Victron Energy South Africa’s Blue Power Active brand ambassadors had a successful weekend (March 1-2) at Zwartkops Raceway.
While the initial entry list included four entrants, the start of the programme saw two drivers compete in the second round of the BMW ///M Performance Parts Race Series and one debutant in the DOE Formula Vee, partnered by CIM Lubricants, season opener.
While the weekend started with Official Practice on Friday, the TC Racing outfit, consisting of Tjaden Tromp and Chloe Stuart, made headlines earlier in the week following the announcement to move to the DOE Formula Vee, partnered by CIM Lubricants, Championship after earlier in the season announcing participation in another series. However, the week got busier behind the scenes when Tromp’s participation was questioned. Both drivers are aged 14. However, Stuart’s birthday is in the year’s first half, compared to Tromp, who will turn 15 near the end of 2024. Subsequently, only Stuart was eligible to make her debut. Previously, both drivers competed in the Formula Libre Championship from 2022 to 2023.
With Tromp in attendance in a support capacity, Stuart made a strong debut, delivering a consistent and trouble-free performance to take 14th and 13th place finish in each of the races.
In the BMW ///M Performance Parts Race Series, it was the father-and-son from GreenHouse, an authorised Victron Energy installer specialising in high-end residential and commercial solutions, who flew the flag.
Nicholas Herbst, the younger of the two, lined up on the front row of the Class D grid in the time-based championship. In Race 1, Jaco Storm Jnr, who took a lights-to-flag win, broke into the Class C time bracket, which promoted Nicholas to the top of the podium. Another breakout in the top three saw Dad Craig gain two positions. Craig’s third place made it two Victron Energy South Africa brand ambassadors on the podium.
The partially inverted grid for Race 2 saw the Herbst family with their work cut out. Nicholas gradually made the climb to second place, while Craig finished fifth.
The BMW ///M Performance Parts Race Series is one of only a handful where the overall results are based on more than merely an accumulated race time. With 18 points, Nicholas took the overall honours, while Craig’s 10 points saw him in fourth place. Nicholas also set the fastest lap in Race 1 and now leads the Class D points table while occupying fourth place overall.
Issued by Brandsponential on behalf of Victron Energy South Africa
Photography by: James Thomson, Willie Pretorius and Lawrence Paiken
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