The Championship Comes Alive!
Theodore Vermaak • October 31, 2019
Round 7
Photography: Kevin Jenkins
Round 7 of the Hankook Formula Vee Championship, at Redstar Raceway, promised to be a critical race for the championship contenders. Jaco Schriks (Lube Station Racing Rhema 2) had a 19 point lead going into the event and could potentially seal the championship, should the results go his way against Gert van den Berg (Hankook Rhema 2). However, Schriks knew that this was Van den Berg’s home track and he would have a difficult task ahead of him.
Saturday mornings qualifying took place on a soaked track and both championship contenders took it calm to ensure the cars made it to the end of the session in one piece. They were however surprised by the pace of Lendl Jansen (Bull Security Forza). He took pole by almost two seconds from “Rainmaster” Peter Hills (Lube Fusion Rhema 2). Behind them it was Richard Carr (Lucky Star Rhema 2) with Schriks in fourth and Lushen Ramchander (Liqui Moly Forza) rounding out the top five. Lushen was setting the pace on Friday and it seems like Van den Berg was out of it at this stage. He could only manage sixth with Theo Vermaak (DOE Quality Parts Vision) following him with Michael Kernick (MJ Art & Design / Track SA Tasman 95), Shaun Van der Linde (Truck City Boksburg / Len Schoen Estates Rhema 2) and Ben Pienaar (DOE Quality Parts Rhema 2) rounding out the top ten. Brandon Hills (Mangaza Consulting / Just Water Rhema 1.5) could only manage eleventh, with MD Bester (Mangaza Consulting / Just Water Rhema 2) in a newly bought car and his car in the hands of Gerhard du Preez (Mangaza Consulting / Just Water Sting). Du Preez had a baptism of fire with the wet qualifying, but did well to keep the car on the black stuff. Ernie Vermaak also had the privilege to join sun Theo on the grid in the second Liqui Moly backed car of jeandre le Roux. Le Roux had a hand injury and could not race.
Race one was a dry affair, after light drizzle fell shortly before the race. Peter Hills took the lead but was in fourth position crossing the line at the end of lap one. Crucially for Van den Berg, he passed Schriks before the end of lap one as well. Behind them there was an awesome climb through the ranks by Brandon Hills, Jannie Geyser and Shaun van der Linde. By lap 7, van den Berg had taken the lead from Ramchander, after Jansen’s gearbox started giving problems. Behind them, Brandon Hills got up to third, only to spin and also holding up dad Peter in the process. This gave Schriks a break who could hold on for fourth after Carr, also recovering from a spin, passed him on the last lap. This meant, the championship gap was closer than before. Further down the field, Brandon Hills had to retire after the spin and Michael Kernick also had to retire with a broken rear suspension. MD Bester was starting to adapt to the new car and Gerhard du Preez was also doing well to almost stay on the lead lap.
Race two was an even closer fought affair. At the start, Jansen got the jump and maintained the lead of the race. Ramchander was trying to chase him down, but could just not reach him for the first couple of laps. Peter Hills and Richard Carr had a phenomenal dice, until Van den Berg passed Hills when he made a small mistake and then passed Carr. He then set about chasing the two leaders. Behind him Schriks was struggling with an ailing engine and was extremely slow in a straight line. He was passed by a rapidly rising Brandon Hills coming from twelfth on the grid. Van der Linde, Kernick, Geyser, Pienaar and Theo Vermaak had an amazing tussle. Positions were changed at about every second corner.
This all changed when a strong looking Ramchander fell to the wayside on lap six. A broken throttle cable was another of his bad luck stories of the year. With the new Liqui Moly sponsor he looked strong the whole weekend.
In the end, Van den Berg could not close the 4 second gap to Jansen. Lendl Jansen won his first Formula Vee race by 0,031 seconds with Van den Berg second and Carr third. Peter Hills grabbed fourth and Brandon Hills pipped Schriks to the line. Further down Van der Linde beat out Kernick, Geyser, Pienaar and Theo Vermaak, while MD Bester completed the points positions.
Jansen has proven that he, as well as Brandon Hills are new winners to be reckoned with. Both also used different chassis, which shows the versatility at the top and also shows that with a little work, you can also compete at the top!
Van den Berg took overall honours at Redstar with Carr second and Schriks third. Schriks has one hand on the trophy, but after a difficult weekend, he knows he cannot relax. Van den Berg is trailing him by 7 points and a bad weekend at Zwartkops will mean Van den Berg can snatch the title away.
The last race will take place next weekend 9 November at Zwartkops with the Grand Finale Event.
Who will be victorious? Will Schriks seal title number five to join Alan Holm with the same amount, or will Van den Berg be able to add to his championship count?
The drivers return to Zwartkops with just three rounds left in 2026
Jaco Schriks takes his first wins since 2023
Kyle Watt took a hat-trick of wins when the DOE Formula Vee brigade made their first visit to Maputo
61 years after its inception, the South African Formula Vee championship will have its first race outside the country
Despite having to change his motor on Friday night, Lendl Jansen was able to extend his advantage at the top of the championship log.
Can Jansen build on his advantage
Two comfortable wins see Lendl Jansen back on top of the 2026 championship standings.
