The Border Motorsport Club’s 2023 circuit racing season kicks off on Saturday, 18 February, when the East London Grand Prix Circuit hosts the opening round of the Border Modified Saloon Car and Eastern Cape Historic Pre ’80 and Pre ’90 Coastal Challenge Club Championships as well as a club motorcycle event. The event will memorialise Border Motorsport stalwarts, Bruce Butler and Kenny Bezuidenhout, who both passed away recently.
In the Eastern Cape Historic Pre ’80 and Pre ’90 Coastal Challenge Club races, it looks like Rudolf de Vos (Chev CanAm) will have some competition a the head of the field from Brett Franklin, who is making a return in the Warren Ford Grenada Perana and Shris Blom (Ford Capri Perana). Alwyn Kretzman and Joel Steenkamp have also indicated that they will make the trip up from Port Elizabeth. Alec and Ryan Gudmanz should also be on track, as will the regular crew of Johan van der Westhuizen (Interceptor), Quentin and Graham Lessing, Kyle Rose and Wayne Botha.
Image by Darryl Kukard
The Modified Saloon Car races should provide lots of entertainment, with a host of BMWs being joined by some VWs and at least one Nissan. Doc Chaudree (The Doctor Racing BMW), Garth Hewitt (Steel & Pipes BMW), Shaun Vallance (Maglab BMW), RJ Green (Herbalife Nutrition BMW), Mark Els (East London Towing & Recovery BMW), Zillen Harding (BMW) and Wade Wright (Go Store It BMW) will be joined by Cherne Marais, who will be part of the BMW brigade this year with support from Steel & Pipes. Trying to prevent complete BMW domination will be JP Fuller (VW Polo), Shaun Beetge (VW Golf) and Gary Schultz (Nissan 200SX).
The biker’s entry list features John Quinn, Rodney Hiles, Travis Warne, Gerri Havenga, and Mtthew and Michael Smal, among others.
Practice, qualifying, and racing will all take place on Saturday, providing a full day’s entertainment for those that want to visit the circuit. In addition to the regular sprint races, mini enduros for both bikes and cars have been scheduled late in the day. Tickets, at R50.00 for those 12 years and older, will be available at the gate.
