Surprises at national racing championships

Leg three of the circuit racing national championships over the weekend was marred by several cars falling out due to technical issues.

The clark of the course had to stop the event after a serious accident took place in the second heat.

Fortunately, the driver sustained minor injuries only.

The championships attracted 15 entries, including Mark Sternagel, Richard Slamet, Nadine Liebenberg, Hein, Ewald and Craig Bischoff and Chanè Havenga.

Only five participants managed to complete the circuit up to heat two.

Many drivers either did not start or did not finish the races due to various factors, of which technical and mechanical failures were the biggest.

Despite the many fallouts, the hardcore racers kept going to score valuable points.

The drivers were, however, all excited to be back on the tracks again after quite a long break, since the last event was in June.

Hein Bischoff (car 222) with his powerful V8 taking part in the Clubman B class had a good track fight to keep up with Nadine Liebenberg (car 77) in her equally powerful Holden Lumina V8 for second place.

“It was a very close race. That is what racing should be, and I enjoyed it,” Bischoff said after the event.

Meanwhile, Liebenberg, one of the only two women on the tracks, said: “[The car] has a big machine under the bonnet. Really a pleasure to drive, and is hard work on the tracks, but enjoys being driven.”

Liebenberg’s dream to get involved in racing started a long time ago, she says.

She wanted to race in a VW Golf, but her husband decided otherwise, and instead of the Golf, got her the Holden V8.
In any normal racing terms that is a big machine to start with, and it requires a lot of guts and skill to take that beast out on the tracks.

This victory makes Liebenberg the first woman ever in Namibian motorsport history to win a full-circuit race.

Michael Strydom, who was involved in a terrible accident, spoke to Top Revs shortly before his vehicle left the tracks and ended up in the bushes.

Strydom races against his father, Clive, and brother, Mathew, on a regular basis.

“It is about bragging rights around the table, and obviously I have the faster car between the three of us. They have newly built engines in their cars, so they have to sort out a few hiccups, but everything is going well,” he said.

The results were as follows.
Super modified class: Mark Sternagel
Clubmans Class B: First place – Liebenberg, second place – Bischoff, and third place – Michael Strydom
Clubmans Class C: First place – Ewald Bischoff, second place – Devon Farmer
Clubmans Class F: First place – Havenga, second place – Craig Bischoff
Legs four and five are scheduled for 2 and 30 November, respectively.