What Zwartkops 4 Hour Race Report
Where Zwartkops Raceway, Pretoria
When Saturday 27 April 2024
Community South Africa National
Record pole, fastest lap on way to win with Adcock, Jensen
Reigning South African Polo Cup champion and Volkswagen Motorsport SupaCup factory driver Charl Michael Visser destroyed the records as he stepped up to his sports prototype racing debut alongside international LMP3 regulars Nick Adcock and Mikkel Jensen in Adcock’s Adjust4Sleep Nova Proto NP02 at Zwartkops on Saturday.
Visser obliterated the outright Zwartkops lap record and became the first man to ever lap the Pretoria racetrack in under 57 seconds, as he put the NASCAR Ford V8-powered machine on pole position for the South African Endurance 4 Hour on Friday afternoon. Charl then set the fastest lap of the race after taking over from Adcock and then Jensen as the trio raced to victory.
“What a perfect weekend!” Charl Michael admitted. “I was introduced to the Adjust4Sleep Nova Proto NP02 at Killarney before the team headed up to Pretoria. I tested on Friday and was blown away by the sheer speed and performance of the car. I took my time to get my eye in practice, so I was ready for quali and delighted with my lap. 56,914 seconds is an all-time record around the 2.4 km Zwartkops Raceway, quicker even than the previous mark set in an old Formula 1 car!
“The race went very well too, but it was not without its challenges!” Charl reported. Visser took the final stint and proceeded to set the fastest lap of the race, but as they say, it’s not over ‘til the fat lady sings. And boy, did she sing! “I was well in the lead and lapping hot with the finish virtually in sight, when I came quickly up to a group of backmarkers,” Charl Michael explains. “I opted for the wrong line and was caught out, so I had to avoid colliding with one of the backmarkers who had obviously not seen me.
“The next thing I was off at the top of the hill and the Nova Proto was stuck in the sand. The race win flashed before my eyes because I knew that we had to cross the finish line to be classified, and there I was stuck in the sand! Fortunately the safety car came out to slow the pack, the Zwartkops marshals were fantastic, and did an incredible job to dig me out very quickly, and I was able to salvage the situation as I drove home to take the win. “I apologise to the team for the scare, but that one was on me!
“Besides that moment, my sports racing debut was a fantastic weekend. I will not easily forget that pole lap, and I also set the fastest lap of the race on my way to a debut win as part of a great team. Well done to my experienced co-drivers, Nick and Mikkel on a faultless performance, and to the marshals for their smart work up there! And thank you so much Nick Adcock, team manager Rico Barlow, and the Adjust4Sleep Nova Proto NP02 team for an absolutely incredible opportunity!”
Issued on behalf of Visser Brothers
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