Wheels_12_Oct_2015

Mooi
River
‘lurkers’
await race
PAGE 6
November 12, 2015
Witness
WHEELS
ASH CAR SALES
Dealers in Superfine Exotic and Sports Cars
Tel: 033 345 1971, 033 342 4717
Fax: 033 342 2900 - www.ashcarsales.co.za
2014 M/Benz C180 [W205]
15000km, balance m/plan, Iridium Silver/
black leather, 6 Speed manual, Rain sensor,
Cruise Control, Anti-Theft System, Automatic
climate control, tyre pressure monitor
system, agility suspension, Audio 20 Radio/
CD, Interior light package and motion sensor, ECO
start/stop function, Adaptive brake lights, 17” Alloy 5
spoke wheels, Run flat tyres, Datadot, as new
R349 995
550 Church Street, Pietermaritzburg 3201
PO Box 8390, Cumberwood 3235
NEW SHAPE
Contact Ash on 083 786 3377 (PMBurg)
KZN’S BEST READ ON ALL THINGS WHEELED, FROM FIAT’S NEW BAKKIE TO CLEVER SUITCASES
Mazda to shake up crossover sales
ALWYN VILJOEN
WITH more people opting for
smaller cars, many SUV buyers
are also looking at crossovers
instead, and there is no shortage
of models that provide both
eye­candy and gravel road ability.
The Nissan Juke is still a head
turner, the Fiat500X does cute.
with aggro and Ford’s Ecosport
is rewriting all the rules with
sustained demand.
But no crossover has drawn so
much attention from those in the
know as the Mazda CX3.
Wheels can reveal this
compact, but beautifully
proportioned mix between sport
car and ute will soon be launched
in SA — and this will just add to
the woes of the factory that
already cannot meet demand.
Car Bay in Malaysia reports
the CX3 has become so popular
in both Australia and the East
that Mazda ran out of capacity at
the Hiroshima plant and the little
ute with the big presence is now
also built at the AutoAlliance
plant in Rayong, Thailand. It is
not yet clear from which plant the
South African models will be
shipped, but as Mazda states on
its website, “there’s never been an
SUV that can move you like this.”
In Australia, where the CX3 is
already sold, the writers at Car
and Driver said, “The CX­3 steers
with precision, corners with
aplomb, and scoots down the
road with a verve that is almost
universally absent among
crossovers.
“Toggle the Sport mode and
the quick­shifting automatic
transmission takes on Porscheesque
logic, downshifting as you
brake for an upcoming corner.
“Without question, Mazda
has built the driver’s car — er,
crossover — in this burgeoning
segment.”
Mazda states this “natural
agility” comes from its Skyactiv
technology, which are Mazda’s
range of naturally aspirated engines
that perform as if they have
variable vane turbos.
A unique piston design improves
combustion to boost
power and lower emissions. Reduced
friction liberates extra
power, while a 4­2­1 exhaust layout
lifts efficiency.
The 4­cylinder engine delivers
a sporty 115 kW of power and
204 Nm of torque; using as little
as 6.5 litres of fuel every 100 km*.
With no turbo to burn extra fuel
faster comes outstanding fuel
economy in petrol.
Inside the cabin, Mazda’s call
Bluetooth MZD Connect links
the car to the Internet.
It is not only a looker either.
Under those pumped flanks, an
extremely strong body structure
integrates SRS airbags ensuring
superb protection.
Mazda states the confident
grasp on the road that so impressed
the scribes Down Under
is aided by Dynamic Stability
Control (DSC) with Traction
Control System (TCS).
Innovative Anti­lock Braking
System (ABS) brakes feature
Electronic Brake­force Distribution
(EBD) which matches braking
to vehicle load, while Emergency
Brake Assist (EBA) boosts
stopping power when emergency
The Mazda CX3 is will give contenders in the crossover niche a shakeup with excellent handing
and those drop­dead gorgeous lines.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
braking is sensed.
