The SA Endurance National Championship roared into action with an electrifying season opener at Zwartkops Raceway. Nick Adcock, Michael Jensen, and 17-year-old Ryan Naicker made a flawless start to their title campaign, steering the Rico Barlow Racing/Adjust for Sleep Nova to a commanding victory in the Samlin Racing Four Hours of Zwartkops.
Their triumph came after an intense battle with the reigning champions, Xolile Letlaka and Stuart White in the Into Africa Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo. The duel was cut short by a mid-race incident that dropped the defending title-holders to second place overall. Meanwhile, a remarkable underdog story unfolded as Steve Clark and Mike McLaughlin, racing a last-minute replacement Backdraft Roadster, defied the odds to claim the final podium spot.
QUALIFYING RESULTS:
Adcock and his RBR Nova crew secured pole with a combined time of 58.74 seconds. Despite Stuart White posting the fastest individual lap at 58.605 seconds, mechanical issues prevented Letlaka from setting a qualifying time, forcing the Into Africa Lamborghini to start from the back.
Charl Arangies, debuting his Porsche 911 GT3R, secured a front-row start for the 1-Hour Dash, ahead of Damian Hammond’s Liqui Moly Lamborghini Gallardo GT3. The G&H Transport McLaren MP4-12C of the Giannoccaro duo lined up in fifth after their Audi R8 GT4 suffered engine failure in practice.
Several teams encountered trouble in qualifying and were forced to start from the pitlane, including Scuderia Rossi’s Alfa Romeo Giulia QV, Jacquet Racing’s Chevrolet Camaro Trans Am, and Sphere Motorsport’s Toyota Altezza.
RACE REPORT:
As the lights went out, Adcock surged into the lead, with Arangies’ Porsche in hot pursuit. White, charging from the back, quickly carved through the field, reaching the frontrunners within 40 minutes. The battle between White and Arangies intensified until a burst water pipe caused the Porsche to spin out, elevating White into second.
A safety car intervention at one hour and forty minutes saw the Nova team swap drivers, but an accidental traction control adjustment cost them valuable time. White seized the opportunity, building a commanding lead for the Into Africa Lamborghini. However, at 16h40, a collision with Wayne Roach’s Class B Samlin Lamborghini damaged the Huracan’s right-rear tie rod, costing them 12 minutes in repairs and handing the lead back to the Nova squad.
With a clear track ahead, Naicker unleashed blistering pace, setting the fastest lap of the race and securing a dominant 10-lap victory. Although disappointed, White and Letlaka remained optimistic, leaving Zwartkops with only a five-point deficit in the championship standings.
Third place went to Clark and McLaughlin in their hastily prepped Backdraft Roadster, marking a remarkable turnaround after their primary car was withdrawn. Their performance also earned them the Index of Performance (IoP) victory, granting them an early lead in the IoP championship.
Further down the field, Gianni Gabbiani and Mark Owens finished fourth after a late-race fuel stop cost them a podium, while Harm and Barend Pretorius secured fifth despite an unscheduled pitstop. G-Rasteirinho Racing’s steady performance saw them climb from 21st on the grid to sixth overall.
CLASS WINNERS & NOTABLE FINISHES:
- Class A: Rico Barlow Racing/Adjust for Sleep Nova (Adcock/Jensen/Naicker)
- Class B: Sphere Motorsport Toyota Altezza (despite clutch failure, finishing with only fourth gear)
- Class C: Scuderia Rossi Alfa Romeo Giulia QV (nursed to the finish after recurring differential issues)
- Class D: Team Pesty Backdraft (Pretorius/Pretorius), recovering from fuel pump problems
Several teams retired due to mechanical issues, including the Chevrolet Camaro Trans Am, G&H McLaren, and Korridas Racing Golf, all plagued by persistent reliability woes.
1-HOUR DASH:
The 1-Hour Dash race saw Shayur Harpal make a triumphant return after an eight-year hiatus, piloting his Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 to a narrow 0.228-second victory over Andrew Horne’s Ligier-Honda JS49.
Antoine Marx, in his Shelby CanAm-Nissan, secured third, while reigning champion Mike Verrier finished fourth after a fierce battle. Sun Moodley’s Porsche GT3 Cup took fifth, ahead of Mike McLaughlin’s factory Backdraft Roadster.
Several frontrunners failed to classify, including Charl Arangies and Damien Hammond, both unable to complete the race.
LOOKING AHEAD:
With the SA Endurance Championship now in full swing, teams turn their attention to Round 2, where Into Africa Racing will be seeking redemption. Meanwhile, RBR Nova aims to solidify their early championship lead.
Stay tuned as the battle for endurance supremacy continues!
