The 2023 SuperHatch championship gets underway on Saturday, 18 February, when the first round takes place at Zwartkops Raceway.
Class A features some regulars who will be joined by a couple of newcomers. Dhiren Ganasen (TransAfrica Racing/ Motul/ Centparts/ Torch Spark Plugs Honda Civic), Seten Naidoo (Honda Civic) and Karel Stols (Pretoria Noord Toyota Etios) will be joined by Quintus Viljoen, who has acquired the VW Polo campaigned by Francois Henning last year. 2022 Class C runner-up Francis Aldrich has made the step up to Class A, doing a great deal of work on his Opel Corsa in the off-season to make sure it will be competitive at the front of the field.
Image by Paul Blackburn
Jonathan du Toit (Trans Africa Racing Honda Civic) is undoubtedly the favourite in Class B. Still, Christiaan van Wyk (Mechanical Masters Ford Figo) will be looking to put him under pressure at the front of the field as will Andre de Lange in his recently acquired Roofsure VW Golf. Thishan Govender (Trans Africa Racing Honda Civic), series stalwart Ishmael Baloyi (Trans Africa Racing Honda Civic) and Jenny Henning (Enats Honda Civic) will all be in the hunt for championship points.
At the time of writing, George Aldrich (Peugeot 206) looks like he will have a lonely drive in Class C, although there is always the possibility of a few late entries to provide him with some competition.
As usual, Friday’s practice sessions will allow the drivers to iron out any remaining bugs after the off-season before the serious business of qualifying and racing gets underway on Saturday. The 15-minute qualifying session should get underway at 08h25, while the two 8-lap races are scheduled to start at 11h20 and 14h40.