At Barloworld Mazda in Pietermaritzburg,
the word is the
CX3 is only expected at month
end, but customers can already
register their interest to be first
in line for when this much anticipated
crossover arrives.
How the new Mazda will affect
the rampant sales of the Ford
Ecosport remained to be seen,
but in a market where sales are
generally expected to be at least
eight percent down, buyers with
good­condition trade­ins are
king and they can expect red carpet
treatment at both the Ford
and Mazda dealerships.
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2 WitnessWheels MOTORING
November 12, 2015
American car builder makes good on promise of 3D­printed vehicles
ALWYN VILJOEN
I HAVE long put my head on the
block by predicting our children’s
children will use cars that are
made around the corner, each
looking as unique as its owner
and sporting any number of
seats, pending the owner’s needs.
Now a group of American designers
at Local Motors have
brought this prediction a few
years closer.
Local Motors first made headlines
last year when it stunned the
automotive industry by liveprinting
the world’s first 3Dprinted
car at Sema 2014.
The group last week announced
the staff are now ready
to make a fully homologated series
of cars using direct digital
manufacturing, or DDM.
The group plans to launch a
crowdfunding campaign for people
to order an electric, 3D­printed
car, the LM3D Swim, which is
expected to launch in the second
quarter of 2016.
The price tag will be steep —
$53 000, or R735 400 before import
taxes and delivery costs.
For those who don’t like the
beach buggy design, Local Motors
said it plans to release several
different models on the same
platform throughout 2016.
The company is taking a similar
path as forged by Gordon
Murray with his istream process.
The Durban­schooled Murray
envisages a world in which craftsmen
in factories a quarter the size
of today’s car plants can weld
The LM3D Swim is electric, its printed in 3D, and you can reserve one for R735 400, delivery costs and import taxes excluded.
PHOTO: SLASHGEAR.COM
what are basically advanced roll
cages, into which small cars can
be built using lightweight materials
and various drivetrains.
Local Motors also plan to use
small­footprint microfactories in
their version of such sustainable
car building vehicle development.
All cars in the LM3D series
will be built at a new Local Motors
microfactory in Knoxville,
Tennessee.
Like the car, the off­the­shelf
electric drivetrain can be customised,
with the battery pack protected
by 10 cm of panelling in
the central tunnel. The panels are
currently printed using a blend of
80% ABS plastic and 20% carbon
fiber.
Nearly all of the body panels
and chassis are 3D printed on the
LM3D — roughly 75%. Local
Motors said it aims to eventually
make about 90% of the car using
3D printing.
Because 3D printing allows
unique shapes, Local Motors said
it plans a wide range of customizable,
aesthetic features. “Cars
can look radically different, but
be built on the same platform.”
Customers who can afford the
steep price tag for what is basically
a plastic beach buggy will also
have to take their patience pills.
In comparison to Ford South
Africa, which boasts sending a
Ranger off the test beds at Silverton
in eastern Pretoria every two
minutes 30 seconds, and Mercedes­Benz,
which claims a
“slow” five­day process to build
85% of its G­Class by hand, 3D
printing is still painstakingly
slow.
It took just over two months
to built a 3D­printed car, and
printing the unique version will
take as long. Still, bearing in mind
this process started at designing
the car, this is unprecedented
speed in the car making trade, as
anyone who ever just tried to restored
a car will also confirm.
The high price tag and long
wait for delivery invite some to
dismiss Local Motors as mere
marketing hype. But their track
record to date show this is no
Generation Z flash­in­the­pan
trend, and several companies
think so too.
Local Motors has partnered
with IBM to integrate IoT technology
through IBM Watson into
the 3D­printed car, Siemens’
Solid Edge to provide CAD modelling,
IDEO to renew Local Motors
Labs, and Sabic to improve
materials. As the company state
on its website: “There is nothing
conventional about this car, the
way it’s made, or the company behind
it.”