Can van den Berg hang on to the lead.
Gert van den Berg emerged on top at a hard fought opening round of the 2026 Formula Vee championship.
As we enter the second half of the season with 4 races completed there has been 4 different drivers starting on pole position, 4 different drivers taking the fastest qualifying lap, 4 different race winners and get this, 3 different championship leaders… 2022 Saw a lot of changes come to the Vee’s with the move from National status to National Challenge status making it more affordable for members whilst still being able to stay on the National tour. Qualifying structure change has also brought a new twist on the swing of things with the top 6 drivers scrambled after their qualifying session resulting in the epic battles you have come to see so far this season. Still staying on the same Bridgestone rubber as the previous season also makes for closer racing amongst all the drivers throughout the grid. Coastal races are 3 heat races to give drivers more pleasure on those amazing circuits and more rewards for going all that way to race. On the Association side of things, the points structure has been changed giving driver credit for going down to the away races as well, adding valuable points to their championships for traveling. National Challenge Championship Race 1 - was held at Zwartkops Raceway in March with the Regional calendar. 23 cars took to the grid hitting off the season with a big field. Lendl Jansen taking his Rhema 2 quickest around Zwartkops but started in 3 rd place, the Bridgestone grid scramble saw Vaughn Hills on pole position alongside his father Peter giving the Hills’s a front row lockout. Lights out and go with hard racing from the first corner, in the end Gert van den Berg took the top podium spot followed by Greg Wilson and then Lushen Ramchander in the overall results. Race 2 - was held at Zwartkops Raceway again in April this time with the National tour showing the bigger categories that Formula Vee is back! 21 cars took to the grid giving the crowds some epic racing. This time around Greg Wilson dominated the field with his 2x wins and a pole position followed by Gert van den Berg and Lushen Ramchander having another podium finish. Greg taking over the top spot in the Championship from van den Berg. Race 3 – this time going down to Aldo Scribante and taking down a decent field of 15 cars. From the word go the old hand of Peter Hills topped the timing sheets in Friday practice sessions. Qualifying saw Brandon Hills put on a great display to take the fastest time; the grid scramble had other things to say giving pole position to Lushen Ramchander. Peter Hills standing on top of the podium with Lushen Ramchander taking second place and Greg Wilson just beating out Brandon Hills for third place. The month of June saw a midyear break giving all drivers some needed rest and time to work on their cars for the year ahead. Race 4 – Red Star Raceway sees Formula Vee again after not racing there in the 2021 season. The king of Red Star Gert saw him put on a magic lap in qualifying to get that needed point for fastest lap. Once again, the Bridgestone grid scramble mixing things up giving pole position to Greg Wilson. Race pace was all in the hands of Gert van den Berg and Lendl Jansen, with Jansen taking the 2x wins from Gert leaving Peter Hills and Lushen Ramchander to fight it out for that final spot in both heats one a peace. Hills took the third spot in overall over Ramchander. Association Championship As many people don’t know what the Association Championship is, it is for the drivers in the mid to rear end of the pack. Giving other drivers some recognition and something worth driving for. This season has been very tight amongst the association drivers just as it has been for the Overall championship Race 1 - Zwartkops saw Vaughn Hills put down some seriously fast times and with the addition to the new Bridgestone grid scramble he was the lucky one to start on pole position first time for him in his racing career and a first for him and his father Peter to start on the front row of the grid. With allot of action happening during both heats it brought the podium proceedings with Vaughn Hills taking first place, Henk van den Berg in second place and Roy Douglas having a solid weekend finishing in third place. Race 2 – Zwartkops brought some more interesting things happen in both championships. Sadly, Vaughn Hills has since relocated overseas but we will still have him over for racing towards the end of the year. Eric Booyens starting his 2022 campaign due to missing out the first event. Eric took over the luck from Vaughn in the first event with the Bridgestone grid scramble handing Eric second place on the grid. Racing was as tight as ever between the association drivers so when it came to the trophy ceremony Eric took the first place followed by Josef Kotze and then Theodore Vermaak in third. Race 3 – Down to Aldo Scribante we go and 3 heats giving the association drivers credit in earning points and 3 heats for that additional extra push in points. Between the 15 drivers down for the event 8 of them are fighting for the association title. 3 Drivers however made a full run away from the rest of the pack. Josef Kotze, Kyle Watt and Theodore Vermaak all three fighting it out in all three heats. Josef taking it top position over Kyle Watt and Theodore Vermaak in third. Race 4 – Red Star being a long-awaited race it gave some good battles yet again. Although Eric Booyens leaving all the association drivers in his dust; the rest of them had some serious fights on their hands. Kyle Watt, Josef Kotze and Theodore Vermaak fighting for the rest of the podium not leaving Henk van den Berg and Michael Kernick not to fall off their tails. Eric took first place with Kyle Watt in Second and Josef Kotze in third. 2022 Has been a good year to the Formula Vee Association thus far. Securing new sponsors and keeping those from the previous year. The field has grown tremendously with 27 active drivers. Midway through the season there is 5 new members signing up, and some drivers who have not yet raced this season will be joining the action later in the year. DOE Formula Vee will be joining the National tour again next month and for the first time in 7 years back at East London!!
