What Nine Hours Report
Where Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit
When Saturday 16 December 2023
Community South Africa National
Volkswagen driver Daniel takes SA Class D crown
Volkswagen Motorsport’s Daniel Rowe was crowned MSA South African Endurance Series Touring Car Class D champion for 2023 at a bittersweet Nine Hours of Kyalami on Saturday.
Volkswagen Motorsport drivers Rowe, Jonathan Mogotsi and Charl Visser had led Class D and sat inside the overall top five for most of the race in the Endurance SupaPolo, only to be foiled by a technical issue that halted progress with less than an hour and a half left to run.
Rowe, who had also shared the car with Keagan Masters and Graeme Nathan through the year, had however scored enough points to take the title, thanks to three race wins and a second place through the season.
“Well that was a bit of a bittersweet day,” Daniel Rowe admitted. “Sweet in that I’ve won the class championship. But bitter in that we’d had such a great race before we hit trouble. Thanks so much to my teammates today, Jonathan and Charl, and to Keagan and Graeme earlier in the year, and to the Motorsport team for a brilliant Volkswagen and perfect teamwork right through the season.”
“It was great to drive the Volkswagen Motorsport Endurance SupaPolo again and to put on such a great performance to see Daniel to the title,” Jonathan Mogotsi admitted. Charl Visser added: “That was a brilliant introduction to my career as a Volkswagen Motorsport driver and I was proud to help Daniel to the ’23 South African Class D Endurance title!”
“Congratulations to our South African Endurance Series Class D champion Daniel Rowe!” Head of Volkswagen Motorsport Mike Rowe concluded. “You can’t win them all, but the title is a fantastic substitute to a disappointing race result. Keagan, Graeme, Jonathan and Charl all contributed to ensuring Daniel was far enough ahead to take it whatever happened.
We also salute our Endurance crew, who did such a wonderful job throughout the season, both in the shop and on pit lane. This brings a brilliant 2023 racing season to a close for Volkswagen Motorsport. To all our champions, winners, drivers, team members and everyone who helped make it happen, and to the whole Motorsport team at Kariga and Kyalami, well done one and all. Rest well, we have another big season ahead in 2024!”
Volkswagen Motorsport thanks its partners CompCare Medical Scheme, Dunlop, Ferodo, Motul and VW Genuine Parts.
Issued on behalf of Volkswagen Motorsport
Photography by: Andre Lausbcher
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