAIL” to 34599 (R2/SMS)