• alwyn.viljoen@gmail.com
Big weekend
of family fun
Dezzi’s to host some 150 drag racers at expo
SA’S MOTORING champs head
to the South Coast this weekend
for the #AllStarsWeekend at
Dezzi Raceway.
The weekend’s family fun
events will top drifting, dyno,
soundoff, parkoff and an expo on
Saturday. On Sunday, 110 drag
racers are expected to compete,
including an 7,8­second rail
dragster driven by SA’s fastest
woman, Vanessa Fourie, who
clocked 298 km/h at Tarlton; as
well as the 1 000 kW Escourt
“Door Slammer” driven by Stephan
Fouche; and an eight­second
Corvette “Funny Car” driven
by Quintin Fourie.
“We’ve also got the country’s
oldest drag racer attending,”
said event organiser Michelle Lewis.
“Reg Murray is 82 years old
and holds three national records
in three different categories.”
Murray last competed in KZN
20 years ago.
The drag racing antics will be
joined by SA’s top drifters. A full
day of stunning sideways action
by more than 15 professional
drivers will cloud up the original
Dezzi drift track.
The line­up includes Shane
Gutzeit and Paulo Gouveia in
their Nissan S15 Sylvia and Nissan
S13 respectively.
The biggest parkoff the South
Coast has yet to see will be hosted
by Gas Magazine and Amazing
Glaze. Fans can expect to see
over 150 of KZN’s most beautiful
rides line the Dezzi Raceway.
A professional dyno run by
Tuning you straight
one of SA’s top tuners, Steve
Clark, will welcome over 80 of
the most powerful cars to test
their workmanship on the Gutzeit
Clark Racing’s dyno.
Joining the action will be
SoundLab’s Sound Off competition
and international trial bike
champions, the Le Riche Brothers,
will be performing two daily
shows.
“An accessories exhibition to
rival the best in the country will
run across the weekend and fans
attending on Saturday can expect
static starts from both the
rail dragster and the door slammer
on Saturday — it’s going to
be thrilling!” said Lewis.
Tickets cost just R80 per day,
with free parking and under 12s
get in free. — WR.
HI Alwyn,
Is there any way we can get
motorists to use their indicators!?
Maybe the motorists who fail
to show where they plan to go
should all be make to ride motorcycles
for their first year of motoring.
Or are indicators an optional
extra on cars these days?
CHRIS STOREMAN
Duzi Airconditioning
cc
Dear Chris
If I knew the answer, I’d be
rich. Instead, my experience is
that drivers who fail to indicate
where they plan to go next, also
fail to notice those of us who do.
This can often be seen at
the three main exits in the
Chatterton Road circle in Pietermaritzburg,
where many drivers
are unaware that the law
says those on the left have to
yield to those on the right in
roundabouts.
While there seems to be no
foolproof way to get people to
start indicating and stop texting,
fiddling with the radio or
talking on their cellphone, I
daresay my old suggestion to
remove all airbags and weld
Shaka’s invention — the short
stabbing spear — to the steering
wheel would make drivers
pay more attention to what is
happening around them.

November 12, 2015 MOTORING WitnessWheels 3
For farmers
ONLY
ALWYN VILJOEN enjoys having no turbo lag
when taking a Fleetline uphill
ISUZU says each of the 18 bakkies it sells in South
Africa is purpose­built for a clearly defined role,
and after idling up inclines and crawling through
mud, I am inclined to typecast the Fleetline 250
DTEQ 4x4 as the perfect cattle farmer’s bakkie.
It gives you no­frills design, but lots of power
low down and all the mod cons you need to work
in comfort.
We worked it during the heat wave that Pietermaritzburg
suffered though last week and found
out that the high load bin is not user­friendly for
plumbers and sparkies — but then, none of the big
bakkies you can buy today are.
For as I always answer when asked this question,
the best bakkie you can buy for artisan’s tools and
equipment is always a panel van.
Panel vans come ready­made with a high canopy,
a low floor, the ability to carry over a ton’s payload
and gear ratios that save fuel in city traffic.
