The curtain finally fell on a stellar Mobil 1 V8 Supercars career for six-time champion Mackie Adlem. Adlem, a stalwart competitor in the series, participated at the weekend’s Regional Extreme Festival’s Grand Finale and the final 2023 round of the “Rolling Thunder”, where he claimed victory in the last race and the overall winner’s trophy.
With a large group of people out in support, Adlem hurried his Adlem Auto Jaguar XKR around the Zwartkops Raceway to line up on the front row for the umpteenth time alongside newly-crowned champion Julian Fameliaris. As he explains, having missed out on a seventh consecutive title, Adlem was more motivated than ever to win in his final Mobil 1 V8 Supercars event.
“Today is a gloomy day for some because of my retirement, but for me, it’s another opportunity to show my God-given talent and do something I love. It’s an opportunity to glorify the Lord, and what better way than to start from the front? I might not have won a seventh title, but I’d love nothing more than to win another race or two today. So, I will be pushing as if the championship depended on it. I owe it to the fans, the people who come out here to watch us race and, of course, my team, who have diligently assisted me at every race throughout my career.”
Adlem made a quick start, held back only by the series regulation that does not allow overtaking through Turns 1 and 2. Over the 10-lap race, Adlem came very close to passing Fameliaris but took the chequered flag in a close second. Race 2 saw an inverted top-four grid, with Adlem starting from third. It only took Adlem a few laps before he made the pass for second place and cruised onto the rear of leader Franco Di Matteo. Adlem’s charge would be halted, though, with the deployment of the safety car for a stricken competitor. At the restart, Adlem was sublime and got ahead of Di Matteo before Turn 1, where the Randfontein businessman went on to finish first and claim the overall spoils.
“A huge thank you to everyone who came out in support of me today. It was a great weekend, and all the glory goes to our Heavenly Father, who has kept us safe and given me this fantastic opportunity. Thank you to my family, especially my wife Michelle, who has been my biggest supporter. God truly sent you. To my fans, thank you so much for all the support throughout. Finally, to my team, we have come such a long way. Many of you have been with me for years, and you are part of this team’s success. All the accolades are as much yours as they are mine. Lastly, thank you to all the officials and marshals who make racing possible. It’s been a great chapter of my life, and I am looking forward to the next one.”
Adlem and Mobil 1 V8 Supercars would like to acknowledge and thank African Group Lubricants for making the 2023 season possible.
Published by: Motorsport Fanatix
Picture Caption: Mackie Adlem
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