Renier Smith took the 2024 BMW ///M Performance Parts Race Series at Zwartkops Raceway this past weekend (15-16 November).
The 10th round of the single-manufacturer series, operated by BMW Car Club Gauteng and backed by BMW South Africa, formed part of the final Regional Extreme Festival of the year. This was Smith’s maiden title.
With this being the season finale, only drivers who competed in three or more 2024 championship rounds were eligible to accumulate points. By Saturday morning, the recaulculated points table, with potential Drop Rounds, was made available. This saw Smith start the race day with a net 15-point advantage over Nicholas Herbst, the latter being the only driver who could eclipse his title hopes, barring Breakouts.
Race Weekend Recap
Shane Grobler took the ATS Motorsport Pole Position in this group, with Herbst lining up next to him. Bilal Ahmed headed up Olerato Sekudu on Row 2, with Tihan van Rooyen in fifth. Class E saw Zaheer Seedat at the front, with Zeyad Ismail, Mike Grobler, Matthew Wadeley, and Mariaan Emmenis completing the top five. This qualifying session was shortened following Strati Yiannakis’ incident.
Lee Thompson was a late addition to the Class A, B & C field, but as one of the most experienced drivers around Zwartkops Raceway, he announced his presence by taking the Dunlop Pole Position. Ryan Naicker, defending champion Leon Loubser, and Bob Neill completed the rest of the Class A grid. Andreas Meier got off to his best start in months by heading up Class B from Smith, defending class champion Nek Makris, Gary Martins, and Nick Naidoo. Nishal Singh headed up Class C from Hein van der Merwe, Reinhardt Miller, Varish Ganpath, and Bennie Luyt.
Herbst tailed Shane Grobler throughout the first Class D & E race but had to settle for the runner-up spot, while the latter took his fourth win of the season. Ahmed retained his third place. Eugene Gouws, who competed in his first 2024 event, moved into fourth place early in the race but lost the place to Van Rooyen on the final lap. Wadeley gradually made up places in Class E to add another win to his tally. Seedat tailed him over the line for second, with Mike Grobler completing the podium. Ismail stayed in close contention and finished fourth, while Justin Brown passed Emmenis for fifth place. The results saw Herbst cut Smith’s lead to seven points.
Thompson took the early lead in the first Class A, B & C race but had to retire after four laps, which handed the position to Naicker. The latter went on to win, with Loubser and Neill completing the podium. Meier took his first win in Class B since the second round, while Smith fended off Makris for second place. Naidoo finished fourth, while Martins retired after six laps. Singh took a comfortable win in Class C from Van der Merwe, who held off Ganpath. Debutant Nicky Dicks was also in close contention, while Luyt finished fifth.
Smith’s second place saw his lead restored to 15 points. At this point, only Breakouts could change the Series names and class champions’ names.
In the second Class D & E race, Herbst took the Class D win with Shane Grobler second. Ahmed recorded another third place, with Sekudu fourth and Van Rooyen fifth. Seedat, who opened his 2024 Class E account with a win, finished the year with a race win over Wadeley. Mike Grobler completed the podium while holding back Emmenis. Ismail finished fifth.
Before the final Class A, B & C race, the circuit had a slight shower, but it had dried out adequately by the time of the start. Neill and Loubser treated the crowd to a good tussle in Class A, with Neill taking another win. Naicker finished third. Thompson held the early lead but retired after only a few corners. Makris had an easy win in Class B. Smith, who broke out of a certain Class C title win two years prior, brought his car home in second place. Naidoo finished third, with Martins fourth. Meier retired after three laps. Dicks finished his debut weekend with a maiden Class C win, after holding off Van der Merwe. Singh finished third after a good tussle with Luyt, while Reinhardt Miller took fifth place.
ZF-Aftermarket Overall Results for Round 10
The ZF-Aftermarket Overall Results, based on points scored, saw the three Class A classified finishers tied on 16 points. This saw Loubser take the day with him having the best aggregate race time. Neill was second, with Naicker third. Makris and Smith also tied on 16 points in Class B, but Makris had the better aggregate time. Naidoo took third place. It was also a two-way tie at the top of Class C between Singh and Van der Merwe with 16 points. Singh had the better time. Dicks took third place. Herbst and Grobler tied on 18 points in Class D, but Herbst won on time. Ahmed was third. Seedat’s better time in Class E also favourably broke his 18-point tie with Wadeley. Mike Grobler took third place.
Championship At The End Of The Season
Loubser took the 2024 Class A title, being the only driver to defend one of his crowns successfully. Naicker, 25 points adrift, had a superb second half of the year and finished as runner-up, two points clear of Neill.
Smith also took the Class B championship and had a fantastic day, which saw him shake off the ghost of 2022 and take the ITOO Driver of the Day award. Last year’s champion, Makris, finished the year as runner-up, 31 points adrift. Meier, who led the class and Series for almost the entire first half of the year, finished third, 23 points behind Makris.
Reinhardt Miller, who won Class D last year, was the only other 2023 class champion to take a title this year, sealing Class C with an 18-point advantage over Luyt, who beat Van der Merwe by two points.
Herbst, who took Class D, had the biggest winning margin, with 37 points over Shane Grobler. Cobus Bohmer, 12 points adrift, was third.
Wadeley season only got started in round two, but he won Class E by 29 points over former leader Seedat. Mike Grobler’s took third place, 29 points adrift.
Smith’s Series title-winning margin over Herbst increased to 14 points in the final race, while Wadeley, three points adrift, finished third.
Next Event
The eight-round 2025 BMW ///M Performance Parts Race Series season will commence on 31 January to 1 February at Zwartkops Raceway, and will form part of the annual Passion for Speed.
