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Collin Matiza
IT’S all systems go at the 2024 Tiger Wheel & Tyre 1-Hour Endurance Race Day scheduled for Sunday at Donnybrook Park Raceway in Harare.
This is one of the biggest main circuit racing events that will see the icons and stalwarts of local motor racing coming together as they try to outwit each other during the tough 1-Hour Endurance Race.
And look no further than the legendary Mano Zevgolis for emerging as the overall winner.
The Harare-based driver is the defending champion of this event and according to one of its organisers, Adrian Watt, he will be back racing, trying to retain his title.
Zevgolis is an iconic figure and most successful motor racing driver of the modern era.
The beginning of last year saw Zevgolis dropping a bombshell when he announced his retirement from the sport.
He revealed that he would like to spend more time grooming his 17-year-old daughter Catherine, who is now one of the few local female drivers in motor racing.
But Mano, who receives massive support from his wife Susan, made a sensational U-turn in December last year when he announced that he was coming out of retirement ahead of the 3-Hour Endurance Race Day in Bulawayo.
He has been nothing short of sensational on the track whether it’s at his favourite hunting ground at Donnybrook or at Bulawayo Motorsport Park.
He swept away the opposition away during the race.
And he will be the man to beat on Sunday at Donnybrook where all the top local motor racing drivers will be in attendance, in different shapes of cars, trying to wrestle the overall title.
Mano will be competing in the 1800cc Class (B Class) and he will be in the good company in this class of exciting young Bulawayo drivers, Dylan Pragji, Calvin Rademeyer and Ian Goode who will all be out to test his resolve on the track.
Another exciting duel is expected in the 2000cc Class (A Class) where the winner from last year Hamish Perry will be pushed to the limit by his brother Jim Perry and Angelo Tavares.
Jordan Watt is the defending champion in the 1600cc Class (C Class). He should expect some stiff competition from Catherine Zevgolis, Adrian Watt, Declan Mellor and Tapiwa Mukori, who will all be out take the win in this Class.
Another female driver Melissa will be out to defend her title in the 1400cc Class (D Class) but she won’t have it all her own way as she has Michael Mukori and Richard Exton as her main opponents in this Class.
Some competitive riders to look out for are Ian Gutherless, Greg Read, Jan Nel, Harley Taylor and Hana Taylor.
The Harare 1-Hour Endurance race is one of the toughest races of the main circuit racing season, according to Watt.
“The reason it is so gruelling is because the competitors are pushing their vehicles to their limits, and they must hold up for an extensive period.
“There is immense pressure put on the vehicle whilst racing endurance races, there is not only the worry of mechanical failure in the engine but also the wear and tear of the tyres during the race.
“Some competitors will have to pit stop to change their tyres if needed as well as refuelling for the laps ahead. The vehicles are used to racing for short periods at a time, for sprint races, generally 8-10 laps at a time.
“During the 1-hour, the competitors, depending on their vehicle class, will race anywhere between 35 — 48 laps which is a great difference to the sprint races they are used to. The competitors will line up on the grid and proceed to race as many laps as they can within the 1-hour time frame.
“The winner at the end is determined by the first person to cross the finish line with the greatest number of laps completed.
“Every vehicle on the circuit is separated into their classes which is determined by engine capacity, whether it has a turbo and the body of the vehicle. During the 1-hour Endurance race all the vehicles will race together and there will be an overall winner,” Watt said.
Online Reporter