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2009 South African

National Formula Vee Championship

Van Beurden Conquers Lichtenburg

Fifteen year old Chad Van Beurden (Rhema 2) produced another polished performance, taking pole position, two race wins and the fastest lap, on his first visit to the tight 1.6 Km SCC Lichtenburg Raceway, in the North West Province. Second place, went to another of the Dean Nel prepared car,  the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund Rhema 1, of Zaahir Essa but the four cars, prepared by Nel, where lucky to even be there, after a fire broke out in back of the D'nelli Manufacturing Truck, while transporting the cars to Lichtenburg.

Race one saw Van Beurden lead from start to finish and initially he opened up a sizable gap, as Alan Holm (Lasersprint/Office Direct Rhema 2), Trevor Bland (Rhema 2), Jaco Schriks (Lasersprint Rhema 2), Courtney Steenveld (NLDTF Rhema 2), Essa, Symm Grobler (Auto Mecca Rhema 2) and Peter Hills (BJ Pro Welding/Prolantic Rhema 2) fought things out, behind him. Then Grobler retired, leaving the rest of them to continue the battle on their own. Behind them, things where just as intense, as Alan Eustice (Execuline Rhema 2), Jannie Geyser Jnr (Geyser Racing Rhema 2), Paul Venter (Nashua Mobile Laser), Gareth Jackson (Lasersprint Rhema 2) and Ben Pienaar (BJ Pro Welding Rhema 2) battled it out amongst themselves, as well. An early retirement had come from Hugo Wallendorf (BJ Pro Welding Lantis) due to fuel starvation, while Luca Canderle (Mr Price Red Racing Vision) retired shortly before half distance, with a broken inlet manifold.

Then just on half distance, Venter went off the road, bringing out the Safety Car but he managed to regain the circuit, under his own steam, so after one slow lap behind the Safety Car, the field was released again, right on one another's tails and the second half of the race commenced, Eustice did not last much longer and retired with a broken gearbox, while out front, Van Beurden still had things very much under control. Behind him, it was however a different story, as Essa first battled his way past Holm and then in the closing stages of the race, fought his way past Bland as well, with Steenveld swarming all over the back of them, even making it up alongside Holm, at Turn Five, on the penultimate lap.

So after twenty grueling laps, it was Van Beurden who led the field home, and he was followed across the line, by Essa, Bland, Holm, Steenveld, Hills, Schriks, Geyser Jnr, Jackson, Pienaar, Venter and Henk Swanepoel (Rent a Renovator Rhema 1), while Eustice also qualified as a finisher, having completed more that two thirds of the race.

The second heat, saw Schriks fail to start the race, after he climbed into the car and discovered he had no clutch, due to a jammed slave cylinder. They tried frantically to resolve the problem. before the start but ran out of time and Schriks was relegated to the role of spectator. In the race, Van Beurden once again led from start to finish but this time, Essa slotted in behind him and stayed reasonably close, finishing the race just over half a second, behind of Van Beurden. Initially, it was Bland who lead the chasing pack, of Holm, Hills and Steenveld, but having made his way past Hills, Steenveld then spun at Turn One and could not get the car to restart. Seconds later Nico Blignaut (Gilus IT SAP Rhema 2) and Pienaar tangled, putting Blignaut out of the race, while Pienaar resumed, right at the back of the field.

As the race, progressed Holm found a way past Bland, while Geyser Jnr, Jackson and Venter where battling things out between themselves, a little further back, with Grobler eventually reeling them in, after starting from near the back of the grid. Just then, Geyser Jnr pulled off, just beyond Turn Two, with a broken gear linkage and his race was run. There where however, no such problems for Van Beurden who took his second victory of the day, while his fastest lap, from the first heat, meant that he came away from Lichtenburg, with maximum points for the day. Second place, once again went to Essa and he was followed home, by Holm, Bland, Hills, Grobler, Jackson, Venter, Eustice, Wallendorf, Swanepoel and Pienaar, while Geyser Jnr, had also completed enough laps, to qualify as a finisher.  

Kyalami Produces Yet Another Epic Multi Car Battle

The battle for the 2009 South African National Formula Vee Championship intensifies race by race and a multi car battle at the head of the field, seems to have become a permanent feature of the 2009 season. Saturday's race at Kyalami, was no exception.

