The Bridgestone BMW Club Racing Series joined the popular Extreme Festival Road show on Saturday 21 March for the second round of their championship.
As expected a full field of cars arrived at the Zwartkops Raceway for an action packed day of racing. With thirty one entries heading out for qualifying this popular club racing series produced one of the biggest fields on the day.
The event would also see the new BMW Challenge Class make their long awaited debut.
Robertson and Sing were the top qualifiers
Devin Robertson (E90 320i) claimed pole position ahead of Mish-al Sing (E92 M3). Zimbabwean Darren Winterboer (F30 335i) once again grabbed the top spot in class B, while Feroz Ebrahim (E46 M3 GTR) would lead off the class C ranks. Mike Salt (E36 323i) would start on the front row in class D with Mike Grobler (E36 328i) making a welcome return to the series by claiming the first ever pole position in class E.
Drama struck before the race had even begun with a number of championship contenders not even making it to the grid due to various issues. Jimmy Giannoccaro (E83 135i) experienced clutch failure on his car with Gianni Giannoccaro (E46 M3 Ti) suffering from a blown water bottle. Daniel Koekemoer (E36 M3) broke engine mountings before the race with JP Kleynhans (E36 M3) side lined with differential failure.
Race 1
Ebrahim was impressive in his beautifully prepared racer
The first race got off to a frantic start; with the large field jostling for position through turn one. Robertson grabbed the lead with Sing, Winterboer and the rest of the field in tow. Ricky Giannoccaro (E46 M3 GTR) was hot on their heels with Woest, Ebrahim and Julian Fameliaris (E36 328i) in pursuit.
The safety car was brought out on the second lap however when Nick Smythe (E46 330i) tagged Shane Grobler (E36 328i) through turn two. When the race restarted a lap later Sing grabbed the lead from Robertson with Winterboer and Giannoccaro trying to hang onto their coat tails. The battle behind them was just as close with Woest ahead of Ebrahim, Greyvensteyn and Fameliaris. The fourth lap seemed to bring bad luck to a number of competitors with Warren Dodd (E36 328i), Mike Grobler and Morne Visagie (E36 M3 Turbo) all slowing their pace due to various issues.
Stephen Tsalavoutas (E36 M3) was making his way through the class D field from the back of the grid after he was unable to qualify. He was up with the leading pack by the halfway point in the race and was soon challenging Salt for position. Drama struck on the seventh lap though when Salt collided with Tsalavoutas, ending both of their races on the spot. Winterboer also saw his hopes dashed when engine failure put a premature end to his race day a lap later. Greyvensteyn then retired to the pits on the penultimate lap of the race as well.
When the chequered flag came out it was Sing who took the Overall and class A victories ahead of Robertson, with Giannoccaro crossing the line in a strong third position. Woest took the honours in class B with Ebrahim claiming the class C win ahead of Fameliaris. Series newcomer Vaughn Obhlidal (E30 M3) took a popular victory ahead of the rest of the class D brat pack. The newly formed BMW Challenge Class saw race debutant Alan Hilligenn (E36 328i) creating history by claiming the first ever victory in this near standard class.
Race 1 Results by class
Class A
Class B
Obhlidal showed the rest of the class D pack a clean set of heels
Mishal Sing – Best lap: 1:05.853
Devin Robertson – Best lap: 1:06.759
Ricky Giannoccaro – Best lap: 1:07.042
Riaan Woest – Best lap: 1:10.027
Andries Greyvensteyn – Best lap: 1:10.695
Morne Visagie – Best lap: 1:22.413
Class C
Class D
Feroz Ebrahim – Best lap: 1:10.4567
Julian Fameliaris – Best lap: 1:10.983
Fred Kruger – Best lap: 1:11.974
Vaughn Obhlidal – Best lap: 1:15.211
Arri Van Heerden – Best lap: 1:15.395
Wayne Emmenis – Best lap: 1:15.868
Class E
Alan Hilligenn – Best lap: 1:23.637
Mike Grobler – Best lap: 1:24.261
Race 2
The second race of the day had to be cancelled when a massive rain storm swept across the circuit to end any chance of a safe second heat being able to be held. Due to this cancellation, double points would be scored by those competitors who finished the first race.
Hilligenn claimed the first ever victory in the new challenge class
The third round of the 2015 racing season will be held at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit on 18 April and is expected to once again produce a bumper field of entries. This will be the last opportunity for drivers to be able to race on the famous circuit in its current format before planned extensions and renovations will be carried out on the circuit in the months to come.
The Club was formed in 1981 to afford likeminded enthusiasts the opportunity to interact with each other through a comprehensive calendar of events, a club magazine and website portal. The Club also organizes adrenaline and social based events such as breakfast runs, classic car gatherings, Concours d’Elegance competitions, noggins, weekend trips, gymkhana’s and top speed events. The Club is proud of its family ethos where all enthusiasts are welcome. Annual membership starts from as little as R350, more information is available at www.bmwcarclub.co.za.
The second round of the Extreme Festival takes place at Zwartkops on 21 March 2015.
The Bridgestone BMW Club Racing Series will be making a return appearance at the Festival after a highly successful event as an invitational category in 2014.
The popular club series will appear on the Extreme Festival calendar 3 times this year at Zwartkops, Phakisa and Kyalami.
Many of the teams and drivers from the BMW Car Club also compete in the Speed and Sound 111 Sports and Saloons and G&H Transport Extreme Supercars categories. It means that all the usual suspects as well as some new ones will be together in one place. It’s a dream come true for any BMW Motorsport fan as the racing is likely to be riveting in all 3 categories.
BMW set to dominate the Extreme Festival
Racing Series Chairman Michael Broom says “we discovered such a great synergy with the Extreme Festival last year which resulted in an event where BMW dominated the day. I expect that this event will be much the same with some big names and very quick cars on the billing”.
Racing starts at 09:15 on Saturday morning with drifting demos in between all the action. A beer garden, kiddies entertainment and various stalls will also keep fans busy in between race heats.
Tickets are R90 per adult, R70 per student while kids under 12 get in free.
The Club was formed in 1981 to afford likeminded enthusiasts the opportunity to interact with each other through a comprehensive calendar of events, a club magazine and website portal. The Club also organizes adrenaline and social based events such as breakfast runs, classic car gatherings, Concours d’Elegance competitions, noggins, weekend trips, gymkhana’s and top speed events. The Club is proud of its family ethos where all enthusiasts are welcome. Annual membership starts from as little as R350, more information is available at www.bmwcarclub.co.za.
