BMW

Class E Nicholas van Zyl Luxury Fragrances for Rides BMW E87 130i. Image via www.RacePics.co.za

Bridgestone BMW Club Racing Series returns to the most illustrious stage

As motorsport in SA slowly regains a semblance of normality, albeit without spectator support, various categories have made successful returns to the track, like the Bridgestone BMW Club Racing Series.

BMW

Class E Nicholas van Zyl Luxury Fragrances for Rides BMW E87 130i. Image via www.RacePics.co.za

The Bridgestone BMW Club Racing Series was one of the first to do so back in July at Zwartkops — and the circus was back on 5 September at that most illustrious venue, Kyalami, as part of the BMW Car Club Gauteng Track and Race Day.

Representing BMW

Class A

Headlining the entries in Class A were brothers Rick and Paulo Loureiro in their Combined Racing BMW F30 335i’s. Rick recently relocated to Cape Town but returned to tackle the majestic Midrand venue.

Adrian Dalton made a welcome return in the Xtra Clothing and Shoes BMW E46 M3 CSL challenge to the siblings. Len-Henry Gobey entered the Lesavert /G&H Transport BMW E86 Z4 M, while Elwyn Steenkamp wass another late comer in a BMW E46 M3 Turbo.

Class A Rick Loureiro Combined Racing BMW F30 335i. Image via www.RacePics.co.za

Class B

In Class B, some fireworks were again at the order of the day.

Current champion Andreas Meier (#TrainedAmateur BMW E36 STC) headed a quartet of hard chargers who have come to know each other well. Jan Eversteyn (African Surprise BMW E46 M3), Carlo Garbini (Kimbo Coffee BMW E46 330 Turbo) and Oz Biagioni (Bio-Pool Maintenance BMW E46 M3) relished the chance of another battle at the premier international facility.

Class B Andreas Meier #TrainedAmateur BMW E36 STC. Image via www.RacePics.co.za

Class C

In Class C, there was another tightly contested fight for honours between Ian Kotwal (Retoria Motors BMW F22 235i), Troy Cochran (Arrow Automotive BMW E36 M3), Salvi Gualtieri (Sav Speed BMW E36 328I Turbo), Neil Reynolds (Valve Hospital BMW E36 M3), Renier Smith (#BeldiePolisie BMW E36 M3), Rob Gearing (diebel Alt BMW E30 325 is) and Jonathan Matos (BMW E36 328i Turbo).

Trevor Long (BMW E36 M3) also made a welcome return after a year’s absence recuperating from a back operation. The busiest of the classes often produces scintillating racing between evenly matched machinery.

Class C Ian Kotwal Retoria Motors BMW F22 235i. Image via www.RacePics.co.za

Class D

Class D was headed by Varish Ganpath (Prodigy BMW E46 325CI), with Bernard de Gouveia (de Gouveia Accountants BMW E36 328i) who looked for a good points haul and silverware. After his excellent outing at Zwartkops in the previous round, Matthew Wadeley ((#BeldiePolisie BMW E36 M3) looked forward to another opportunity to turn the tables on his fellow protagonists.

A late entry for this round was that of defending class champion Alan Hilligenn (C3 Shared Services BMW E36 M3).

Class D Matthew Wadeley #BeldiePolisie BMW E36 M3. Image via www.RacePics.co.za

Class E

Class E was led by young Nicholas van Zyl (Luxury Fragrances for Rides BMW E87 130i) and he led the overall standings too. Bertie Rietveld (Bertie Rietveld Knives BMW E36 328i) Rupert Giessing (Bridgestone BMW Car Club E36 328i) and Manny Ribeiro (Bridgestone BMW Club E46 330i Touring) hoped to give him a hard time.

Father and son duo Craig and Nicholas Herbst (Greenhouse Solar BMW E46 330i) shared their entry with the latter competing in Class D after breaking out of the Class E time at Zwartkops. 

Class E Manny Ribeiro Bridgestone BMW Club E46 330i Touring. Image via www.RacePics.co.za

Four drivers were allocated a class berth based on their qualifying times: David Coetzee in his Elksa Competition/ Sav Speed BMW E36 328i Turbo, returned after a lengthy absence, the Citizen Motoring’s Mark Jones piloted a SavSpeed BMW E90 335i, Dino Fameliaris in a BMW E46 Touring 330 Turbo and William Einkamerer who drove a borrowed BMW E46 330, while his BMW E92 335i underwent some weight saving changes.

Also read: Kyalami nine-hour race moved to December