Simpson wins as SA race drivers star abroad

Cape Town - South African drivers racing abroad enjoyed a stellar weekend headlined by Stephen Simpson’s IMSA Prototype Challenge victory in Long Beach California.

Former SA A1 GP driver Simpson, and Canadian Misha Goikhberg, drove the JDC Miller Motorsports ORECA Chevrolet to a dominant victory on the Long Beach Prototype Challenge Grand Prix in California on Saturday (April 16) afternoon to consolidate the duo’s lead at the top of that Championship. 

An elated Simpson said: I am very proud to win such a historic race track in North American motorsport."

South Africans owning Germany

Two young South Africans, meanwhile, starred in the ADAC GT Masters races in Germany, with Kelvin van der Linde ending tenth in the second race at Oschersleben for Audi, while SA’s Bentley Boy Jordan Pepper played a crucial role in leaving that meeting in the lead of the Trophy class title lead.

Another South African to put in a good showing at Oschersleben was German Formula 4 debutant Jonathan Aberdein, who came good after a difficult start to deliver a fighting 11th in the weekend final.

Tough weekend

Three South Africans raced in the second round of the British Formula 3 championship at Brands Hatch, with Sisa Ngebulana bouncing back after a first race slip to finish that race in 12th before fighting back to 6th in race 2 and 4th in the final.

Eugene Denyssen was delighted with his first top ten finish with ninth in race 2, but weekend wildcard Raoul Hyman was completely out of luck, yet still managed seventh in the first race before retiring from the following heats.

Two South Africans meanwhile prepare for the coming race weekend, with Blancpain GT Endurance debutant David Perel heading to a dream start in that series driving a Ferrari at Monza, while Raoul Hyman returns to European Formula 3 duty at the Hungoraring outside Budapest.