Wheels11 Nov2016

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November 10, 2016

Witness

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… NOW YOU’RE MOTORING

Steering with precision New series challenges spinners, drifters and even handbrake parkers to show their driving skills ALWYN VILJOEN KZN’s most popular motorsport group, Sidewayz, have now tested the track at Masons Mill near Eden­ dale to launch the KZN Driftkhana Series in Pieter­ maritzburg on December 3.

Led by KZN’s precision­driving legend Reece Williamson, in partnership with Thrill Seeker, the event signals a shift in focus for all spinners and drifters in KZN. Williamson said the event will challenge the best amateur drivers in South Africa, with some 30 driv­ ers invited to compete.

He warned that the KZN Driftkhana series is not about stunts to win points from the crowd’s reac­ tion, but “all about fast but precise car control”.

“Drivers garner points based on how many ob­ stacles they touch or miss on a timed lap around a gymkhana track,” he said.

“This is the fairest way to judge a precision steer­ ing event. Subjective opinions do not come into it. You either touch a ball with the appointed part of the car or you miss it, and you either make it through the gates without touching sides or you

Sidewayz will bring the wildly popular Drift Park format, shown here in a time­lapse photo, to Mason’s Mill next month to crown the first King of KZN Driftkhana.

See the details below.

PHOTO: RED BULL hit them,” said Williamson. He added that the Drift­ khana Series will mix the spectacular skills of drift­ ing with the precision skills of gymkhana driving.

The format was adopted from the Red Bull Drift Park, which is taking racers around the world by

storm. In KZN, the drivers will compete in four, six or eight­cylinder classes, as well as a turbo class, and to make the challenge accessible to the fans, Williamson will also host a handbrake parking chal­ lenge for the public in their own cars.

“We will set out cones to demarcate a parking bay and will prepare the surface to ensure the com­ petitors do not get flat spots on their tyres. Then we will invite drivers to show the fans their driving talent in their own cars. Each driver will get three tries, but will have to pay R10 to enter, with the money going to the Salvation Army orphanage in Pietermaritzburg,” he said.

Williamson said many drivers in South Africa complain that racing is becoming too expensive.

“With this KZN Driftkhana series we are making the thrill of throwing a car about accessible to a broader public in a safe manner,” he said.

He emphasised that the event will not involve spinning, for which Mason’s is best known, but said he looks forward to challenge all the city’s spinners and drag racers to test themselves on the mini gym­ khana track. “We have now tested the set­up and it really is great fun, both for the drivers and the spectators,” he said.

The winner of the first KZN Driftkhana event will clinch the title of King of KZN Driftkhana and Williamson said the series will continue next year, at Mason’s and other venues in KwaZulu­Natal.

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WitnessWheels MOTORING

November 10, 2016

Sensible, done right In the Suzuki Baleno, ALWYN VILJOEN is reminded of his tough­as­nails little Boerperd I CAME to horses rather late in life and despite severe blisters in tender places after horseback safaris in the Shongim­ velo Game Reserve near Barberton, I quickly became more enamoured with all things equine than the average 12­ year­old girl.

A favourite horse during this phase was a little Boerperd mare. She was tiny next to the gentle Friesians and slow compared to the retired (but still white­ of­eye) race horses. But she was also tough as nails and — being always curi­ ous to explore new places — a real com­ panion as opposed to a beast of burden on the trail.

I was reminded of that little mare after spending two days driving along South Africa’s most dangerous highway in the new Suzuki Baleno. (See page 7 for the grim highway details — but not if you also like horses!)

Never mind the media blurb that war­ bles on about the Baleno having “short overhangs, sculpted flanks and a strong identity that is both individual and un­ mistakably Suzuki”.

As the photos shows, the Baleno is a no­nonsense hatch with lines that follow function rather than design.

And oh my, is it functional. The boot packs 355 litres, compared to, for exam­ ple, the new Renault Kwid’s 300 litres, there is leg room to spare in front of all five seats. Fold the back seats flat and the boot now swallows 756 litres.

Thanks to the pistons’ over­stroked design, the 1,4 petrol engine also returns a better fuel consumption in city driving than on the open road.

Over­stroke design means the piston shaft is longer shaft than the width of the cylinder head (73 mm to 82 mm in this case), and as Archimedes pointed out, with a long enough shaft (and a firm enough place to stand on) you can make enough torque to move the Earth.

In the Baleno these long shafts, varia­ ble valve timing, multipoint fuel injec­ tion and some clever mapping mean you can putter along in fourth between the traffic lights and gently accelerate when the occasion demands, all while keeping the ref needle at 2 500 rpm.

This is well below the peak outputs of the 1 373 cc engine’s 68 kW and 130 Nm, but as any trucker will tell you, low revs equal low fuel consumption.

I, for example, got 18,7 km/l in city traffic and 18,2 km/l on the N2.

The Swift has the same engine, but because the Baleno weighs only 915 kg, it feels that much more responsive.

You read that right — 915 kg — that is up to 200 kg lighter than other hatch­ es in this price range, putting the Baleno in the same weight group as the stripped­out Mazda MX­5 Spyder shown at Sema last week (see the oppo­

Designed in Turin, Italy, and built in India, even for discerning Japanese drivers the Baleno just adds lightness for a responsive drive that is made even more enjoyable by my 18,7 km/l fuel consumption. PHOTO: CAR MAGAZINE

V CHARL GROBLER, manager of sales and product planning at Suzuki Auto South Africa

The power­to­ weight ratio is 76,5 kW/ton for the manual transmission model, and 74,9 kW/ton for the automatic.

Good design means the Baleno’s boot swallows 355 litres without compromising the leg room up front. PHOTO: QUICKPIC

site page). As Suzuki said: “The focus on lightweight construction ensures that the engine’s enthusiasm is put to the best possible use, ensuring brisk per­ formance.”

For “brisk”, read a speed well north of 120 km/h, and then there is still a little pull left in the 1,4 to go even faster.

What impressed me most at these to­ tally illegal speeds (which we don’ rec­ ommend you do at all, ever), is how planted the Baleno felt.

I would go so far as to say any German car driver will feel right at home, and the

Korean suspension engineers may want to pay a visit to the Maruti Suzuki factory in New Delhi, which is where the Baleno is built. If they do, they will, however, find nothing new. The Baleno rides on pothole­cresting 183/55R16 wheels bolt­ ed to an independent front suspension consisting of MacPherson struts, coils over oils and an anti­roll bar in front, with ye olde torsion beam, coil springs, dampers and an anti­roll bar at the rear.

But just by adding lightness, this prov­ en suspension set­up works like a charm.

