by
Roger McCleery

South Africa’s fastest racing saloon cars – the WesBank V8’s – will bring a new look to South African motor sport this year when they line up for Round 1 of the Championship at Kyalami on Saturday (20^th February). 

Two classes of racing cars have been introduced.   The current class of cars will be known as Super GTs and will feature 6 litre Chev or Ford V8 engines producing 450 kW (600 hp) and revving to 7000 rpm.  (7200 rpm in East London to prevent the cars running out of revs at 300 kmh.) 

New is the GT Class using similar V8 engines with softer camshafts and developing 420 kW.   They are limited to 6800 rpm in the interests of reliability and cost.   This should see a number of drivers from other formulas joining this tightly fought high-speed V8 racing category. 

It looks like it is going to be the year of the AubyBoyz Racing., in the new Super Gt Class with   Brandon (18) and dad Deon set to go.   Brandon was named as Goodyear’s Driver of the Year in South Africa for 2009 a week ago.   Dad Deon Auby, however, has a broken wrist, so son Jimmy back from his A1 Gp racing for Lebanon, could stand in for his dad.   Marc, 2^nd overall last year, wants a year’s break.   The family still has to decide on their final line-up.  Whatever is decided it will be a formidable team flying the ELT International sponsors’ colours. 

Presenting strong opposition to the Auby’s in the Super GT Class will be former champion, Terry Wilford (Fuchs Lubricants Jaguar).  Armed with a well-prepared car, he is going to be a serious threat.   Later in the year he will be joined by another young racer, Mackie Adlem from the West Rand in his Jaguar. 

Another young man with lots of talent comes from East London, which has given South Africa many motor racing champions.  It is Wade van Zummeren racing the Border Towing Mustang.   He has been in the top four in many races and won overall on his home track in the past. 

All these youngsters will not find it easy going with an on-form veteran, Ben Morgenrood (Ben Morgenrood Auto Jaguar) – a leading Ford and Mazda Dealer, making a come-back into the fray.   He should continue his unrelenting drives against all-comers, and particularly Willie Hepburn, if Hepburn makes a scheduled come-back sometime in the future. 

Also able to handle this type of raw power is veteran Franco di Matteo (Varta Batteries Jaguar), who finished in the top six in 2009.   Last year he enjoyed one of his best years in WesBank V8’s and regional events with a series of wins.   Harry Mayer (Cherry Active Lumina) has entered a new car and after his second year of racing is starting to fly. 

The only lady racer to have ever set foot in one of these pure-bred racing cars is Clare Vale (Gator/RAM/MAN Top Used Mustang) who has served her time in the hurly burly of this formula of competition.   She finished a strong 12^th overall out of the 29 competitors who competed in WesBank V8 Racing last year. 

‘GT’ Class Racing is going to be a bun fight with a talented bunch of drivers going for one another.  On paper veteran Larry Wilford (Fuchs Lubricants Mustang) stands out as the favourite.  But that is not how motor racing works. 

Coming back to the sport which the GT Class is hoping to attract is former overall champion, Roelf du Plessis (RJ Panel Beaters Lumina) from Randfontein and Queenstown’s Patrick Seddon in a similar car who has kept his eye in, racing in regional events.   Both could cause surprises. 

Des Gutzeit (Dezzi/Trysome Mustang) from Port Shepstone, is back after sitting out a year to concentrate on his business.   Ray Wilford (Fuchs Titan Lubricants Corvette) has joined his cousin and uncle in their team.   He raced in WesBank racing many years ago in a Golf before going to pure VW Racing, where he shone. 

Darron Gudmanz (Indigo Boats Corvette) is back for more and if he can repeat the way he started last season will be up in the hunt as well. 

Romano Sartori (AMC Jaguar) enjoys the WesBank racing so much after two years in the driving seat that he is flying in from Australia for each meeting.   Steve Herbst (Prei Instrumentation Corvette) was most consistent in 2009, whilst Wimpy van Zyl (Coolbond Corvette) is determined to get into the major points. 

With new Ford and GM body shapes being tested at the moment for aerodynamics, the WesBank V8 Racing is in for another vintage year, just like 2009.