The problem with high load bins
With their high load bins, today’s big bakkies are
really only good at livestock auctions, where a loading
ramp can get the new bargains to walk onto
the high load bed.
Once loaded, the low gear ratios and 4x4 drivetrains
will then also enable the bakkies to leave
the yard’s muck where other vehicles will get stuck.
While built to make light of farm muck, the big
Isuzu offers all the comforts you can want up front.
There are big and very comfy seats, six cupholders
with two in the cold­air stream from the effective
air­con, two 12­volt sockets (one in a hidden
cubbyhole that puts your phone out of sight) and
a user­friendly Bluetooth setup that allows you to
play the music on your smartphone using the toggles
on the radio.
All the buttons are also big enough for a farmer’s
thick calloused finger to stab without hitting all
the neighbouring buttons too.
Underneath, the suspension is old­school
blades at the back and coils up front.
This means that this sixth iteration of Isuzu’s
single cab will judder noticeably over cemented
highway while driving empty to the auction, but
settle down nicely when loaded on the way back.
At a steady 120 km, (even with that load) the
wind and tyre noise will, however, drown out even
the hardest rock riffs.
But tar roads are not what this bakkie is made
for. It is on dirt where the Fleetline quietly hunkers
down like a Japanese front row, ready to take anything
South Africa can throw at it.
The joys of variable vanes
There is simply none of the turbo lag that bedevils
the ride in other bakkies, just a smooth take­off,
all thanks to a variable geometry turbocharger that
makes most of the engine’s 320 Newtons available
in any gear at almost any revs.
During the week I drove it up steep inclines, the
new, uprated 2,5­litre DTEQ turbo diesel impressed
me no end with its ability to keep the 16­
inch wheels turning.
Underneath and around the bakkie, the rugged
black plastic bumpers and side protection were designed
in Isuzu’s school of hard knocks.
Even the little wind deflectors under the B­pillar
survived the worst we subjected it to, including
a few mountainous middlemannetjies and one
spectacular axle bender that had me worrying
about riding the bakkie on its nose down an incline.
Along the way, I was lucky enough to experience
a spat of rain and took the Isuzu over a patch of
slick, black, peaty mud.
Now peaty mud, you have to understand, is not
like your normal let’s­make­you­slide­around­abit
brown mud.
As all sugar can farmers know, this stuff was
made extra sticky by Satan himself in order to clog
up the treads of spinning tyres until they are
smooth as glass.
But with four high and diff lock engaged, Satan’s
effort came to naught.
Afterwards, the black streaks also cleaned easily
off the new cloth trim used in the base models.
The price? Well … it’s more of a guideline
Service intervals are 15 000 km, which gives the
owner six services under Isuzu’s five­year or
90 000 km service plan.
A fully comprehensive five­year or 120 000 km
warranty and roadside­assistance programme take
care of unplanned breakages, while a five­year or
unlimited mileage anti­corrosion warranty puts
paid to the old rumours of rusting Isuzus.
All Isuzu bakkie prices look high, but treat that
only as the starting point of the negotiations.
With the car trade caught in a slump, it is a buyer’s
market out there with all GM dealers currently
offering specials that will last until next week.
And as new Isuzu owners will confirm, the tradeins
you stand to get are legendary.
RECOMMENDED RETAIL PRICE
Isuzu D­TEQ 250 LE 4x4 single cab R357 400.
Caddy models get sharper lines
VOLKSWAGEN Commercial Vehicles has facelifted
the Caddy. Fourteen model derivatives are
available on different wheelbases, with prices starting
at R222 400 for the 1,6 Crew Bus and topping
out at R391 600 for the Caddy Maxi Trendline 2.0
TDI.
The 1.6­litre and 2.0 TDI with 81 kW are both
available with a five­speed manual transmission,
while the 2.0 TDI with 103 kW has VW’s six­speed
A striking
horizontal
band with
integrated
air vents
and a new
infotainment
system
underline the
new Caddy’s
modern look.