The steering is electrically assisted,

loading up nicely in the corners, while stopping takes place quickly thanks to ABS brakes that comprises discs all round on the GLX. (The GL has front discs and rear drums.)

All Baleno models also come with EBD and EBA. Dual front air bags are standard too, while GLX models also get side and curtain air bags.

Other safety and security­related fea­ tures include an alarm/immobiliser sys­ tem. Remote central locking is also stan­ dard and in the GLX, I relied totally on the bumper sensors to avoid parking

scrapes while my mirrors were covered in droplets.

Now, I can see you are still stuck back there on “India” and I know what you are thinking, but go wash your mind with soap, for the interior of the Baleno is clad in the latest in soft plastics, all of which are pleasantly tactile. In fact, I dare you to hold the satiny rubber steering wheel and not feel like stroking it.

The Baleno has proven wildly popular too since its launch last year.

Charl Grobler, manager of sales and product planning at Suzuki SA, said In­ dia has bought over 100 000 units in just 12 months since the launch, with 60 000 back orders and a 33­week wait­ ing period.“The Baleno is currently ex­ ported from India to more than 30 mar­ kets around the world, including Japan, Europe and Australia,” Grobler said.

He deems the Baleno the ideal hatch for individuals and families seeking the extra comfort and convenience of a larg­ er hatchback, but who don’t want to give up the agility and efficiency of the Swift.

I think a few young ones and a lot of pensioners may also want to go prod the Baleno’s wheels with their Zimmer frames.

For this is sensible motoring done right. There is no turbo because this means more moving parts and more things that can go wrong, and Grobler is justifiably proud that Suzuki South Af­ rica’s warrantee claims stand at less than one percent for all their cars.

But best of all is that Colin Chapman “just add lightness” ethos that went into the design, which delivers a power­to­ weight ratio of 76,5 kW/ton for the man­ ual transmission model and 74,9 kW/ton for the automatic. So you get bullet­ proof reliability and that eager, respon­ sive handling, which is what reminded my of my little Boerperd.

The prices for the three Baleno mod­ els on sale are also allright, starting at just under R200 k for the GL and going up to R230 k for the GLX with the five­ speed manual transmission. An auto­ matic gearbox adds another R15 k.

We recommend the GLX manual. You can recognise the GLX models by their rooftop spoilers, or the 6,2­inch colour touch screen they have inside.

This aftermarket system installed at the factory is very user friendly, but I would have liked the four speakers to have put out at least double their Watts.

Oh, and I never have and never will like the stop­start button on new cars.

But those are my only niggles in what I will say again is sensible motoring done right.

A three­year or 100 000 km warranty, as well as a four­year or 60 000 km ser­ vice plan are standard. Services are at 15 000 km/12 month intervals.

Ford reinvents the wheel with circular Carr­E SCOTT COLLIE AS crowded city centres and congest­ ed main roads become even more crowded and congested, a growing number of car manufacturers and transport companies are looking to develop compact last­mile solutions.

Ford threw the commute conundrum over to its employees in the Last Mile Mobility Challenge, which returned over 600 ideas. Among the finalists is the Carr­E. It might be small, but the Carr­E has an impressive set of capabilities.

Designed by a systems engineer based in Cologne, Germany, it’s able to carry people or objects weighing up to 120 kg at up to 18 km/h. Range is lim­ ited to 22 km, which should be more than enough to scoot from a car park to the office or train station.

Being able to carry humans is one

thing, but the Carr­E also shines as a load­lugging device. Having piled it up with cargo, owners can slip a beacon into their pocket and start walking, at which point the circular little scooter will start following them.

Ultrasonic sensors on the front of the unit give it obstacle­avoidance ca­ pability, and there are functioning lights on the front and rear. There’s even built­in GPS, although there’s no word on what role it serves (perhaps so owners can track a stolen Carr­E, or for autonomous trundling between start and destination points).

“We really need to reinvent the wheel, to find new approaches to mo­ bility,” says designer Kilian Vas. “When developing the Carr­E, I was inspired

by Ford’s expansion into both an auto and a mobility company, but I’m also aware of how rapidly cities are grow­ ing and how getting around urban ar­

The Carr­E is a finalist in Ford’s Last Mile Challenge.

PHOTO: FORD eas will become progressively more complicated. I really wanted to create a device that makes commuting easier

and more fun.”

Ford, or more specifically Kilian Vas, isn’t alone in exploring the concept of

car­integrated last­mile transport. Audi showed off a longboard that can be stored in the bumper of a Q3 SUV earlier this year, and the folding Peu­ geot Design eF01 bike can be docked in the boot of the 5008 SUV. Ford isn’t the only company to en­ courage its employees to explore their creative side either. Today, Daimler an­ nounced a pop­up platform for crea­ tivity, where employees can sit down with a coach and flesh out any ideas they might have about the future of the brand.

The Carr­E is up against an electric trike and a semi­autonomous electric wheelchair in the finals of the Last Mile Mobility Challenge.

We’re waiting for news on when the winner(s) will be announced, and if any of the designs will go on to pro­ duction.

— New Atlas.

MOTORING WitnessWheels

November 10, 2016

3

The two­seater market just got more desirable MAZDA showed two very desirable Spy­ ders at last week’s Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (Sema) Show in Las Vegas and the good news is, unlike most concept cars, these will go on sale.

The first Spyder is what Mazda de­ scribes as a “ruthlessly efficient MX­5 Miata Speedster Evolution”, while the second is “the stealth­like” MX­5 RF Ku­ ro, based on the 2017 MX­5 RF cabriolet.

The MX­5 Speedster is no stranger to gawkers at auto shows, having made its debut at the 2015 Sema and the Good­ wood Festival of Speed in the U.K, but Mazda’s designers in Irvine, California, have experimented to see just how much lighter they could make their project.

Led by design manager Ken Saward, the team extracted what remained un­

derneath its dashboard and replaced its gauges with a digital display.

They swapped its Brembo front brakes with the lighter rotors and cali­ pers from the MX­5 Sport and Grand Touring models to further the weight re­ duction. Its stock lead­acid battery was replaced with a Braille GreenLite G20 Lithium battery that weighs just over two kilograms. Ultimately, the design team shaved 45 kg from the MX­5 Speed­ ster, or 15% from the original MX­5 soft top’s starting weight. Now, it weighs a scant 898 kg “With MX­5 Speedster evolution, our goal was to further deliver the essence of what MX­5 has represented for the past 27 years — lightweight engineering and pure driving joy,” said Saward, who

Mazda, already credited with making some of the prettiest passenger cars on the road today, introduced two head­turners at last week’s Specialty Equipment Marketing Association Show in Las Vegas. PHOTO: MAZDA owns and races a Spec Miata. He said that in the future, the company might see if it can reduce the weight further.

