The popular Bridgestone BMW Club Racing Series set out for the historic Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit for the last time before the planned FIA approved circuit changes take place towards the end of May.
The dedicated competitors of this well organised series once again produced some exciting and competitive racing throughout the five classes participating on the day.
Qualifying
The official qualifying session saw Morne Visagie’s (E36 M3 Turbo) race day end before it had even begun when he lost control of his car through turn four and slammed into the unforgiving concrete barriers lining the back straight – luckily without injury to the driver himself.
A sad end to Visagie’s race day
Tana Klue’s (E46 330i) efforts were also thwarted when he came together with Shane Grobler (E36 328i) through turn three – the resultant damage to his car putting paid to his race day as well.
Mish-al Sing (E92 M3) topped the time sheets to claim pole position ahead of Devin Robertson (E90 320i). Carlo Garbini (E46 M3) made a welcome return to the series by grabbing pole position in class B while Graeme Nathan (E9 3.0 CSL) impressed in his classic racer to grab the top spot in class C.
Series newcomer Stephen Tsalavoutas (E36 M3) surprised the rest of the class D field by claiming pole ahead of the rest of the class regulars.
Mike Grobler (E36 328i) put in an impressive effort to place himself on the front row in class E.
Race 1
The first race of the day saw a frantic charge through the first few corners by the impressive thirty seven car field. Sing led the field down the back straight with Robertson and the father and son pairing of Jimmy (E82 135i) and Gianni Giannoccaro (E46 M3) hot on his heels.
The moment that ended Dangor and Koekemoer’s race day
Julian Fameliaris was undoubtedly the Driver of the Day with his efforts
Garbini had also made a great start as he kept Desmond Bloem (E36 325I Turbo), Julian Fameliaris (E36 328i Turbo) and Zimbabwean Darren Winterboer (F30 335i) behind him.
The drama started early on when veteran racer Farouk Dangor (E30 M3 Touring Car) spun out at the bottom of the notorious “Mine shaft” on the opening lap. With the field still closely bunched it was always going to end in tears. Daniel Koekemoer (E36 M3) was the unfortunate contender who found himself with nowhere to go. He tried hard to brake in time but was unable to avoid the inevitable collision as he violently slammed into the side of the stranded Dangor. The safety car was deployed almost immediately and the race was stopped a lap later when medical assistance was called in for the unfortunate Koekemoer. (Thankfully he is already well on the way to recovery)
At the restart Sing once again grabbed the hole shot with Robertson and the rest of the field in tow. Arri van Heerden (E30 2.7) woke himself and the rest of the chasing class D pack up when he spun in the same spot as Dangor had earlier. He managed to get going again but lost a hand full of positions in the process. The battle lines were well and truly drawn throughout the classes with plenty of fierce action underway. With the leaders involved in their own battle out in front, Garbini was defending the class B lead from Bloem, Winterboer and Fameliaris.
The battle amongst the class C ranks was just as close with Nathan fending off attacks from Stefano Martinelli (E36 328i), Fred Kruger (E46 M3) and Johan Dreyer (E46 330i). Bruce Turner (E36 328i) had his hands full with Craig Ball (E36 328i) and series newcomer Bevan Meyer (E36 325i) hassling him for the class D honours.
Giannoccaro Senior’s challenge ended on the fourth lap when fuelling issues put paid to his efforts. Robertson then retired a lap later with similar problems putting an end to his challenge for the overall lead. After a disastrous restart Fameliaris was systematically picking off the opposition one by one. He grabbed sixth position from Winterboer on lap four, and then proceeded to get past Bloem for fifth a lap later.
Sing looked set for an easy victory but the closing stages of the race grew more intense when he slowed with a mysterious misfire. Garbini was closing in on him like the proverbial freight train and the last lap of the race couldn’t have been closer. Coming into the last two corners Garbini was all over the back of Sing’s car. He unfortunately clipped the back of the race leader’s car coming out of the turn thirteen sweep and promptly shot into the pit lane and into retirement.
Sing limped home to victory, with Fameliaris crossing the line to claim an impressive second place overall. Bloem was more than happy to claim a well-deserved third position. Fameliaris claimed the class B honours as well, with Nathan holding a determined Martinelli at bay to claim the victory in class C. Turner held on for the class D laurels, with Alan Hilligenn (E36 328i) claiming an easy win in class E.