PHOTO:
QUICKPIC
DSG transmission.
A two­year or unlimited kilometres warranty and
a three­year or 60 000 km Automotion Service
Plan are standard.
The new Caddy Trendline (including Alltrack)
comes standard with a three­year or 120 000 kilometre
manufacturer warranty and a three­year or
60 000 km Automotion Service Plan.
— Wheels Reporter.
Testing the more powerful 250D’s ability to go up The Slope above Pietermaritzburg in low revs,
we find a lot to like in the new Isuzu KB250 4x4.
PHOTO: ALWYN VILJOEN
PURPOSE
BUILT
TO IMPRESS.
The bakkie that’s setting the benchmark, the
all-new KB 25o Hi-Rider model now
available at Key Pietermaritzburg.
FROM ONLY
R299 999
*On-the-Road and Registration Fees excluded. Terms and Conditions apply. Model/s shown may differ. Errors &Omissions excepted.
Driven by you
TEL: 033345 2542 | 2Peter Kerchoff (Chapel Street), Pietermaritzburg
Fax: 033394 3199 |Email: pmb@keygroup.co.za |www.keygroup.co.za
93395 ADMAKERS.COM

4 WitnessWheels MOTORING
November 12, 2015
Topless Evoque finally out
Land Rover dealers in KZN expect demand to outstrip supply for these exclusive convertibles
With the top up, the Evoque Convertible is as quiet as its hard­top version. With the roof down, it has 251 litres of boot space.
PHOTO: NEWSPRESS
AFTER teasing the world for
years, Land Rover has finally unveiled
the. Range Rover Evoque
Convertible.
The designers describe this
go­almost­anywhere cabrio as a
“no compromise” vehicle for allseasons.
It is the first Range Rover
that can shed its top, yet inside
you will find all the knobs and dials
that gave Range Rover its luxury
title.
Gerry McGovern, Land Rover
design director and chief creative
officer, dismissed fears of scuttleshake,
stating: “The Evoque
Convertible has been engineered
to meet Land Rover’s most rigorous
standards, ensuring exceptional
structural rigidity, trademark
refinement, outstanding
levels of safety and unrivalled
breadth of capability.”
Breadth of capability is the
new buzzword at Landy, but
whatever it means, the sturdy
good looks of the Evoque in topless
form will be sure to garner
this fifth member of the Ranger
Rover family a more than fair percentage
of sales in the global SUV
market, which is forecast to grow
by 20% over the next five years.
McGovern said Ranger Rover
is pioneering an all­new SUV sector
in the Evoque Convertible,
and predicted the car will play a
key role in continuing Range Rover’s
45­year success story.
The fully automated roof
stows in 18 seconds and can be
raised in 21 seconds, even while
driving up to 48 km/h. Safety
hasn’t been overlooked, with a
Quite clever designs for wheeled cases
Roll­Over Protection Device featuring
deployable roll­over bars
hidden in the rear bodywork. It
deploys two aluminium bars
within 90 milliseconds in the unlikely
event of a roll­over situation,
to create a survival space for
occupants.
McGovern said that with the
top up the Evoque Convertible is
as quiet as the hard­top version
and, bonus, with the roof lowered
The marvellously clever Space Case (left) tracks itself anywhere in the world, while the
skeleton of the intrepid Trailpod (right) can carry the cooler bag over any surface on
three slanted wheels.
PHOTOS: INDIEGOGO
THE second most irritating
thing about flying — after the
long, hot wait in the bus — is
the lack of design that goes into
the wayward wheeled cases
people drag behind them.
Loud, unsprung and often
with a mind of their own, it
seems most designers of
wheeled luggage are vying to
create in real life the fractious
sapient pearwood trunk called
Luggage from Terry Pratchett’s
Discworld stories.
There are two exceptions to
this norm — the intrepid triwheeled
Trailpod, and the
marvellously clever Space
Case.
