Online Reporter
Collin Matiza
Zimpapers Sports Hub
DRIVERS will be living on their instincts when the 56th edition of the internationally-acclaimed 3-Hour Endurance Race revs off at Bulawayo Motorsport Park tomorrow.
The annual motor racing event brings together top drivers from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana and Zambia as it continues to cement its place as one of the most exciting events on the local motor racing calendar.
And all eyes will be on the legendary motor racing driver Mano Zevgolis who will be out to win this exciting event for the fifth time in a row.
In fact, this year, the event has attracted amongst the entries the current and four-time winner Zevgolis, in his 2000cc naturally aspirated Honda CRX
He is hoping for a fifth straight title.
The Harare-based driver can expect a tough challenge from young Dylan Pragji again in his VW Polo 6R.
Pragji finished second last year but has recently achieved a 1st place podium in South Africa, clinching the Saloon Super Cup Series at Zwartkops Raceway.
Reigning Zimbabwe National Champion, Calvin Rademeyer, in his Subaru WRX will also be in action.
Other top contenders to watch out for are Darren Winterboer (Barons), an eight-time winner of this event, and Denzil Bhana, in his Cosworth Ford Escort.
Father and son, Jim and Hamish Perry, with their BMW M3, the BMWi Turbo of Craig Goby, Barney Rodgers, in his BMW E36, Richard Robinson and Jess Watson driving their Guard Alert Toyota Supra, and Wayne Jardine, driving his Sports A Shelby Can Am, will also be in contention tomorrow. Not forgetting all other entries in the other classes to fill the grid and make this another great 3-Hour En-durance event for all.
The 3-Hour Endurance Race Day is being co-sponsored by Castrol Zimbabwe and Rossi Tyres, and it includes a 1-Hour Bike Race.
Bulawayo motoring club chairman, Aiden White, and his committee have expressed their sincere gratitude to the sponsors, to all the participants in the event a safe, fun, entertaining and rewarding day of racing.
A little about the origins of the 3-Hour Endurance event. The first 3-Hour Endurance Race Day was held at this circuit in Bulawayo on December 14, 1969, as the inaugural event, named “The Player’s Gold Leaf Three Hour Event”.
It originally was run as part of the Springbok series of endurance races and was then known as the Embassy 3-Hour, featuring famous names like John Love, Mike De Udy, Malcom Guthrie, Eric and Ivan Glasby, Paddy Driver and Peter Parnell.
The first winner of this event was John Love in his Lola Chev. The race ran for a few years only to disappear off the local racing calendar.
At its revival in 1983, Bruce Glasby, driving his No. 3, 1275cc Mini Cooper, became the first driver to win the Zimbabwe 3-Hour Endurance race in the smallest engine capacity car, managing to beat the likes of bigger engine and more modern cars, the likes of VW Golf, Mazda Rotaries, Datsuns, Lotus and Alpha Romeos.
