The 2024 SA Endurance Samlin Racing Four Hours of Zwartkops kicked off the new season in spectacular fashion at Zwartkops Raceway, with an adrenaline-fueled weekend of racing. The event delivered three thrilling GT Cup SA races, two pulse-racing Sports and GT showdowns, and an action-packed lineup of Motorcycle Racing Series South Africa (MRSSA) events, keeping both live spectators and TV audiences on the edge of their seats.
GT Cup SA: Arangies Dominates, Naicker Impresses
The highly anticipated debut of the GT Cup SA series saw 17 Porsche GT3 cars battle it out on the 2.4km circuit in Pretoria. Charl Arangies made an emphatic statement, claiming victory in all three races aboard his brand-new 911 GT3 R. However, his path to the top was anything but easy, as 17-year-old Ryan Naicker put on a sensational performance, proving he is a star on the rise.
Friday’s opening race saw a gripping duel between Arangies and Naicker, with the lead changing hands multiple times in the opening laps. Traffic played a crucial role in the outcome, allowing Arangies to create a gap. A determined Naicker pushed to the limit but spun off at turn five, paving the way for Arnold Neveling to clinch second, while Mo Mia marked his 991.2 Cup car’s debut with a podium finish.
The second race on Saturday morning reignited the Arangies-Neveling battle, much to the delight of early-rising fans. Naicker, starting from fifth, charged through the field to claim third, followed by Nicky Dicks, Mia, and Roy Obery.
The final GT Cup SA race was a nail-biter, with Arangies, Naicker, and Neveling locked in an intense three-way battle. In a dramatic finish, Naicker secured second place, just 3.9 seconds behind Arangies, with Neveling in third. Dicks, Mia, and Obery rounded out the top six.
Sports and GT: Horne vs. Verrier in a Battle for Supremacy
Andrew Horne’s Xena Chemicals Ligier-Honda JS49 made a stunning return to form after a challenging previous season, securing a commanding victory in Friday’s Sports and GT race. The fading light added to the spectacle as reigning SA Endurance 1-Hour Dash Champion Mike Verrier brought his Shelby CanAm home in second, followed by Uli Sanne in his G&H Transport BMW Z4 M.
Saturday’s race saw a reversal of fortunes, as Verrier stormed to an early lead, sparking a thrilling head-to-head fight with Horne. It took three laps before Horne could wrestle back control and deliver yet another dominant drive. Nicky Dicks finished second in his Porsche GT3 Cup, while Mo Mia, after pushing too hard and overheating his tyres, settled for third. Verrier finished fourth, ahead of Moodley’s Bigfoot Porsche and Willie de Beer’s Porsche Type 997 Cup.
MRSSA Motorcycles: Boshoff and Bertolini Shine in an Intense Showdown
With a massive 46-bike grid spread across three categories, the MRSSA races were an absolute spectacle. The 1000cc and 600cc classes headlined the weekend with 21 entries delivering edge-of-the-seat action.
Friday’s Senior SBK race was red-flagged following a heavy crash by Luca Bertolini at turn four on lap five while running seventh. Adolf Boshoff, the reigning class champion, had already built a commanding lead aboard his Honda CBR 1000RRR and was awarded the win, ahead of Tristin Pienaar (Honda CBR) and Damon Purificati (BMW S 1000RR). Themba Khumalo (Ducati Panigale) finished fourth, while Taigh Janse van Rensburg led the 600cc class by a mere 0.278 seconds over Ryan van Nieuwkerk. Jaco Gouws took the BOTTS/Masters class win.
Boshoff continued his dominance in the second race, putting in blistering lap times to beat Themba Khumalo’s Ducati Panigale V4R by nearly a second per lap. Pienaar secured third on his Honda CBR, followed by Purificati’s BMW S 1000RR.
The 600cc battle was fiercely contested, with the top three Yamaha YZF riders locked in a tight scrap. Ora Phiri took a hard-fought win, just 0.291 seconds ahead of Troy Tonking, with Ryan van Nieuwkerk a further 0.8 seconds adrift.
In the Senior Club class for Unlimited and Open Superbikes, Clive Turnbull (Suzuki GSXR) dominated the first race, crossing the line 7.5 seconds ahead of Siya Shabalala (Yamaha YZF R1) and Simphiwe Mahlobo (Yamaha YZF-R6). The second race saw Turnbull win again, though Shabalala narrowed the gap to just 1.8 seconds, while Shaun Pietersen put his BMW S 1000 R on the podium in third.
The Junior SBK races were all about Fergal McAdam, who piloted his Honda VTR 1000 to two dominant victories. He finished a staggering 23.4 seconds ahead of Wessel Kruger’s Suzuki GSX 750RJ in the first race, with John Kosterman (Suzuki GSX 1100R) securing third. The second race saw an identical podium finish.
Next Stop: Aldo Scribante
With an electrifying start to the season in the books, the SA GT Cup, Sports and GT, and MRSSA championships now turn their attention to the SAE Five Hours of Aldo Scribante on 5 April. If the Samlin Racing Four Hours of Zwartkops was any indication, motorsport fans are in for another unforgettable weekend of high-speed action.