The 2017 MX­5 RF will be going on sale early next year. Called MX­5 RF Ku­ ro, it is a car that also adopts much of the MX­5 Global Cup technology but in

a much more street­focused package.

“We wanted to give MX­5 RF Kuro a stealth look to complement its sleek profile, providing subtlety and purpose,” said Saward. “As we move our brand in a direction we call Mazda Premium, we want to embrace our longstanding mo­

Kia’s future cars cater for on­road lives STARTING with cars converted for a Zombie apocalypse, Kia Motors has created a tradition of launching weird and wonderful futuristic vehicles at the Specialty Equipment Market Asso­ ciation (Sema) Show.

This year’s after market customs will, however, appeal to many a Marit­ zurger on today’s roads. Michael Spra­ gue, chief operating officer and execu­ tive vice president of KMA, said this year’s show hints at five self­driving

Kia launched five concept cars at Sema, including a pothole­busting Sorento and a Sedona minivan that has everything aspiring musicians need to record and produce tracks, as well as host a home concert. PHOTO: KIA future cars.

The Niro Triathlon is aimed at elite athletes training for or competing in

endurance events and has a cabin where the athlete can relax and store sports equipment.

The School of Rock Sedona minivan is a rolling recording studio with ev­ erything aspiring musicians crave to

tor­sport heritage and reach forward with breathtaking designs like the MX­5 RF.” Both Spyder versions of the MX­5 were built using parts that Mazda auto­ cross and racecar drivers can buy via MazdaMotorsports.com for their MX­ 5s. — Wheels Reporter. record and produce tracks on, while an imposing stack of amps in the tail­ gate allows hosting an impromptu roadside show.

The Sorento Ski Gondola is aimed at snow and ice, but will work very well over KZN’s mud and potholes.

And for that boring future com­ mute, Kia offers Soul First Class to business travelers and the Telluride Concept seven­seater for families.

The Soul has a revamped front dash, two rear­facing front seats and a 40­inch Samsung LED TV connected to a computer system. The Telluride reveals Kia’s plans to offer a premium SUV positioned above the current hot­ selling seven­seat Sorento and flies against predictions by the likes of Pro­ fessor Gordon Murray that future cars will be smaller. — WR.

WitnessWheels HIGH RIDERS MOTORING

4

November 10, 2016

Everest climbs even higher

The new Renault Kwid is aptly named, for it offers a whole lot of value, starting at some R120 k.

PHOTO: RENAULT

Budget­beater Renault’s little crossover Kwid is like a pumped hatchback SIBONELO MYENI I “KWID” you not, this new Renault is a serious budget beater on wheels, I mean, just look at what you get for under R120 000!

Renault Mzansi’s new entry level car, the Kwid, will make serious dents in competitors’ sales targets, especially with the one­year free insurance.

Renault calls it an “SUV­in­ spired hatchback”, but I would lean more towards a budget, entry­level hatch positioned below the standard Sandero rather than Stepway.

Nevertheless, the Kwid, said Renault, “overturns estab­ lished entry segment design cues, thanks to its robust, styl­ ish exterior and a modern and welcoming interior equipped with generous cabin space as well as features and fitments normally unattainable in its class”.

Black cladding on the wheel arches hints at that SUV­like

design feature, aided by the high ground clearance.

The rear is bi­polar in that lighter colours do not suit it well, while the darker red suits it to a tee.

Inside, it is typical Renault design, with chunky three­ spoke steering, funky uphol­ stery, a digital instrument cluster, piano­black finish cen­ tre fascia and a segment first’s seven­inch touch­screen with navigation/Bluetooth connec­ tivity, multimedia USB radio­ aux system (standard on Dy­ namique).

A long wheelbase allows for adequate interior space plus good rear legroom. The boot space is a rather tight 300 li­ tres.

Air conditioning, remote central locking, power steer­ ing and front electric windows come standard.

Powering the 1,1 ton Kwid is a new one­litre, three­cylin­ der Smart Control efficiency engine with a five­speed man­

ual gearbox.

Peak power is quoted at 50 kW and 90 Nm at 4 250 rpm, but still with a claimed 4,71 l/100 km.

The fuel tank holds 28 litres.

Because of its low weight, the engine doesn’t struggle to en­ sure the Kwid keeps up with traffic.

The Kwid scored a rather unattractive one­star safety rating. However, at R1,9 k in­ stalments, plus free insurance, you have to choose to either use the “death trap/negative five­star taxis” or the Kwid, which does come standard with an air bag and ABS. On the road, it drives well and handles bad roads surpris­ ingly well, as the launch route covered KwaZulu­Natal’s back routes, which meant plenty of potholes and speed humps.

Wind noise is okay, but as with any small car, strong cross winds do make them­ selves felt on occasions.

The tiny wheels won’t win

any F1 race but it’s a safe­han­ dling car, which bodes well for its intended buyers.

As is the case across Ren­ ault’s entire product range, the new Kwid Dynamique and Ex­ pression derivatives come standard with a five­ year/150 000 km mechanical warranty, 24­hour roadside assistance and a six­year anti­ corrosion warranty.

Services take place at 15 000 km intervals.

Optional service plans are also available. Buyers also get free insurance from Zurich In­ surers, which covers the first year at no cost to the buyer, which is a deal clincher if you ask me.

Renault Kwid prices Expression 1.0­litre SCe R119 900 Dynamique 1.0­litre SCe R129 900.

• Catch Sibonelo Myeni talking wheels every Thursday morn­ ing on Ukhozi FM or find more on imotoonline.co.za.

AFTER investing R2,5 billion in the Ford Silverton Assembly Plant in Pretoria, Tracey Delate, general man­ ager of marketing at Ford Motor Company Sub­Saharan Africa Re­ gion, was delighted to announce the first made­in­Silverton Everest.

The Everest is also the first model in the Ford stable to feature the lat­ est­generation Sync3 integrated communications and entertainment system that provides even more in­ novative ways of staying connected on the move.

For people born before 1950, this basically means the car talks tele­ pathically to the grandchildren’s smart phones, after a bare minimum of buttons are pressed.

Delate said local production of the Everest has enabled Ford to signifi­ cantly expand the line­up, which is now on sale in South Africa and will be exported to markets across Sub­ Saharan Africa.

Along with the two original high­ spec 3.2 XLT and Limited 4x4 models (originally built in Thailand), local­ ised assembly sees the addition of a further six derivatives, all built to Ford’s stringent global quality stan­ dards. These include five all­new 2.2­litre versions in XLS or XLT trim, as well as the option of a new 3.2 XLT 4x2.

