2017 season almost history

This year’s South African circuit racing season will end on a historical note at Kyalami on Saturday, with the occasion the final round of the 2017 Historic Tour.

The venue’s National Historic Festival will comprise of 16 races, incorporating 11 separate competition disciplines.

• Topping the day’s activities in terms of entry size will be the Marlboro Crane Hire races for Pre-1980 Historic Saloon Cars. Front runners should include drivers like Paige Lindenberg (Ford Fairlane), Johan Smith (Nancefield Autoparts Mazda Capella), Djurk Venter (Ford Capri), Phillip Pantazis (Datsun), André de Lange (N4 Autocraft VW Jetta), Frank Davis Rayspeed Ford Escort), John Bronner (Alfa Romeo), Neil Lobb (Fiat 131) and Daniel Lotter Big Dog Ford).
• A massive Investchem Formula Ford Kent field will see a total of 40 cars take to the Kyalami startline. Top contenders should include Andrew Horne (Xena Van Diemen), Andrew Schofield (Investchem Reynard), Rick Morris (Investchem Van Diemen), Ben van der Westhuizen (Pioneer Plastics Royale), Duncan Vos (WCT Van Diemen), Stuart Thompson (WCT Dulon), Alex Gillespie (ERP Trucking Swift) and David Jeremy (Lime Chilli Van Diemen).
• The Pirelli Sports and GT races should see contenders like Steve Humble (Harp Juno), Charl Arangies Stradale Aston Martin Vantage), Francis Carruthers (Harp Aquila), Colin Plit Motul Juno), Fritz Kleynhans (Comeius Ligier JS49), Mark Lauth (Fantastic Shelby CanAm), Doug MacDonald (Shelby CanAm), James Forbes (Nash ADR), André Brink (SSB Transport Porsche GT3), Jeff Gable (Jacquet Birkin 7) and Jonathan Shenkman (Stradale Lamborghini) at the front end. v The combined races for Pre- 1990 Sports and GT Cars, Pre-1968 Sports Cars and Pre-1966 Little Giants will see a large and varied entry, including people like Neil Lobb (Lola T70), George Avvakoumides (Ocean Basket Porsche 911), Peter Jenkins (Nucleus Porsche 911 RSR), Thomas Falkiner (Ford Mustang), Jonathan du Toit (Ford Daytona), Michiel Simons (Ford GT40), Josh Dovey (Austin Healy) and Warren Lombaard (AC Cobra).
• The day’s only handicap races will be for Pursuit series cars, with the final laps expected to be hectic, if the handicappers get their calculations correct. Possible front-runners couldinclude Henk de Klerk (Pajero Honda Civic), Rob Clark (Containerforce Citroen CS), Johan Swanepoel (Scorpion Fiar 124 Sport), Douw Raimondo (Trapper Porsche), Wihan Tiedt (WH Auctioneers Lotus 23B), Joe de Klerk (Pajero Ford Mustang), Darrell Cramer (Blue Hemisphere Mercedes-Benz 280E) and Travis Jensen (Datsun).
• The Lotus Challenge competitors will tackle two sprint races, with front runners expected to include Thomas Falkiner (Taylon Toyota), Fred Alberts (Birkin Toyota), John Oliver (Megapile Birkin 7), Sean Hewitt (Birkin Toyota), Greg Samuel (Birkin Toyota) and David Jeremy (Taylon Toyota).
• The day will end with two endurance races of 60-minutes duration each. The Historic Endurance race will see drivers like Peter Jenkins (Nucleus Chain Chevron B19), Alex Gillespie 9Chevron B19), Roy Orbery (GWM Edenvale Porsche), Mario Rossi (Alfa Romeo GTV6), Hubi von Moltke (Mercedes-Benz 280CE), Alan Poulter (Tom Campher Volvo B20), Vic Campher (Tom Campher Volvo B20) and Harry Lombard (AB Brickworks VW Beetle) facing the starter.
• The final event of the day will see 20 SA Endurance Series contenders on track. Front runners should include Duncan/Graham Vos (Ecurie Zoo Juno SS), Fritz Kleynhans (Comeius Ligier JS49), Michael Jensen (Fantastic Renault FR), Mark Lauth (Fantastic Shelby CanAm), Maarten Prins (Porsche GT3 RS) and Eric Salomon/Dave Sinclair (Nash).