Jaco Schriks (Lasersprint Rhema 2) started the first heat, from pole position, with a mere 0.760 of a second, separating the first seven cars on the grid. Starting from fourth on the grid, development driver Courtney Steenveld (NLDTF Rhema 2) was determined to get to the front as soon as possible and try and break free of the pack. He was however trying too hard and his plan came to grief halfway round the first lap. Trying to out brake Schriks into Clubhouse, Steenveld locked up and went straight on, into the wall.

This gave the advantage to Schriks, as the rest of the field took avoiding action and he had opened up a very small gap, by the end of the first lap but by the following lap, it was fifteen year old Chad Van Beurden (Rhema 2) who had taken the lead and he was never headed again, for the rest of the race. Not far behind Van Beurden, a mighty battle raged, involving Schriks, Zaahir Essa (NLDTF Rhema 1), Trevor Bland (Rhema 2), Alan Holm (Lasersprint Rhema 2) and Peter Hills (BJ Pro Welding Rhema 2), with Symm Grobler (Auto Mecca Rhema 2) and Jannie Geyser Jnr (Geyser Attorneys Rhema 2) hanging onto the bunch for a while, as well, Then just after half distance, Schriks spun at the Bowl, losing a number of places in the process.

A bit further back, another good close battle raged, involving Alan Eiustice (Execuline Rhema 2), Nicholas Tennant (Stonevest/TKAS Race Solutions T096), Ben Pienaar (BJ Pro Welding Rhema 2) and Nico Blignaut (Gilus IT SAP Rhema 2), while behind them, Henk Swanepoel (Rent a Renovator Rhema 1) had passed Hugo Wallendorf (BJ Pro Welding Lantis) who was struggling with the handling of his car. Mile Stewart (Rhema 1) then started closing in on Wallendorf but with a couple of laps to go, Stewart got out of shape, pushing a bit too hard through Nashua Bend. Wallendorf had also spun ahead of him and in his efforts to get his own car back under control and avoid Wallendorf, Stewart hit the wall, retiring on the spot. While Wallendorf gathered it all together and resumed, at the back of the field.

Driving like a seasoned veteran, Van Beurden controlled the race from the front and went on to score, the second victory of his National Formula Vee career, by 3.326 of a second, from Holm, Bland, Hills, Essa, Schriks, Grobler, Geyser Jnr, Gareth Jackson (Lasersprint Rhema 2) and Paul Venter (Nashua Mobil Lazer), who had been keeping reasonably close company as well, while Pienaar, Eustice and Tennant, picked up the remaining National Points on offer,

By the end of the day, Van Beurden would record the first overall win of his short Formula Vee career but he would be forced to work extremely hard for it. A bad start, saw Van Beurden drop to sixth or seventh place but time and again, he would come down the inside into Clubhouse, picking them off one by one, as he carved his way back to the head of the field. This time he would however, not succeed in breaking away from the pursuing pack. Initially, it was a seven car lead battle but eventually, Grobler dropped off the back of the pack and lost touch.

Eustice, Tennant and Pienaar had resumed where they left off and where once again locked in battle, until Tennant lost it a few laps from the end, rejoining right at the back of the field. Also in trouble, was Wallendorf who went off at Goodyear Corner, across the grass and the gravel trap and although he regained the circuit, the rear suspension had collapsed and he was forced to retire from the race.

In the meantime, Steenveld had been carving his way up through the field and although he passed Grobler, shortly after half distance, he was unable to catch the lead battle, before the end of the race. Ahead of Steenveld, that battle had raged on unabated. With the six cars still locked together, they would fight it out, to the bitter end and all six of them, would cross the finish line within 2,401 of a second! Once again, it was Van Beurden who secured the victory and he was followed across the line, by Essa, Holm, Hills, Schriks and Bland. Next up was Steenveld who was followed home, by Grobler, Geyser Jnr, Jackson, Pienaar and Eustice. Fastest lap and the new Kyalami Formula Vee Lap Record, went to Bland at 1min 55.158 seconds.

