The Bridgestone BMW Club Racing Series is back in Gauteng and visits Zwartkops Raceway for the first time in 2021 on June 5 as part of the BMW Gauteng Car Club Trackday.
After the last outing at Phakisa at the end of April, there will be a lot to look forward to. William Einkamerer (BTAS BMW E92 335i) took his first win in Class A and will have barely wiped the smile off his face, as he prepares to take on all comers again. Adrian Dalton (Xtra Clothing and Shoes BMW E46 M3 CSL) took no prisoners in the season opener at Red Star and Zwartkops is an old stomping ground for the veteran. Lorenzo Gualtieri (SAV Speed E36 M3 Turbo) hopes to put the reliability issues which have plagued him thus far behind him and deliver a solid performance, if he makes it to the Big Z.
In Class B Rick Loureiro (Combined Racing BMW E30 325is) will have good memories of the last outing in the Goldfields after the race long dice with Einkamerer in the afternoon’s second race. Andreas Meier (#TrainedAmateurs BMW E36 STC) will remember Phakisa fondly too, after he took both the class wins and the morning’s first race outright. As always, The German will be a favourite at Zwartkops, a home away from home, where he seems to test endlessly. The revelation of the season so far arguably, young Jagger Robertson (Viking/Big Boss Auto BMW E46 M3), is waiting to mix it with his older rivals again, undaunted by the challenge. Jan Eversteyn (African Surprise BME E46 M3) did not have a good time in round 2 and wants to make amends, while Fabio Fedetto (BMW F82 M4) looks forward to posting another good result after a solid debut in Class B at Phakisa. Carlo Garbini (Kimbo Coffee BMW E46 330i) will want to stamp his authority in the class with a freshly repaired engine in his car. Salvi Gualtieri (Eataly Foods/SAV Speed BMW E36 328i Turbo) is not likely to make it, but Oz Biagioni will, pending repairs to his Bio Pool Maintenance E46 M3.
In Class C, former class champion Nek Makris (BMW E46 328i Turbo) leads the chorus after re-joining the ensemble this year. Lyle Ramsay (Fuchs Lubricants/Rich Racing BMW E36 330i), Trevor Long (Roof Surgeon BMW E36 M3) and Troy Cochran (Arrow Automotive/ATE BMW E36 M3) are all humming along nicely too and will be joined by Matthew Wadeley and Renier Smith (BMW E36 M3), both in equally fine fettle. Reigning overall champion Nicholas van Zyl (RSR BMW E36 328i Turbo) has missed a few notes this year, after making the step up to Class C but should find his voice sooner rather than later. Zwartkops is as good a stage as any for that.
Neil Reynolds (Valve Hospital BMW E36 M3) has worked wonders this year in Class D and in the overall stakes, quietly racking up points and wins. After 2 rounds, he lies just 2 points behind Andreas Meier in the overall title chase. Another old hand in the game Alan Hilligenn (C3 Shared Services BMW E46 328i Turbo) is third, and the pair enjoyed a tremendous scrap at Phakisa in both races and are back for more. Shane Grobler (Mayfair Gearbox BMW E30 325i) has also gone about his business with purpose and with Bernard de Gouveia (de Gouveia Accountants BMW E36 328i) should repeat their fierce duel in the Free State in race 2. Craig and Nicholas Herbst (Greenhouse Solar BMW E46 330i) are ever present in the points chase, while Varish Ganpath (Prodigy BMW E46 325ci) hopes to string some good results together, after an erratic start to the season.
In Class E Nicholas Fischer (Inside Active Group BMW E36 328i) leads newcomer Thomas Potgieter (Stonehill Properties BMW E87 128i) and Manny Ribeiro (Bridgestone/BMW Car Club E46 325i Touring) in the points standings. Mike Grobler (Grobler Motorsport E39 M5), Hein Van Der Merwe (Stigworx BMW E36 325i) and a returning Rupert Giessing (Bridgestone BMW E36 328i) have also thrown their hats in the ring to spice things up and will be welcoming another season newcomer Dewit Oosthuizen (Sharetrackin/ Spanjaard/ Lowbros BMW E92 M3).
Also, on the programme on Saturday will be time trials for enthusiasts in their own machinery. Leon Loubser in the awe-inspiring BMW E92 335i should be the man to beat for fastest BMW on the day while Pieter Zeelie is expected to top the overall timing charts in the Zeelie Auditors Toyota MR2. Phillip Smit in the Porsche 911 GT3 RS is expected to lead the time sheets for the Porsche contenders. Adding to the variety will be two ladies Charmaine Van Rooyen in a Ford Fiesta ST and Janetta Van Rooyen in a Mini Cooper S.
As per the recently implemented Level 2 lockdown status, no spectators will be allowed but regular updates of the races will be posted on social media at: BMW Car Club Gauteng
Story by Tony Alves
Report and Event Photographs: www.RacePics.co.za
Media requests can be directed to: media@racepics.co.za
BMW Car Club Gauteng
Website: www.bmwcarclub.co.za
Facebook: BMW Car Club Gauteng
Twitter: @BMWCarClubGP