“Our new and much broader line­ up for the Ford Everest meets the need for high­value mid­range mod­ els, which dominate the sales in this segment,” Delate said.

“Buyers now also have the option of manual or automatic transmis­ sions, as well as 4x2 or 4x4 models

to suit their specific needs.

“We expect the Everest 2.2 XLS to be an extremely popular seller. It of­ fers the practicality of a seven­seater configuration, impressive levels of standard specification, great per­ formance and outstanding value for money.”

The 2.2 XLS is available in three versions, comprising a two­wheel drive derivative with six­speed man­ ual gearbox, along with an automatic model that uses Ford’s smooth­shift­ ing SelectShift six­speed transmis­ sion to deliver seamless power and refinement, with the added benefit of Sport and Manual modes for ulti­ mate control.

For owners who intend heading far off the beaten track, there’s the Ever­ est 2.2 XLS 4x4, equipped with a manual transmission. The intelligent four­wheel drive system provides permanent drive to all four wheels, using an active transfer case with high and low range, a rear differential lock and torque on demand to deliver optimum performance and traction in all conditions. This is bolstered by the 225 mm ground clearance and substantial 800 mm water­wading depth.

All models come standard with Ford Protect, including a four­year or 120 000 km comprehensive warran­ ty, five­year or 100 000 km service plan, a three­year/unlimited kilome­ tre roadside assistance and a five­ year or unlimited km corrosion war­ ranty. Service intervals are every 20 000 km, while 4x4 models in­ clude free 4x4 training.

— Wheels Reporter.

Ford has started to make the new Everest at its Silverton plant in Pretoria, offering a range of high­value mid­range models.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC

All­new Impreza now made in Indiana THE all­new Subaru Imprezas started rolling off the assem­ bly line in Indiana this month.

Subaru is a unique brand in that it actually makes cars to sell, as opposed to making cars to qualify for huge tax re­ bates.

This means each Subaru is pre­ordered from the factory and, instead of having to pro­ vide huge discounts to move stock, Subaru dealers are all begging Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) for more units.

Well over half of the pro­ duction from Japan goes straight to the U.S., leaving South Africa’ largest Subaru dealer, Pietermaritzburg, well down the line when it comes

The new Subaru Impreza as it is made in the U.S., may come to SA next year. PHOTO: SUBARU to having orders filled.

To meet increasing de­ mand for the Impreza in the U.S., FHI has decided to move

the production of the Impreza to Indiana, which already builds the Subaru Legacy, Outback, mainly for the U.S.

and Canadian markets.

The annual production fig­ ures of this small plant are a stark reminder that South Af­ rica is a very small player in­ deed in the world market.

To keep up with growing demand, the Indiana plant will increase its annual capaci­ ty from 18 000 units a month to 32 000 units a month by the end of this year. SA’s na­ tional monthly sales tally up to under about 40 000 units, including trucks and bakkies.

The new Impreza may launch in South Africa in 2017, and it has already been nomi­ nated for the World Car of the Year 2017 award (WCoty).

— WR.

For more information on Witness Wheels advertising Contact Avir on 033 355 1152 or 084 278 3447 Avir@witness.co.za

The new XC90 comes with a brilliant sound system, as is to be expected from an SUV competing in the R1,5 million price range.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC

Very plush Swede for SA THE range­topping Volvo XC90 Ex­ cellence is now available in South Af­ rica. As one of the most luxurious models in Volvo’s 89­year history, the flagship Swedish SUV redefines what is possible in a luxury vehicle and brings out the best in terms of sophistication, opulence and ulti­ mate splendour.

Produced on a separate, special­ ised line at Volvo Cars’ Torslanda plant in Gothenburg, Sweden, the new XC90 Excellence is available ex­ clusively with Volvo’s T8 Twin En­ gine power train and built on the modular scalable product architec­ ture (SPA) platform as a bespoke four­seater, providing absolute luxu­ ry to all of the four occupants.

“The XC90 Excellence offers a

sublime and luxurious experience. It is our top­of­the­line XC90 offering and we have seen a lot of interest from our more affluent customers across the globe,” said Björn Ann­ wall, senior vice president market­ ing, sales and service at Volvo Cars.

“The additional sound insulation, enhanced Bowers & Wilkins sound system and the convenience of rear­ seat controls elevate the XC90 Ex­ cellence to a new level of luxurious calm and comfort.”

Including a five­year or 100 000 km full vehicle warranty and full maintenance plan, the new Volvo XC90 Excellence retails for R1 550 000, and is available on an or­ der­only basis.

— Wheels Reporter.

MOTORING EXPLORE WitnessWheels

November 10, 2016

5

SA’s worst highway by far The Wild Coast beckons to all holidaymakers, but avoid the N2 at night, warns ALWYN VILJOEN AFTER surviving two days of sui­ cidal drivers on the animal feed­ lot jokingly referred to as the N2 highway last week, I now wel­ come news from the SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) that the N2 to our scenic Wild Coast road will be tolled in future.

Before I started my journey, I was also dead set against putting toll booths on this entry to the Wild Coast, but now I say to any­ one still of this thinking to go drive yourself over what has for many years been South Africa’s most dangerous road. Then think what a few toll booths could do to keep off this other­ wise well­maintained highway all those kamikaze drivers whose main thrill in life it is to pass a long line of cars on a blind rise on a misty day, with only one parking light working. So dan­ gerous do they make the N2

‘Aaah, cute!’, right up to the moment of impact. This little donkey is one of many, many animals that feed next to or on the N2, five of which, including a horse and cow, I saw smashed to bits in a 200 km stretch. PHOTOS: ALWYN VILJOEN around Mthatha that this road is on the top five list of places to avoid on the international web­ site Driving Experiences. “The main danger comes not from the

road itself, but from the vehicles and drivers using it, driving with­ out due care and attention and speeding. The road, which cuts through various mountainous

Avoid damage to your vehicle when towing WHETHER it’s a trailer, boat, cara­ van or broken­down car, towing should be done right to avoid dam­ age to your vehicle and accidents on the roads.

Les McMaster, chairperson of the Motor Industry Workshop Associa­ tion (Miwa), says that the first thing to ensure is that the trailer or caravan has been properly serviced by a com­ petent person.

“During the service, the following areas should receive special atten­ tion: brakes [if fitted]; electrical con­ nections and components such as lights, cables, etc; wheel bearings (these need to be greased if the trailer has been standing for a lengthy peri­ od); and tyres, with emphasis on the tyre age, i.e. cracks, etc.”

He adds that it also important to ensure you have the correct licence and that what you are towing falls within the legal requirements in terms of weight in relation to your vehicle. “Many motorists don’t real­ ise that their driver’s licence regu­ lates what vehicle they can drive and what type of trailer they can pull.