Who will take, the 2009 National Championship, is still anyone's guess. The first round saw Bland head the log, at the end of the day but after the second round, it was Steenveld who had taken the lead. East London then saw Holm and Steenveld come away from the coastal city, as joint leaders, with Schriks a mere one point behind. Then the fourth round, at Zwartkops, saw Schriks mote to the top of the log but his spin at Kyalami has cost him dearly and going to the Port Elizabeth round of the Championship, at the beginning of August, it is triple National Champion Holm, who is back in front but watch out for Van Beurden! He is on a roll and could still become the first driver, since Ettiene Van Der Linde in 1994, to win the Formula Vee National Championship, in his first season and at the same time eclipse Van Der Linde, as the youngest Champion, as well.

Schriks Takes Championship Lead

Having gone into the Zwartkops Race in third place, in the 2009 South African National Formula Vee Championship, Jaco Schriks (Lasersprint Rhema 2) emerged as the Championship leader, at the halfway mark of the 2009 Season.

The race was combined with the Formula Ford Kent series, with the Formula Vees getting underway ten seconds behind the Fords, for the first heat.

Starting from pole position, Schriks led the Vee field from start to finish but with various people breathing down his neck and was soon into the Ford back markers. Chandre Kruger (Gilus IT SAP Tasman) ran wide early on and lost his nose cone but resumed at the back of the field, behind Doug MacDonald (Fantastic Racing Rhema 1) who had started the race from the pit lane. In the early stages of the race, Schriks had to fight off Symm Grobler (Auto Mecca Rhema 2) and Courtney Steenveld (NLDTF Rhema 2) but the two of them eventually lost touch and would lose out to the hard charging Alan Holm (Lastersprint Rhema 2) and Chad Van Beurden (Rhema 2), before the race was run.

Behind them Peter Hills (Prolantic Rhema 2) and Trevor Bland (Rhema 2) fought a race long duel, while Zaahir Essa (NLDTF Rhema 1), Gareth Jackson (Lasersprint Rhema 2) and Paul Venter (Nashua Mobile Lantis) where also locked in battle, for most of the race.

Not far behind them, Nico Blignaut (Gilus IT SAP Rhema 2) Ben Pienaar (BJ Pro Welding Rhema 2) and Luca Canderle (Red/Mr Price Vision), where also involved in a good close battle, for a while, until Blignaut broke away to haul in the bunch ahead of him, shortly before the end of the race, leaving Pienaar and Candele, to duel it out on their own. Even Nicolas Tennant (Stonevest/TKAS Race Solutions TK096) and Hugo Wallendorf (LT Dents Lantis), where involved in their own private duel for a while, a little further back.

Out front it was however Schriks who went on to finish the race, fifth overall and first Formula Vee home. He was followed home, just over two and a half seconds later, by Holm, Van Beurden, Grobler and Steenveld, with the rest of the Formula Vee top twelve finishers, being, Hills, Bland, Essa, Venter, Blignaut, Jackson and Pienaar.

With everyone starting the second heat, based on their fastest lap in heat one, irrespective of category, fifteen year old Chad Van Beurden was on pole position, for the Vees and third on the grid, behind the two quickest Fords. The race was however Red Flagged, before they had completed a lap.

In Turn Four, Blignaut had spun. One or two succeeded in getting by unscathed but Pienaar's car was launched into the air, barrel rolling in the air, before crashing back to earth and continuing to barrel roll a few more times, before coming to a standstill, badly damaged and with only one wheel still attached to the car. Fortunately Pienaar escaped unscathed and the race was eventually restarted. It was also without Pienaar and Blignaut, the two Fords had also collided with one another behind the big accident while the car of Canderle was out with a gearbox failure on the warm up lap.

Wallendorf did not go much further, retiring during the third lap, with a broken gear selector, while Kruger lost his nose cone again and also retired from the race, just on half distance.

The race had been reduced to eight laps and saw fifteen year old Van Beurden, finish third overall, just over half a second behind the winning Ford, to claim the first victory of his Formula Vee career and he was followed across the line, by Schriks, Holm, Grobler, Hills and Steenveld, with the rest of the Formula Vee top twelve places going to, Bland, Essa, Venter, Jackson, Jannie Geyser Jnr (Geyser Attorneys Rhema 2) and Mac Donald. Keeping his nose clean and finishing both heats unscathed, was Formula Vee debutant Mile Stewart (Rhema 1), behind Henk Swanepoel, in the Rent a Renovator Rhema 1).

