adminCollin Matiza Sports Editor
THE 2018 Zimbabwe motor racing season revs off at the home of local motorsport – Donnybrook Raceway in Harare – on Sunday with the staging of the opening round of the seven-round main circuit racing’s National Championships which attracts all the country’s top drivers and riders.
This season promises to be bigger and better than the previous one as the sport has managed to retain most of its traditional sponsors with more promising to come on board and spectator numbers are expected to increase largely due to the acceptance of “plastic money”.
The country’s flagship event – drag racing – will also have a few surprises for its multitude of fans with night drag racing on the cards and there is also a strong posibility of taking the sport to other towns or cities this year.
But all eyes will be on Donnybrook Raceway in Harare on Sunday as Zimbabwe’s top drivers and riders converge to contest the first round of the seven part main circuit racing’s National Championships.
The Sables Race Day will see various classes of saloon and sports cars battle not only for class honours, but for the prestigious Toyota Driver of the Year Championship. The Sables Grand Prix will be the culmination of the day’s racing and pits all cars from all classes against each other under a carefully devised handicap system.
The Unlimited Sports Car Class has been dominated by Fanie van der Linde. The reigning champion had his best racing year ever in 2017, and hopes to start 2018 in similar fashion. He proudly carries the No. 1 on his car and has guided his turbo-charged sports car to victory in every race that he has contested.
Barney Rogers is sure to give chase, as will ex-champ Eric Heard who has promised to pull something out of the bag this weekend.
The 1600cc Sports Car Class sees Gary Kirk hotly pursued by Gary Bluett with Des Morris and John Cameron locked in a battle for second, proving that old age and experience will always overcome youth and enthusiasm. Add the Van Renen brothers into the mix, and the race for the podium will be keenly contested.
Online Reporter