Almost 30 cars will take to the 2.4-kilometre-long Zwartkops Raceway on 1 and 2 March 2024 to contest the opening round of the 2024 111 and GT Sports & Saloons Championships.
In the GT category, the battle for line honours will be between Dawie Olivier (International Race Supplies BMW E30), George Economides in his very quick Wealth Avenue VW Golf Turbo, Louis Cloete (Automotive Racing Components VW Beetle) and Braam Muller (Muller Developments / Super Energy Subaru Impreza.
2023 111 Champion Wouter Roos is competing in a different car this year and will only be allocated to a class after this event, leaving the Class A field likely to be headed by 2023 runner-up Piet Potgieter (VW Golf). His competition is expected to come from Lindsay Clur (Nathan’s Motorsport VW Golf), Craig Priestley (Tactical Fluid VW Polo) and Lucas Bezuidenhout (Pretoria Noord Toyota Laxus). Charl Weyers (Opel Corsa) and Johan van Heerden (JVH Performance / Savspeed VW Golf) will also likely be in the mix.
2023 Class B Champion Roland Hopkins is racing in another category this year, leaving the way open for Michael Grobler (Pest Control Specialists VW Golf) to tussle with Wayne Lebotschy (Shield VW Golf) and Joshua Weyers (Opel Corsa) for class honours.
Husband and wife pair Henry and Elke van Vledder will be part of the Class C brigade in their VW Golfs along with series stalwart Chris Smit (Merx & Toptrans Porsche 924).
Class D provided the tightest championship in 2023. With most contenders returning in 2024, a similar result should be on the cards. Marius Malherbe (M Kruger Auditing Inc Porsche 924), Rob Clark (Honda Ballade), Did Myjila (JRT Racing Experience VW Polo), and Trevor Stringer (Citrine Designs Peugeot 206) will all be looking for the best possible start to their 2024 campaigns.
With Wouter Roos (Car Care Clinic VW Polo) and Mel Spurr (Car Car Clinic VW Golf) swapping cars, they move to Class X for this event. They will be joined by Tyron Pillay (VMS Paint VW Golf), Johan Labuschagne (Muller Developments Subaru Impreza), Charles Fowlds (www.0861clearview.co.za Subaru WRX), Mike O’Sullivan (All Things Motoring Honda Ballade) Jonathan Visser (Auto Express Car Service VW Polo) and Wayne Robb in his Ford Focus ST.
Friday will be dedicated to practice sessions to iron out the bugs that may have crept in during the off-season before the serious business of qualifying gets underway at 09h10 on Saturday morning. The two 10-lap races are scheduled for 12h55 and 15h50.