“The AA provides a breakdown of licence codes and the corresponding trailer weight. It also explains how to calculate the trailer to car weight ratio. It is important that motorists don’t attempt to tow an item that is too heavy for their vehicle,” said McMaster.

The cost of fuel and fuel consump­ tion is also a factor to consider before heading off on holiday with a trailer, boat or caravan in tow.

“Towing roughly halves your nor­ mal distance so be careful to plan your stops beforehand. It’s also im­

portant to budget for the additional fuel you’ll use when towing. You’ll need to double your usual fuel ex­ penditure,” he said.

McMaster says that speeding is the number­one cause of accidents when towing. “Drivers need to be aware that the stopping distance is far longer when towing and allow for this.” He adds that passing heavy ve­ hicles and vice versa creates a vortex which can affect the towing combi­ nation’s stability.

“Ensure that you are not caught unawares. Do not use excessive brak­ ing when descending a steep descent as this may overheat the brakes on the units and lead to premature brake failure. Rather select a lower gear to assist with the braking force and keep to the recommended speed limit.”

He also encourages drivers who stop to assist a broken­down vehicle to ensure they use the correct equip­ ment before attempting to tow the vehicle. “Use only approved towing equipment such as towing bars and ropes. Be aware when using a rope that it will slacken on deceleration.

By using the correct rope you avoid the risk of the rope snapping on ac­ celeration. A tow bar should be used if the towed vehicle’s brakes are not working. Be aware that the steering on the towed vehicle may be ex­ tremely heavy when the engine is not running, so too are the brakes with­ out vacuum assistance,” he said.

“Every December and January we have many fatalities on our roads.

Let’s make sure that we tow responsi­ bly and take it easy on our roads this festive season,” said McMaster.

— Supplied.

areas, has many barrier lines for its numerous hairpins, one un­ nervingly referred to as ‘Hospital Bend’, but many motorists just do not adhere to them,” states the

site. The Road Traffic Manage­ ment Corporation also lists six sections of the N2 among the top 25 most dangerous roads in SA, with on average three deaths

each day of the year, this despite the fact that there are far fewer cars on the N2 than the N3.

It is not just the kamikaze Xho­ sas doing their best to cause head­on crashes on the N2, but the pedestrians of all ages who will look you in the eye before dashing, limping or dawdling straight into the oncoming traf­ fic, which can easily be a truck careening downhill at 115 km/h.

About the only thing you don’t have to worry about on the N2 is the many goats. Survival of the fittest means there are no goats left that don’t look twice before crossing a road. The sheep, don­ keys, cows, dogs and horses are not as clever. In fact, the image of half a horse smeared across the N2 will haunt me for a long time, and now, also you, if only to con­ vince you never to drive on the N2 after dark.

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PHOTO: CARAVAN WORLD

6

WitnessWheels MOTORING

November 10, 2016

A lot of plush technology BRIAN BASSETT drives the New Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4L TSI 110 kW Comfortline DSG WE reviewed the old Tiguan some two years ago and it was clear at that stage that it was hugely popular in South Afri­ ca.

What we could not know was that it would become one of the most popular family SUVs in the world.

Some three million people interna­ tionally trusted their travel needs to the old Tiguan and 19 000 of them are South Africans.

The design, however, was dated and it was reviewed and updated by VW’s design boss Klaus Bischoff and his team, to ensure that the vehicle retained its lead in the market.

The new design was more than a re­ vamp. In fact, we found it difficult to be­ lieve that we were looking at the succes­ sor to the rather chunky original.

We are grateful to Keith Abrahams, dealer principal at Baron’s Pietermaritz­ burg, for allowing us time with the com­ pletely redesigned VW Tiguan.

Styling The New Tiguan’s design theme is one of strong horizontal lines, creating a masculine, etched feel.

The car makes a much more powerful statement than its predecessor and, viewed from the side it has a seamless, flowing feel, which projects a sense of power, while body­coloured bumpers, door handles and exterior mirrors inte­ grate easily into the overall design.

All models have a black grain­effect protective trim on the lower front and rear bumpers, side sills and wheel arches.

As much as the previous design was somewhat flabby, the new Tiguan is sharp, contoured and distinctive.

The character lines are repeated on the bonnet and the radiator grille has striking horizontal chrome bars with a centrally placed VW badge, flanked by stylish, slit­eyed LED headlights and fog lamps at a lower level.

At the rear, the tail gate is plain with a central VW badge and wraparound tail lights, as well as twin exhausts to communicate a sporty and powerful feel.

trol, with forward collision warning and the high beam light­assist function are also worthwhile owning.

The car has the usual central locking and alarm. But remember that there is a host of other safety features, such as a rear­mounted camera, which can be added as extras.

The taut new Tiguan’s high driving position puts you in command of the road, while cylinder shutdown technology makes for lighter consumption. PHOTO: QUICKPIC Interior Despite the fact that it has generous ground clearance, the New Tiguan is easy to access and exit.

So grandparents transporting chil­ dren will have no problems.

Inside, the car speaks of luxury and attention to detail, with the leather seats comfortable for long journeys and the driver’s seat electrically adjustable and equipped with a memory.

The leather­covered, multifunction steering wheel, with all of the usual fea­ tures like Bluetooth and cruise control, is also fully adjustable, and once you have found your ideal driving position, you can lock it in.

I liked the high driving position, which makes you feel in command of the vehicle.

The dash shares a considerable affini­ ty with that of the Golf and is simple

enough to operate, while providing all of the information you need.

The controls are also logically laid out and easily visible. The speedometer and rev counter are analogue, with digital in­ formation between them.

As an option you can add a digital dashboard, but the conventional dash is all you really need.

The dash comes standard with a five­ inch touch­screen infotainment system, which can be upgraded to 6,5 or eight­ inch options and the eight­speaker au­ dio system, with all of the usual IT op­ tions, is excellent.

Seating at the rear will take three adults in comfort for long distances and the car has a unique amalgam of luxury and practicality.

Sliding rear seats with a 40­60 split offer versatility for passengers and the boot offers 615 litres of space and

1 655 litres with the rear seats folded down. The tail gate is electric and stack­ ing luggage is easy.

Safety and security The Tiguan has a five­star Euro NCap rating and a list of safety features too long to list here.

Nonetheless, there are a few that should be mentioned. The usual ABS and EBD are supported by hill hold as­ sist, anti­spin regulation, electronic and transverse differential locks, fatigue de­ tection and a host of front­side and rear air bags, while Isofix attachment points see to your children’s safety.

