Collin Matiza
Zimpapers Sports Hub
SUNDAY saw the home of local motorsport — Donnybrook Park Raceway — hosting the Shield Race Day which brought the curtain down on the 2026 main circuit racing’s National Championship series.
The blockbuster event delivered some epic National racing to a large and enthusiastic Donnybrook crowd.
They were entertained by action and drama of the highest order throughout a day that saw a number of drivers being crowned as the winners of different classes of this year’s National Championship series.
It was an awesome day’s racing with 21 cars racing under the scorching heat.
The whole day ran without any major incident, delivering the same result and class winners.
And the day belonged to Hamish Perry who walked away as the 2026 Saloon A Class Champion.
He was emulated by Onismo Mhute who claimed the Saloon B Class title in his maiden season as a main circuit racing driver.
Mhute, who was born and bred in Harare’s high-density suburb of Mabvuku which is adjacent to Donnybrook, sealed the title well before Sunday’s event.
That’s a phenomenal achievement for the man who only started main circuit racing this year after having spent a number of years as a drag racing driver.
Sunday’s race meeting proved a true tale of tortoise and hare as the brilliant Hamish Perry, in his BMW Turbo, thrilled the crowd in both the Saloon A Unlimited Class and in the main race of the day – The Shield Race Day Grand Prix.
Hamish Perry first claimed the top step on the podium in the Saloon A Unlimited Class ahead of Jim Perry and Barney Rogers.
He then came third in the Shield Race Day Grand Prix which was won by Rogers.
Jim Perry settled for second place.
They were involved in a furious battle in this main race of the day.
Local champion driver Manu Zevgolis was also in action on Sunday.
Zevgolis emerged as the cream of the crop in both the Saloon C 1600cc and Saloon B 2000cc classes.
He was simply sensational!
In the Saloon C 1600cc Class, Zevgolis beat Carl Olsen and Steve Murton into second and third place.
He then put the icing on the cake by emerging victorious in the Saloon B 2000cc Class.
Gary Bluett dominated in the Saloon BT Class while Gary Kirk was untouchable in Super 7’s.
Bret Olsen and Maurizio Savo were a close second and third in this class.
Sunday’s exciting event was graced by local motor racing legends Jamie Whyte and Phil “Archie” Archenoul. Whyte wrote his own piece of history when he won back-to-back African motor rally titles in 2009 and 2010.
And he had Archenoul as his co-driver or navigator on both occasions.
“Well done to Shield!! What a great day we had at the hospitality area with awesome racing!” Archenoul commented after Sunday’s race meeting at Donnybrook.
Two other local motor racing legends, Colin Schreiber and Richard “Mahobho” Robinson, were also present on Sunday.
Another former motor rally driver, Ronnie Parsell, was also part of the crowd.
Sponsors, Shield, have been at the forefront of local main circuit racing for many years and the brand had a strong and unmistakeable presence at Donnybrook on Sunday.
Of course, motor racing is a valuable shop window for companies, whether their products have anything to do with motorsport or the automotive industry, and the wise ones hang their hat in the window. Motorsport is also a crucial laboratory for the development of products; the punishment lubricants and mechanical components take during races has only benefitted the normal, everyday motorist.
Next up in the main circuit racing season is the season-ending 3-Hour Endurance Race Day to be staged at Bulawayo Motorsport Park in early December.
