Zwartkops packed Formula Vee field
Theodore Vermaak • August 28, 2019
The Hankook Formula Vee Championship headed for Zwartkops Raceway on 17 August for the Extreme Festival – Celebrating Womens Month event.
Image Credits | Tony Alves Media - Zander Swart - Skycatcher
The event led to the second largest Formula Vee field in recent times. Twenty one entries and only one failing to make the start of the first heat. There was some drama during Friday practise. Championship leader, Jaco Schriks (Lube Station Racing Rhema 2), had persistent brake issues and had to swap out his car for Alan Holm’s car. Peter Hills (Lube Fusion Rhema 2), Lendl Jansen (Bull Security Forza) and Theodore Vermaak (DOE Quality Parts Vision) had engine failures. This necessitated emergency repairs with three engines successfully changed in the evening to get the cars on the grid and competitive for Saturdays racing. This was done with the usual camaraderie and team spirit within the Vee family.
During qualifying, it was Schriks who took the bonus point for pole from Gert van den Berg (Hankook Rhema 2) by 0,2seconds. These two were quite a bit faster than the rest of the chasers. They were followed by “Mr Zwartkops”, Symm Grobler (Rhema 2) with the youngest of the Hills racing mafia, Brandon Hills (Mangaza Consulting / Just Water Rhema 1.5) following closely. Vaughn Hills (Hankook Sting) and Jannie Geyser (Rhema 2) surprised with fifth and sixth. Behind them, Richard Carr (Lucky Star Rhema 2) and Lushen Ramchander (TRA / D&B Industrial) was on row four. Ramchander was struggling with gearbox issues, as was Peter Hills (Lube Fusion Rhema 2) who was in ninth with Ben Pienaar (DOE Quality Parts Rhema 2) rounding out the top ten. Third to tenth was covered by 0,7seconds during qualifying. The biggest upset, was however when Ashley Padyachee (Catalyst Technology Solutions Lazer) went off on the inside of turn one and crashed heavily into the wall on the inside, causing immediate retirement. Luckily the driver was ok and he will be back.
During the first race, Schriks and Van den Berg diced it out for the lead, with Grobler staying in close pursuit. In the end Van den Berg, Schriks and Grobler finished 0,4seconds apart after Van den Berg passed Schriks on the last lap. Behind them Ramchander came through from eight to fourth to salvage valuable championship points. Brandon Hills finished a lonely fifth, with Peter Hills recovering from his qualifying troubles to sixth, by narrowly beating Geyser across the line after a race long battle. Carr finished behind them after he had an off track excursion at turn five. Vaughn Hills beat out Michael Kernick (Northern Bolt & Tool /Tack SA Tasman 95) who were both struggling with various issues and had an awesome dice with Shaun van der Linde (Truck City Boksburg / Len Schoen Estates Rhema 2), until Van der Linde spun into turn four. Pienaar and Geoff Tugwell (Solar Utility Vmax) rounded out the points finishers after racing closely. Jansen had to retire due to overheating issues on the borrowed spare engine and withdrew from the rest of the day.
Race two was more difficult with oil covering turn two and three. This closed down the overtaking line into turn two significantly. Van den Berg got passed on the line by Brandon Hills, only to get past him at turn four. Van den Berg and Hills then pursued Schriks with Van den Berg passing Schriks on lap three. The order remained the same as Schriks’s overtaking opportunity was cancelled due to yellow flags into turn four on the penultimate lap. Roy Douglas (Forza) spun while dicing with Vermaak. During an overtaking move, Vermaak squeezed him to the inside and taking avoiding action he spun and beached onto the inside kerb. Brandon Hills lost a little touch with the first two after the fourth lap and got passed by Ramchander who took third and Grobler who stole fourth. Carr finished just behind Hills with Peter Hills and Geyser in close proximity. Kernick beat out van der Linde and Vaughn Hills after a race long battle. These guys were up and over the kerbs on the last two laps with a ferocious battle raging. Pienaar closed out the points scoring positions with MD Bester (Mangaza Consulting / Just Water Sting) and Jeandre le Roux (Liqui Moly Lantis) battling throughout. Vermaak, Austin and Tugwell all retired on the last lap, but was still classified as finishers.
In the Championship, Schriks lead was cut to 9 points over Van den Berg with Ramchander losing out on valuable points after the qualifying gearbox problems.
The championship is now becoming a close affair after it looked like Schriks would have it easy earlier in the year.
Hankook Formula Vee racing heads to the coast for the second time this season. Racing continues on 21 September at the Extreme Festival at Aldo Scribante in Port Elizabeth. Formula Vee has not been here in the last three years, but previously it has also been a Schriks stronghold. Can the rest of the field catch up to the two in the front?
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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!!