Race 1 Results by class
Class A
Class B
Sing took the chequered flag to claim victory in race one
Mishal Sing – Best lap: 1:48.611
Julian Fameliaris – Best lap: 1:51.101
Desmond Bloem – Best lap: 1:51.803
Oscar de Oliveira – Best lap: 1:52.923
Class C
Class D
Graeme Nathan – Best lap: 1:57.420
Stefano Martinelli – Best lap: 1:57.515
Fred Kruger – Best lap: 1:59.466
Bruce Turner – Best lap: 2:03.979
Bevan Meyer – Best lap: 2:03.531
Craig Ball – Best lap: 2:04.209
Class E
Alan Hilligenn – Best lap: 2:20.500
Mike Grobler – Best lap: 2:26.311
Race 2
The grid for the second race would be determined by the fastest lap of each competitor from the first race – only in reverse from slowest to fastest. The reverse grid by class would certainly set the cat amongst the pigeons with plenty of overtaking expected from the ever enthusiastic field.
Robertson powered his way to victory in the ex-production car
De Oliveira was sublime in his road going entry
The battle through the first few corners was chaotic. When the dust had settled it was Robertson who emerged down the back straight in the race lead but would incur a 30 second penalty for a jump start. Sing was hot on his heels with Giannoccaro Senior in tow.
Dino Fameliaris (E36 328i Turbo) led the class B ranks ahead of Winterboer, his cousin Julian and a repaired Garbini. This was short lived however as Winterboer and Julian found their way past him a lap later. Garbini’s challenge then ended on lap three when differential issues put paid to his chances.
Oscar de Oliveira (E86 Z4 M Coupe) was also on a charge as he chased after the turbo charged class B leaders in his road legal normally aspirated entry. Sing’s challenge faded when the mysterious misfire returned to haunt him once again. With his strongest challenger now out of the race Robertson set about increasing his lead over the rest of the chasing pack.
The class B battle intensified in the latter half of the race with Julian leading the charge ahead of Winterboer, de Oliveira and Dino. De Oliveira had a point to prove as he got past Winterboer to slot into second position. Dino followed his example and relegated Winterboer to fourth.
Martinelli also had his hands full in class C with Feroz Ebrahim (E46 M3 GTR) and the experienced Nathan hot on his heels. Gianni Giannoccaro was scything his way through the twenty nine car field from the back of the grid, and slotted into sixth position by the penultimate lap of the race.
Robertson cruised home to an easy overall and class A victory rendering his 30 second penalty irrelevant. Julian Fameliaris put in another impressive performance to claim second position overall once again. A scintillating drive from de Oliveira saw him charge across the line to claim an incredible third position in his first outing in the race series. Fameliaris took the double in class B and picked up the coveted Driver of the Day award as well.
Martinelli took a well-deserved victory in class C with Mike Salt (E36 323i) recovering from fuelling issues in the first race to come back and claim the honours in class D. Hilligenn was untroubled as he took a brace of wins in class E.
Race 2 Results by class
Class A
Class B
Martinelli had to do some low flying to claim the honours in class C
Devin Robertson – Best lap: 1:48.740
Gianni Giannoccaro – Best lap: 1:52.802
Mishal Sing – Best lap: 1:49.450
Julian Fameliaris – Best lap: 1:52.180
Oscar de Oliveira – Best lap: 1:53.501
Dino Fameliaris – Best lap: 1:53.963
Class C
Class D
Stefano Martinelli – Best lap: 1:57.956
Graeme Nathan – Best lap: 1:57.754
Fred Kruger – Best lap: 1:59.138
Mike Salt – Best lap: 2:03.440
Bruce Turner – Best Lap: 2:02.964
Bevan Meyer – Best lap: 2:03.451
Class E
Alan Hilligenn – Best lap: 2:19.615
Mike Grobler – Best lap: 2:19.691
With close racing like this, Turner had to work hard to take the victory in class D
The series will have a rather long two month break before it heads to the rustic Midvaal Raceway in Meyerton on 20 June for the fourth round of the 2015 season.
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.