Park pilot monitors the front and rear of the car, and takes the drama out of shopping­centre parking.

I liked the Tiguan’s ability to change driving mode, with anything from nor­ mal to eco mode. Adaptive cruise con­

Performance and handling The front­wheel­drive Tiguan we tested was equipped with a four­cylinder, tur­ bo­petrol, transversely mounted engine, which puts out 110 kW/250 Nm of torque and is the first VW engine in SA to feature cylinder shutdown technolo­ gy. So if you are cruising on the N3 and have pressed the right button, two cylin­ ders shut down when appropriate, to save you fuel.

Power is expressed on road by a six­ speed steptronic box, backed up by flap­ py paddles on the steering wheel. Fuel consumption in the combined cycle is around nine litres/100 km, but so much depends on driving style and terrain.

The zero to 100 run comes up at around 10 seconds and top speed is claimed to be 200 km/h.

The Tiguan drives and parks easily in town, where it is aided by light steering and clear lines of sight.

On KZN’s D roads, the car performs well and on somewhat choppy farm roads it is willing, but has to be handled carefully. In fact, this is a car that should not be taken too far off tar. However, there is a selection of engines on their way to the SA market, as well as a 4Mo­ tion version for off­roading.

Costs and competition The new Tiguan 1.4TSI, 110 kW DSG costs R457 680, with the entry model at around R378 000. There is a three­ year or 120 000 km warranty and five­ year or 90 000 km service plan. Re­ member, the list of options is long and sometimes expensive.

Also look at the Ford Kuga, Jeep Rene­ gade, Toyota Rav4 and Suzuki Vitara, among others.

Nissan shows the future of hot­desking

The new Triton is worth the wait, says Mitsubishi.

PHOTO: QUICKPIC

New Triton due next year MITSUBISHI said it will launch the Triton bakkie early next year and promises it will prove worth the wait.

Already available in SA as the Fiat Fastback, the new Triton’s 2.4­litre MIVEC turbocharged common rail diesel engine makes a bit more power.

The Triton SU is equipped with the latest Super Select II four­wheel­drive system and the bench at the back seats three adults.

The updates include Mitsubishi’s latest six­speed manual or five­speed automatic gearbox.

As is the case in the Fullback, the 2,4 petrol is responsive, with a class­ leading compression ratio of 15.5:1, which is supplemented by a variable geometry turbo charger as well as Mit­ subishi’s proprietary engine mapping.

Peak power outperforms similar­ sized engines with 133 kW at 3 500 rpm and 430 Nm at 2 500 rpm,

with more than 350 Nm from 1 500 rpm. This is more than the pow­ er from the engines in the Fullback, which in the 2,4­litre petrol makes 97 kW and 202 Nm, while the 2,5­litre turbo diesel makes either 100 kW and 324 Nm in the 4x2 or 131 kW and 400 Nm in the 4x4.

Mitsubishi said the low­end torque is over 25% more when compared to the previous 2,5­litre turbo diesel en­ gine, which was fitted to the outgoing Triton range. Buyers who opt for the 4x4 drivetrain will get to sample the latest version of Mitsubishi’s widely acclaimed Super Select II 4WD sys­ tem. This state­of­the­art system is unique to Mitsubishi and offers four intelligent driving modes which can be engaged from the electronic drive se­ lector situated inside the cabin.

The Triton SU will arrive in South African dealerships in February 2017.

NISSAN has collaborated with UK­ based design workshop Studio Hardie to transform its zero emission e­NV200 van into the world’s first all­electric mo­ bile office — the e­NV200 WORK­ SPACe. Nissan said this one­off vehicle also provides an example of Nissan’s Intelli­ gent Mobility vision, and the company’s view of how the relationship between ve­ hicles and people is changing.

Inside, the mini office on wheels fea­ tures an integrated fold­out desk, touch­ screen computer, wireless Internet, smartphone­controlled LED lights, wireless phone charging, Bluetooth au­ dio system, mini fridge and a barista­ quality coffee machine.

The e­NV200 WORKSPACe concept not only highlights the customisable po­ tential of its electric van, it paints a pic­ ture of what desk­based employment could look like in the future as hot­desk­ ing and flexible working grows in popu­ larity across the globe.

During 2015, the number of co­work­ ing and hot­desking spaces worldwide increased by 36% as small businesses and working professionals looked for in­ creased mobility and a more cost­effec­ tive alternative to traditional city­centre office space.

Stepping inside the best­in­class 4,2m³ load bay of the e­NV200, occu­ pants are welcomed into a bright work­ ing environment with a special pano­ ramic glass roof and LED floor lighting enhancing the feeling of space.

The intelligent LED system can also be customised to whatever colour

A mobile office shows Nissan’s vision for Intelligent Mobility.

PHOTO: NEWSPRESS scheme the user desires by connecting with a smartphone app to adjust the lighting based on a large number of pa­ rameters, such as the palette in a photo.

At the rear, a clever floating deck can be pulled out to provide an outdoor area from which to take a phone call, work from a laptop or just admire the view of your surroundings.

Inside the e­NV200 WORKSPACe are two chrome and leather desk chairs, anchored to the van’s oak flooring on custom mounts. In one configuration

these are positioned side­by­side to al­ low for two people to have a meeting.

Between these chairs is a wooden con­ sole containing a wireless charging dock for smartphones, a Bluetooth music speaker and a drawer­based mini fridge.

One of the chairs can then be moved to a central mounting point, allowing a user to sit at the fold­down desk console, which houses a touch­screen computer, wireless mouse and keyboard, and an ar­ ray of stationary supplies, each with its own storage space. — Newspress.

MOTORING WitnessWheels

November 10, 2016

7

Crossing Antarctica Adventurer to cover over 7 000 km of continent CAPE TOWN — Mike Horn next week sets sail on the longest leg of his Pole2Pole expedition yet, the crossing of the Antarctic con­ tinent.

By ski and with the help of a kite, weather permitting, Horn will cover roughly over 7 000 km until he reaches the other side of the continent, the South Pole on­ ly being the halfway stop.

Aboard his sailing vessel Pan­ gaea, Horn and his crew will be sailing south from the Water­ front in Cape Town where they have spent the past two months working on Pole2Pole’s first so­ cio­environmental project and preparing Horn’s equipment for the big departure.

After a two­week sail across the southern ocean from South Africa to Antarctica, Horn’s crew will drop him off and pick him up on the other side of the continent once his crossing is complete.

Horn estimates his crossing to take three to four months, depend­ ing on the weather conditions.

Shark project During the first two weeks of Oc­ tober, Horn welcomed 10 enthu­ siastic, international young ex­ plorers from his previous expedi­ tion, Pangaea to Cape Town, to implement and execute the first Pole2Pole project: The Shark Project.