East London Formula Vee Race Does Not Disapoint

As expected, the East London round of the 2009 South African National Formula Vee Championship, produced two thrilling, race long, multi car battles, for the lead. In the first heat, the battle involved Courtney Steenveld (NLDTF Rhena 2), Alan Holm (Lasersprint Rhema 2) Jaco Schriks (Lasersprint Rhema 2) and Trevor Bland (Rhema 2) after Dennis Johns (Geyser Attorneys Rhema 2) was pushed off before the first corner but came back through the field, to be almost on the tail of the lead bunch again, by the end on the race. Out front the lead was changing, lap by lap and almost corner by corner, as the four cars at the head of the pack, continuously traded places. Behind them a number of other battles where fought, including a hectic family feud, between the father son combination of Jannie Geyser Snr (Geyser Attorneys Vision) and Jannie Geyser Jnr (Geyser Attorneys Rhema 2).

The outcome of the race, was decided by split seconds, as Schriks, took the victory, from Holm, Steenveld and Bland and they where followed across the line, by Johns, Chad Van Beurden (Rhema 2), who had been swamped at the start, when he could not get second gear and had to fight his way back through the field, Geyser Snr, Geyser Jnr, Ben Pienaar (BJ Pro Welding Rhema 2) struggling alang with a brake problem and Nicholas Tennant (Stonevest Custom Hobbies T09), while Symm Grobler (Auto Mecca Rhema 2) had been forced to retire, just on half distance, when his motor started seizing up. Even more unfortunate, were Gareth Jackson (Lasersprint Rhema 2) and newcomer Luca Canderle (Team Red Vision). Canderle had run the bearings of his motor, in the final warm up before qualifying and Jackson had experienced a mechanical failure, during the qualifying session and both of them, would take no further part in the day's proceedings.

In the second heat, the battle for the lead was even more intense, as Schriks, Holm, Steenveld, Bland and Johns, fought out a torrid race long battle, with Piennar and Geyser Snr hanging onto the back of the train, as well. Hurtling down the long East London straight, centimeters apart and flat out through the legendary Potters and Rifle Bends, while changing position out of the slipstream, along the way as well. Then ducking, diving and standing hard on the brakes, for Cocabana and going trough bends side by side, the battle continued to rage, lap after lap.

After another poor start, due to a clutch problem, Van Beurden was closing on the seven car train ahead of him, as well. Holm then lost his nose cone, running into the back of Steenveld, under braking around about half distance and soon after that, Van Beurden caught the bunch and started getting in amongst them as well. Geyser Snr eventually made a mistake and lost the tow and then both Van Beurden and Steenveld lost a little time, through incidents in the closing stages of the race. Into the final bend Holm came up the inside of Johns and Schriks, hitting Schriks mid corner. They did not however, loose much momentum for the run to the line and it was Holm who took the win 0,049 of a second ahead of Schriks, with Johns stuck behind the two Lasersprint cars, a further 0,032 of a second behind Schriks, with Bland another 0.364 of a second behind, in fourth place. A couple of seconds later, Steenveld and Pienaar came through, separated by 0,105 of a second and they where followed home, by Van Beurden, Geyser Snr, Geyser Jnr and Tennant.

Midvaal Produces Close, Action Packed Formula Vee Thriller

The Midvaal round, of the 2009 South African National Formula Vee Championship, produced two thrilling battles at the head of the field. In fact, the action was not restricted to the head of the field, with duels and other multi car battles, raging all the way down the field as well, particularly in the second heat. For fifteen year old Chad Van Beurden (Rhema 2) the weekend however began, in the worst possible fashion. On his out lap, for the very first practice session, the throttle jammed open, approaching the bend leading onto the Main Straight and he went straight off into the tyres and flipped the car, before it landed back on his wheels. Van Beurden was shaken but otherwise unharmed but the car was badly damaged. Van Beurden would however still race, after a deal was struck, for him to drive the Peter Hills (Prolantic Rhema 2), in the race.

