REGHARD ROETS VICTORIOUS AT SUCCESSFUL MAIDEN TOP OF THE HILL CHALLENGE

Reghard Roets recorded the fastest Shootout time in the past weekend’s (4-5 October) inaugural 2000m Zwartkops International World of Motoring Top of the Hill Challenge, an event hailed by many as a significant success.

Roets’ (BB Motorsport Nissan GTR R35) time of 53.257 seconds also saw him win the Modified Production Car Shootout after clinching the Class B5 victory earlier. The second-placed Pieter Zeelie (Zeelie Auditors Toyota MR2) final run saw him only 0.38 of a second adrift, having tied up the Class B4 win earlier. Friday’s initial three qualifying sessions pointed to the battle at the top being a three-way contest, including Franco Scribante (Nissan GTR R35). However, Saturday saw the latter’s form hampered by electrical and driveshaft issues, culminating in his retirement from the class finals despite finishing on top after the six qualifying sessions. Charl Joubert (A One Bakkie Spares Lotus Elise) took the final podium spot, ahead of Steve Clark (Backdraft Racing Cobra Roadster), who took the Class B7 win, Aldo Scribante (Scuderia Scribante Audi S4).

Jonathan Mogotsi (Volkswagen Motorsport Polo GTi) finished the Shootout in sixth place while taking the Class B2 win, while Devin Robertson’s late entry in the Czank Racing Nissan R32 Skyline saw him finish seventh. The Top 10 Shootout results were completed by Pieter Joubert (Lotus Exige), George Evans (Evans Racing Nissan GTR R35), Oscar de Oliveira (Mazda MX5), another late addition to the entry list, was promoted to the Shootout following Scribante’s retirement and completed the top 10. Earlier, he took the Class B9 win.

Charles Fowlds (www.0861clearview.co.za Subaru WRX) challenging weekend at least saw him take the Class B3 win, while Karel Stols (SPS Racing Mazda RX7) in Class B6, Miguel Ribeiro (Metal Used Spares 1971 Alfa Romeo GTAM) in Class B1, and Reuben van Niekerk (BB Motorsport Nissan Patrol) completed the list of Modified Production Car class winners who did not qualify for the Shootout.

The second-fastest Shootout winner, with a time of 57.072 seconds, was Ian Schofield (Investchem 1977 March 77B), who took the Classic Conqueror honours after topping the group throughout the weekend. He also took the Class H9 win. Mark du Toit powered his Trans Africa Racing 1995 Opel Astra to the runner-up spot, having taken the Class H8 win earlier. James Temple (Lindenberg Racing 1968 Ford Fairlane) completed the Shooutout podium, beating Seef Fourie (Trans Africa Racing 1963 Ford Daytona by 0.001 of a second. Warren Lombard (PepBoys Automotive 1965 Ford Cobra) took fifth place but beat Fourie and Temple to the Class H6 win earlier.

Jonathan du Toit (Trans Africa Racing Chevrolet Nova) finished sixth, with Michael Kernick (Lindenberg Racing 1968 Ford Escort), Class H5 winner John Ten Doeschate (Trans Africa Racing 1974 Marauder), and Class H4 winner Gavin Rooke (Dutchmann 1970 Porsche 911) taking positions seven through nine. While Paige Lindenberg (Lindenberg Racing 1968 Ford Fairlane) qualified seventh, she retired before the Shootout, which promoted Alan Meyer (Trans Africa Racing 1960 Studebaker Lark). Merely making the event almost did not happen for Meyer, but hard work by the team saw him ready to participate by Saturday morning after missing all the practice and first three qualifying sessions.

Class H1’s Rodney Green was the only class winner in this group not to feature in the Top 10 Shootout, competing in the oldest car on the entry list, the Piri Piri Racing Team 1946 MG Spider).

The Single Seater / Sports Car Shootout was won by JM Gerber (Van Diemen Formula M) with a time of 58.717 seconds. He also took the Class C2 win. He beat Renzo Ribeiro (Metal Used Spares VW GTi Swift) and Josef Kotze (Top Products Birkin S3) on both occasions.

Vic Campher (Porsche GT3RS) took the Road Car / Supercar Shootout win with a time of 1:00.750. He was the sole Class A5 competitor as well. Courtney Nicholl (Mercedes-Benz South Africa C63), who qualified on top, finished second but won Class A8. Another Saturday arrival, Jared Rossouw (Volkswagen Golf 6 R) completed the podium, having won Class A2 earlier. Muhammad Hoosain (AMG Experience Mercedes-Benz CLA 45) took fourth place, while Campher, this time in his Tom Campher Volvo EX30, completed the top five.

Vinesh Padayachy, in sixth, was the highest finisher in the Team Shelby Ford Shelby Supersnake quartet, having won Class A7 earlier. His teammates Paul Malatjie, Joshua O’Callaghan, and Deon Smit finished seventh, ninth and tenth, respectively. Class A1 winner Jonathan du Toit (Trans Africa Racing BMW 125i) finished eighth.

Judd Bertholdt won the all-Volkswagen Polo Vivo GT battle in the Volkswagen Rookie Cup Shootout. This group, operated by Volkswagen Motorsport and partnered by Dunlop Tyres South Africa, saw a combination of regular Volkswagen Rookie Cup contenders and media personalities compete. Bertholdt, one of the regular campaigners, beat Dhivyen Naidoo, who came into the Shooutout as the top qualifier. Uzair Khan completed the podium ahead of the first of the media members, Brendon Staniforth. The final regular campaigner, Josh Moore, finished fifth ahead of Jacob Moshokoa, Fanele Bhengu, and Rebaneilwe Semakane.

With a modest start, the event paved the way for future growth and expansion, with a host of respected motorsport personalities seeing the potential to become another successful chapter in the Zwartkops International World of Motoring legacy. Combining motorsport with a range of lifestyle activities and partner opportunities, backed up by a dynamic marketing plan, the Top of the Hill Challenge could soon become one of the top events on the South African motorsport and participative motoring calendar for years to come.

Issued by Brandsponential on behalf of Zwartkops International World of Motoring

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