The aim of this project was to banish the negative stereotypes associated with sharks, raise awareness on the global issues our oceans are currently going through, and to engage and con­ nect with existing local South Af­ rican programmes.

The team collaborated with the Shark Spotters and the Two Oceans Aquarium, and together they successfully managed to tag and release 15 seven­gill sharks contributing to long­term data.

The second aspect of the project was in collaboration with the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. Together, they en­ gaged with local programmes

Mike Horn estimates his crossing of Antarctica will take three to four months, depending on the weather conditions.

PHOTOS: QUICKPIC which empower youth from local townships through beach clean­ ups, surfing, soccer, tree painting and educational programmes.

Mike Horn and his crew will be sailing south from the Waterfront in Cape Town, where they have spent the past two months working on Pole2Pole’s first socio­environmental project.

What’s next?

Crossing complete, Horn will navigate the Pacific through the islands of Oceania to Asia, where he will travel parts of New Zea­ land, Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Once arrived in Asia onboard Pangaea, a further overland jour­ ney will lead Horn to the summit of virgin peaks in India, followed by a journey through the tundra in Kamchatka, before setting sail for the great north.

The extreme athlete will then

attempt another crossing, this time of the Arctic via the North Pole. Following this, Mike will cross over the world’s largest is­ land, Greenland, after which he will conclude his adventure by navigating back to his point of departure, Monaco.

On his journey from the North to the South Pole, Horn and his team will be implementing more social and environmental pro­ jects, sharing every step of his journey on social media.

• For more information about Pole2Pole, visit www.mikehorn. com and follow Mike Horn on Facebook, @mikehornexplorer on Instagram and @explore mikehorn on #pole2pole

The Stig takes the master of all terrain down his ‘toughest course’ ACHIEVING speeds of 155 km/h down steeper­than­steep gradi­ ents on a 2 170­metre descent is what renowned race and stunt driver Ben Collins, aka The Stig, did in the Range Rov­ er Sport on an Alpine ski course this week.

Land Rover decided to go down the fearsome ski run to prove the Range Rover Sport is the ultimate luxury perform­ ance SUV. Collins drove the 14,9 km long downhill route at Mürren in Switzerland in 21 minutes and 36 seconds.

During the headlong descent of over two kilometres, the Range Rover Sport followed the route used by skiers on the tough Inferno Mürren, one of the oldest and most challeng­ ing downhill races. It tackled snow, ice, loose rock, mud, bro­ ken asphalt, grass and gravel, helped by Land Rover’s pio­ neering terrain response tech­ nology.

Famous for his role as The Stig on Top Gear, Collins said he was pushed to the limit by hairpin bends and the danger of sheer drops.

“This was genuinely one of the hardest tests I’ve faced in my driving career. The route was insane and certainly the toughest course I’ve ever com­ pleted,” said Collins. “It chal­ lenged you with every kind of obstacle this side of molten la­ va and as conditions go, it was about as bad as it gets — tor­ rential weather mixed with cliffs, trees, all kinds of stuff you don’t really want to crash into.

“There could only be one winner in the challenge — the mountain or the car. The key to the run was precision: being able to maintain speed and carry that speed down the hill in the way the skiers can do, carving through the turns.

“The Range Rover Sport gave

Flying downhill at speeds of up to 155 km/h, the Range Rover proved itself the ultimate SUV this week.

PHOTO: MOTORPRESS me so much help. I had to use the terrain response because the grass was like an ice rink and it really got me out of trouble. I believed in the car and it meant we could shed a

lot of time over the runs. To be honest, I abused it and it just kept on going. I couldn’t have asked for a better ma­ chine to do the job.”

The treacherous yet beautiful

Ben ‘The Stig’ Collins.

PHOTO: MOTORPRESS mountain course tested the car’s capability with ice and sleet at the top, where Collins reached 120 km/h, and fog and wet grass at the bottom, where he hit 155 km/h.

The pioneering terrain re­

sponse technology features six modes that will adapt the ve­ hicle’s settings to the appropri­ ate surface. For example, in Dy­ namic mode the anti­roll bar is stiffened to reduce body roll, the Grass/Gravel/Snow mode reduces under and over­steer by engine braking, while in Mud and Ruts, the rear differential is locked to allow controlled wheel slip for better traction.

On its way down, the ulti­ mate performance SUV tackled perilous gradients of up to 75% — steeper than many black runs at famous ski re­ sorts such as Chamonix — in freezing temperatures.

The feat was achieved in a Range Rover Sport with a 375 kW 5.0­litre supercharged V8 petrol engine, standard apart from the essential safety additions of a roll cage and re­ inforced tyres.

A film of the challenge is posted on YouTube.

8

WitnessWheels MOTORING

November 10, 2016

Hybrid champions Race tests pave way for first purely electric road­going Porsche by 2020 PORSCHE is back to being World Champions, and this time the company did it with a hybrid electric­petrol drive­ train.

But don’t think drivetrain like in Toyo­ ta Prius or Chevrolet Volt, for the Por­ sche that won the manufacturers’cham­ pionship was built by Porsche Research and Development Center in Weissach near Stuttgart, to make a combined 662 kW — 368 kW of which comes from the two­litre V4 petrol engine and 294 kW from the electric motor.

With the design of the 919’s hybrid sys­ tems, the race department did pioneer­ ing work. Especially with regards to high voltage technology, the 919 works as an experimental laboratory for the voltage level of future electric road going sports cars.

This way the knowledge gained on race tracks allowed the product cars’ develop­ ers to introduce the four­door concept study Mission E with 800 Volt technolo­ gy. The first purely electric driven road­ going sports car from Porsche will go into production within the current decade.

The sports car brand from Stuttgart­ Zuffenhausen with the innovative Le Mans Prototype Porsche 919 Hybrid se­ cured the manufacturers’ title in the FIA World Endurance Championship one race before the season’s finale. At the six­ hour race in Shanghai this Sunday the driver trios of Timo Bernhard (DE)/ Brendon Hartley (NZ)/Mark Webber (AU) and Romain Dumas (FR)/Neel Jani (CH)/Marc Lieb (DE) finished first and fourth to earn Porsche 38 points. Having now scored 301 points in total, Audi (222) and Toyota (207) cannot now catch Porsche at the last round in Bahrain on November 19.

Michael Steiner, board member for re­ search and development of Porsche AG, wit­nessed the title win on site and said: “The second manufacturers’ world

All smiles: Kwanda Mokoena PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Karting history for Kwanda

Porsche 919 Hybrid, Porsche Team: Brendon Hartley, Mark Webber, Timo Bernhard.