Having qualified on Pole Position, again, development driver Courtney Steenveld (NLDTF Rhema 2) led the field away from the line, with Trevor Bland (Rhema 2), Symm Grobler (Auto Mecca Rhema 2), Alan Holm (Lasersprint Rhema 2), Jaco Schriks (Lasersprint Rhema 2) and Van Beurden snapping at his heels. Having qualifying third, Dennis Johns (Geyser Attorneys Rhema 2) had lost ten places, by Turn Three but would eventually carve his way back through the field, for a top three finish. Steenveld, Bland and Holm, each had a chance to lead and the three of them eventually opened a small gap, over the rest of the bunch, while Van Beurden ran wide at one point and lost touch with Grobler and Schriks, as well, splitting up what had initially been a six car battle, at the head of the field. Alan Eustice (Execuline Rhema 2), was having a good tussle, with Paul Venter (Laser) but then lost time, with a spin, toward the end of the race, while Jannie Geyser Snr (Geyser Attorneys Vision) retired, with a broken throttle cable. Earlier in the race, Andrei Overbeek (Compressor Services Industrial Omega) had retired, due to a loose airbox, while Nicholas Tennant (Custom Hobbies Tasman) had started the race very late, after picking up a problem on the warm up lap and Henk Swanepoel (Rhema 1), was struggling along with a ill handling car.

The battle for the lead however, continued unabated. At one point, Steenveld and Holm had touched, while a more solid contact with Steenveld, saw Bland spin, losing a number of places in the process. He was however, able to regain some of them, before the end of the race, as Holm took the flag, ahead of Steenveld, Johns, Grobler, Bland, Schriks, Zaahir Essa (NLDTF Rhema 1), Van Beurden, Jason Campos (Carrera Sunglasses Campos Transport Rhema 2), Jannie Geyser Jnr (Geyser Attorneys Rhema 2), Gareth Jackson (Lasersprint Rhema 2) and Venter.

The second heat, saw contact between Steenveld and Johns, at the first corner, with Johns spinning off and rejoining right at the back of the field.

The initial six car battle, at the head of the field, involved Steenveld, Holm, Grobler, Bland, Schriks and Van Beurden but split up, with Holm and Steenveld, fighting a torrid battle for the lead, while Van Beurden later broke away from the pursuing pack, and moved up to join them as well.

Hugo Wallendorf (IT Dents Lantis) had lost his nose cone early on in the race, which hit Tennent in the face, disorientating him for a moment and he promptly spun, at the next bend, rejoining, to carve his way up through the tail enders, where Overbeek and Swanepoel where keeping close company, for a while.

Also keeping close company, higher up the field, where Jackson and Geyser Snr. While Venter, Campos and Eustice, where also having a good close tussle, not far behind them. Then Eustice spun and Campos was able to get away from Venter, catching Jackson and Geyser Snr, to join the battle.

An early retirement from the race, had come from Nico Blignaut (Gilus IT SAP Rhema 2), while in the closing stages of the race, Overbeek would pull in to retire as well, having lost the airbox again but still having completed sufficient laps, to be classified as a finisher.

The progress of Johns, up through the field, had been hampered, by another bump and it was only in the closing stages of the race, that he was able to catch, the Gesyer Snr, Jackson, Campos battle and work his way through, the bunch.

In the meantime, Essa had joined the battle behind the lead bunch but then Bland had a big scare, when the accelerator pedal jammed in the fully open position, on the main straight. He was however, able to get his foot under the pedal and release it, He then broke away from the second bunch, closing right up on the three ahead of him and in so doing set up a furious four car dash to the line, which saw the four of them across the finish line, within just under six tenths of a second!

The race victory, however, went to Steenveld 0,120 of a second, ahead of Holm and they where followed across the line, by Van Beurden, Bland, Schriks, Essa, Grobler, Geyser Jnr, Johns, Geyser Snr, Campos and Jackson.  

Phakisa Formula Vee Thriller

If the first round of the 2009 South African National Formula Vee Championship is anything to go by, it is going to be a vintage season for this long standing, entry level single seater category. With a mixture of youth and experience, at the head of the field, the Phakisa event produced two stunning, no holds barred, multi car battles for the lead.

