Mzansi troupe to compete in Europe

A team of South African drivers will contest historic car races in the Netherlands and Britain later this year.

The Mzansi troupe will compete at the Zandvoort circuit in Holland in May, and the famous Brands Hatch circuit in England in June.

They will drive South African built cars from the SKF Pre-1966 Legend Saloon Car category.

The drivers will be Jonathan du Toit (1965 Chevrolet Nova), Mark du Toit (1958 Chev Biscayne), Paulo Cavalieri (1965 Chevelle), Peter Lindenberg (1965 Shelby Ford Mustang), Paige Lindenberg (1968 Ford Fairlane) plus another driver and car, still to be named.

The South African visit could be a precursor for the introduction of a new class of historic car racing in Europe.

A visiting team of Dutch racers at this year’s annual Passion for Speed event around Zwartkops earlier this month have bought three South African Pre1966 racing saloons, with the eye on starting a similar category overseas.

South African historic racing cars do not have to comply with FIA regulations, meaning they may make use of more modern parts like suspensions, tyres and engines.

This makes the vehicles much less costly to build and race, which the overseas competitors say will attract large numbers of drivers to the proposed series in the Netherlands.

And why not? A South African built Toyota Hilux – built at a fraction of the cost of overseas teams’ budgets – has won the Dakar Rally.

In Europe, it could blossom into a massive category, all based on one of the ideas that originated in South Africa.

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