PHOTO: PORSCHE champion­ship title for Porsche is anoth­ er confirmation of the 919 Hybrid’s brave concept.

“The Weissach developed prototype joins other important Porsche race cars that were al­so ahead of their times, such as the 718 RS, 904, 917 or 956.

“They all wrote motor­sport history and significantly fired the road car devel­ opment. This also goes for the 919 Hy­ brid. I’m proud on the entire team.”

Fritz Enzinger, Vice President LMP1, added: “This big success was only possi­ ble thanks to a great team effort. Me­

chanics, engineers and drivers and many more peo­ple behind the scenes were fighting hard for this, and have now been rewarded for the second time after 2015.

This doesn’t prove only the 919 Hybrid’s potential, but also the excellence of the team. I want to thank everybody from my heart.”

For the futuristic Porsche 919 Hybrid it is another chapter in a story of success.

In 2014 the class one Le Mans prototype (LMP1) debuted with a unique power­ train concept.

Since then Porsche has won the Le

Mans 24­hour race twice, to take over­all victory number 17 in 2015 and 18 in 2016.

In 2015, which was the second sea­son for the young team, Porsche also won the manufacturers’ world championship.

Last year’s drivers’ title went to Bern­ hard/Hartley/Webber in a nerve wrack­ ing finale in Bahrain.

With one race to go, the current cham­ pionship leaders are this year’s Le Mans winners Dumas/Jani/Lieb. In total, from 24 races, the Porsche 919 Hybrid has 13 race wins and 15 pole positions to its tally.

— Newspress

Audi trades Le Mans all nighters for Formula E AUDI has announced it will swop its endurance racing for the new electric formula 1.

This means the last of all Audi’s endurance races, in­ cluding the 24 Hours of Le

Mans, end this year.

Speaking to 300 employees of the motorsport department last week, chair of Audi’s Board of Management, Rupert Stadler, put this strategic de­

cision in the context of the current burdens on the brand, pointing out that it was im­ portant to focus on the things that would keep Audi competitive in the years

ahead.

The Formula E Champion­ ship matches the strategy of offering fully battery­electric models year by year starting in 2018.

The commitment in the DTM, remains unchanged but no final decision has yet been made concerning a future in­ volvement in the FIA World Rallycross Champs. — WR.

Scholtz survives wheel brush to claim SuperGP title MATHEW Scholtz (ETR Nashua Yama­ ha R1) secured his first South African ti­ tle when he won the 2016 SuperGP Championship at Red Star Raceway on Saturday, October 29.

Adolf Boshoff (Neolife Yamaha R6) had a weekend to forget but it didn’t real­ ly matter as he secured the 2016 Su­ per600 crown at the previous round.

SuperGP Scholtz (ETR Nashua Yamaha R1) start­ ed the weekend with a 29­point lead over Clint Seller (Neolife Yamaha R1) and all he needed to do was keep the defending champion in his sights.

Racers, however, don’t think like that and Scholtz claimed pole in Friday after­ noon’s qualifying session with Seller in second and Greg Gildenhuys third on the grid.

During the qualifying there was dra­ ma coming onto the back straight on the opening lap when Seller’s front wheel hit the rear wheel of Scholtz, who was able to hang on and regain control of his bike, but Seller’s race and championship aspi­ rations ended on the grass on the exit of the corner.

The second race saw more of the same with Scholtz leading White and Gilden­ huys for the opening lap and it looked

first race as a South African champion with a win.

Gildenhuys followed him home with Goode going one better than in the opening race, completing the podium.

Isaacs, who missed the first race after damaging his bike in a crash during the morning warm­up, got back on track to finish fourth ahead of AJ Venter (Hygen­ ica Yamaha R1) and David McFadden (RSA Racing BMW S1000 RR).

Michel White worked his way back to seventh after falling while chasing second. PHOTO: GAS SPORTS like the trio would pull away from the chasing pack as they did in the opening heat.

It didn’t last however as White, chas­ ing second in the championship, went down. He was able to remount and work

his way back through the field to seventh but it was not enough to get the better of the injured Seller on the champion­ ship log.

Scholtz was then able to control things from the front, celebrating his

SuperMasters Isaacs, who had won every SuperMas­ ters heat coming into the final round, spoilt his chances of a perfect points scoring season when he crashed during the morning warm­up session.

While he was not badly hurt, his crew could not get his BMW race­ ready be­ fore the first race.

Hendrik de Bruin (RSA Racing Yama­ ha R1) took full advantage of Isaacs’s misfortune to get the win in the opening heat from Damion Purificati (Amalgam Welding Shop Kawasaki), who just man­ aged to keep Johnny Krieger (Full Throt­ tle BMW S1000 RR) behind him.

Normal service was resumed in race two with Isaacs winning from Purificati and De Bruin, who swapped places in the second race. — Gas Sports.

TWELVE­year­old Kwanda Mokoe­ na made history on the weekend when he became the youngest ever driver to win a junior level karting championship anywhere in the world.

Mokoena, who took advantage of South African karting shifting its minimum karting age limits lower for 2016, a year before international karting did the same; stepped up to Junior Rok at the beginning of the season and promptly took the cham­ pionship with a dominant perform­ ance at a wet Vereeniging on Satur­ day.

Kwanda’s historic title came at the end of a trying season, where he missed out on two primary school national karting titles by less than a single point each.

“It’s been a tough journey for us and it still pains me that we didn’t do two Maxterino Regionals at the beginning of the year.,” Kwanda said.

“Rotax prescribes that the Maxte­ rino regionals count to the national points and after dominating in PE and Vereeniging with solid wins, I lost the championship by 0.25 to come second in SA. “I also ended sec­ ond in the Mini Rok SA National Championship by just one point!

“But it was a good year too ­ we still won two titles with Junior Rok and the African Maxterino champi­ onship, where I won R10 000 for win­ ning the 2016 African Open and I al­ so qualified 8th in my class at the World Rok Karting Championships in Italy two weeks ago which.

“That was really tough racing against the best of the best in the world, but I learnt so much!”

“2016 was hard work ­ I often drove nine races in a day, but I was dedicated and together with dad and Thabs my mechanic, we made it hap­ pen.

“There are so many people to thank — from my Rivonia Primary school teacher for making a plan and allowing me to represent SA in the middle of exam time, my mechanic Thabs; Team Squadra Corse and KGT in Italy and my mom and dad and sister for all their support and travelling with me far and wide to compete in 2016.

“Most of all thanks to RKT uncle Ett for your help this year, Wayne Masters and Mr Odendaal and to Motorsport Media for all the fantas­ tic coverage this year ­ God bless you all.” — Motorsport Media.

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