Starting from pole position, for the first time in his Formula Vee career, eighteen year old development driver Courtney Steenveld (NLDTF Rhema 2), controlled the first heat from the front, only once being headed across the line, by Jaco Schriks (Lasersprint Rhema2). It was however, a six car battle at the head of the field for most of the race, involving Steenveld, Schriks, triple National Champion Alan Holm (Lasersprint Office Direct Rhema 2), double and reigning National Champion Dennis Johns (Geyser Attorneys Rhema 2), Trevor Bland (Rhema 2) and fifteen year old Formula Vee rookie, Chad Van Beurden (Rhema 2).

Behind Steenveld, the rest of the bunch where changing positions virtually from corner to corner, until a double overtaking move at Turn One, by the more experienced drivers in the bunch, came unstuck and split the bunch with a couple of laps to go. Those involved, where Holm, Johns and Schriks, with Schriks faring the worst and rejoining in eight place, behind Zaahir Essa (NLDTF Rhema 1) and Symm Grobler (Auto Mecca Rhema2). There where other battles further down the field as well and even newcomer Henk Swanepoel (Rent a Renovator Rhema 1) and Chandre Kruger (Gilus IT SAP Sting), where involved in their own private duel, at the back of the field.

It was however, Steenveld who took the second win of his Formula Vee career, just under two and a half seconds ahead of Bland who was followed across the line, by Holm, Van Beurden, Johns, Essa, Grobler, Schriks, Paul Venter (Laser), Gareth Jackson (Lasersprint Rhema 2), Ben Pienaar (BJ Pro Welding Rhema 2) and Alan Eustice (Execuline Rhema 2). Fastest lap of the race, went to Van Beurden, with at time of 1min49.230 seconds, while the only retirement, came from Nicolas Tennant (Tennant Life Benefits Engineering Unlimited Custom Hobbies TK09) who stopped out one the circuit, with a seized motor, during the final lap of the race. Association Chairman Jannie Geyser Snr (Geyser Attorneys Vision), had however failed to start, having run the bearings of his motor in qualifying, after setting the twelfth fastest time, of the session.

Holm then failed to start the second heat, due to a clutch problem but in the early stages of the race, Essa and Grobler held onto the lead bunch, creating a seven car pack, at the head of the field. Then Essa got out of shape, at the high speed sweep exiting the back straight and took the escape route, ending up on the oval, from where he was able to make his way back to the circuit. As a result, Grobler lost touch with the lead bunch.

Further back, Jackson and Pienaar, where involved in their own private battle, while Jannie Geyser Jnr (Geyser Attorney's Rhema 2), was carving his way through the back markers, after he had failed to come to the start line, pulling in at the end of the warm up lap to have a loose back wheel tightened, before joining the race, after the rest of the field where already well on their way.

As the race progressed, Steenveld, Van Beurden, and Bland, slowly opened up a small gap, over Schriks and a slightly down on power Johns and with a lap to go, Steenveld looked like he had his first double win and first overall for the day, in the bag, having by then, also opened up a small gap, over Van Beurden but it was not to be! With less than a kilometer to go, the high speed sweeps exiting the back straight, would dramatically alter the outcome of the race. Van Beurden and Bland, had closed right up on Steenveld again and Bland was lining up Van Beurden for a pass, while in turn, Van Beurden was looking for a gap, to get past Steenveld. Van Beurden moved to the inside, as Steenveld swept in to take his line through the corner and Van Beurden already had two wheels on the grass, when the cars touched, spinning Steenveld around. They collided again and slid off the circuit together. Bland however, got through unscathed but had lost momentum and from fourth place, it was Schriks who swept past Bland, to take the victory, ahead of Bland and Johns, the three of them crossing the line, a fraction over two seconds apart. They in turn, where followed home, by Grobler, Pienaar, Jackson, Essa, Eustice, Geyser Jnr, Nico Blignaut (Gilus IT SAP Rhema 2), Steenveld and Swanepoel, with Bland taking the overall victory for the day, ahead of Johns and Schriks.