South Africa’s favourite racing weekend for many, the International Zwartkops Passion for Speed is limbering up for another cracker on Saturday 1 February, with a double header bonus going down a week later at Red Star Raceway outside Zwartkops. Both weekends will feature the best of local, but with the extra attraction of some truly spicy overseas attractions too.
An old friend of the Passion for Speed, Michiel Campagne is one of five Dutch drivers to make the African safari to race at Zwartkops and Red Star this year. The best news, however, is that Michiel has brought his incredible 1969 Can Am McLaren M8F. It’s been a while since this car last raced in South Africa, but this epic machine is reason enough for any petrolhead to visit the Passion for Speed weekends, all on its own.
Can Am racing was one of those halcyon racing classes that never had enough rules to slow it down. The brute force cars were the most powerful on the planet at the time. This raucous Chevrolet V8 powered M8F with its towering Kugelfischer inlet trumpets, is probably the epitome of naturally aspirated race cars. It was ultimately succeeded by the even madder 1000 horsepower-plus turbocharged Can Am Porches a year or so later.
The rest of the Dutch touring party includes Frans van Maarschalkerwaard’s sexy yellow Corvette, Jaap van der Ende and his1967 Chev Camaro and Harmen van Putten’s ‘65 Ford Mustang Shelby. Italian Nicky Pasterelli is another international out to drive Pablo Clark Racing’s 1965 Ford Galaxie. All will race in the Marlboro Crane Hire Legends V8 saloons, with the Dutch contingent also moonlighting in the Trans Am and TT races.
The internationals are certainly not the only Passion for Speed attractions, with a massive field of local races set to thrill as South Africa’s favourite historic racing weekend. Topping the Passion for Speed Pops, Pre-74 The International Sports Prototypes where that mad McLaren takes on Lola T70s including Larry Wilford and Neil Lobb’s MK3 Coupes and Mark du Toit and Russel Fear in their Spyders.
They will be joined by the regular GT Porsches, and a gang of rumbling Trans Am V8 Touring Cars to take on the visitors. Talking V8s. Many of the Sports, GTs and V8s will also race in another Passion for Speed highlight, the prestigious annual 45 minute Le Mans Sports & GT Tourist Trophy. It also attracts the best of the local Cobras, Daytonas, Lolas and GT40s.
Passion for Speed would not be Passion for Speed if it were not for the monster Marlboro Crane Hire Pre’66 Legends of the 9 Hour Production Cars. Rest assured the giant Galaxies, Impalas, Novas, Falcon Thunderbolts, Fairlanes, Mustangs, Mercurys, Studebakers, Plymouths and Camaros as always, will be out to thrill the Festival crowd with the overseas contingent there to add that extra spice too.
In other action, the South African Historic Single Seaters always deliver great interest. Look forward a few rasping rotary former SA championship Formula Atlantics to join the ranks alongside Formula Fords, Vees and other machines that made local racing history over the years.
The Evapco HRSA Sprint race will have a Gqeberha Chevy Can Am chasing the locals up, while HRSA Pursuit and Classic Touring Cars always up the ante. Add International Race Supplies & Roofsure MHCC Historics, Marlboro Crane Hire Little Giants and to keep that Passion for Speed kettle boiling all weekend long!
Modern race fans can look forward to the Extreme SuperCars Powered by Dunlop, where a brand new Ferrari 488 will be out to topple the regular Lamborghinis, Porsches, McLarens and the rest. There’s also a swarm of BMW M Performance Parts Racers, and the first round of the 2025 DOE Formula Vee Championship delivering even more best racing, as always.
There’s far more to the Passion for Speed than just track action. Look forward to Formula 1 and drifting demos, aerobatic displays, the pit walk and driver meet and greet with special autograph and photo opportunities.