The Trailpod rides on three
sharply angled wheels attached
to independent axles
that can be pulled over just
about any surface a human can
step on. The floating axles
support an exoskeleton
around an insulated soft cooler
and can accommodate various
clip­in bags and accessories
to store 60 litres of stuff.
When not in use, the three ribs
of the exoskeleton can fold
down to just 30 cm in width.
Trailpod is now trying to
raise money to finish development
and begin production. It
is offering the Trailpod kit on
Indiegogo with pledges starting
at $149 (R2 132), which is
$100 off the estimated retail
price of $249. If the makers
reach their target, shipping
begins in August next year.
The Space Case 1 is a carryon
suitcase that is not as rugged
as the Trailpod, but almost
as smart as Pratchett’s
magical Luggage.
It has biometric fingerprint
opening for five fingerprints
so that the entire family can
use it, global tracking, a liftless
self­weighing scale, a
Bluetooth speakerphone and
a battery pack that uses airline­approved
alkaline batteries
to charge smartphones
through three USB charging
ports. There is also a Space
Case app that shows you on
your smartphone where your
suitcase is in the airport.
Separate compartments
with waterproof zippers hold
everything frequent flyers carry,
from smart dresses or dinner
jackets to laptops and cables.
The Space Case rides on
four 360­degree, 2,25­inch
rubber wheels that ensure silent
and smooth motion over
rough floors. An accelerometer
detects when the Space
Case is moving faster than a
human can walk and automatically
sets to aeroplane mode.
In a departure from the tyranny
of obsolete design, the entire
case can be easily self­repaired,
with modular parts
that just screw on.
There are six colours from
pink to black. Shortly after
launching the original pledge
campaign on Indiegogo, the
Space Case was 1 700% overfunded
on July 16. Now a second
campaign allows people
to order a Space Case for $329
(over R4 560 at the time of
print), which excludes delivery
costs, by February 2016.
there is still 251 litres of boot
space.
Land Rover said the group’s
new high­resolution 10,2­inch
touchscreen infotainment system
debuts in this Evoque, with
highly responsive and super­fast
seamless smartphone integration,
door­to­door navigation,
3G connectivity and a premium
sound system.
Land Rover’s all­aluminium
four­cylinder petrol and diesel
engines, and nine­speed automatic
transmission, power the
Evoque, underpinned by Land
Rover’s all­terrain ability with a
choice of four­wheel­drive powertrains,
Terrain Response® system,
Wade Sensing and All­Terrain
Progress Control, to ensure
Evoque really is a convertible for
all seasons, as Landy claims.
The new Range Rover Evoque
Convertible will be produced at
Land Rover’s Halewood plant in
the UK, alongside the five­door
and coupé body styles, and goes
on sale from May 2016, in more
than 170 markets worldwide, including
South Africa.
Pricing will start at £47 500 in
the UK, which currently translates
to a over a million rands in
SA, excluding import taxes.
But this model has been anticipated
for so long that Land Rover
dealerships in KZN expect to
have more demand than models.
Land Rover in Pietermaritzburg
therefore advises customers who
want to drive one of these exclusive
Evoques, to drop in and register
their interest early. — WR.
NEW CV JOINTS LIGHTER, STRONGER
BUILDERS of drift cars and after
market tuners can look forward to
the local release of new, lighter CV
joints from GKN Driveline.
This global leader in automotive
driveline technologies has developed
a new family of lightweight constant
velocity joint (CV joint) systems that
enable rear­wheel drive platforms to
save more than 4kg of weight.
Karl Berger, GKN Driveline senior
director of constant velocity joints,
said: “GKN innovations make vehicles
better to drive and more efficient.
For premium rear­wheel drive
programmes seeking CO2 emissions
reductions, this system represents a
step forward in weight, efficiency,
performance and refinement for premium
rear­wheel drive cars.”
GKN’s new VL3 CV joint increases
torque capacity by up to 27% with
no increase in packaging size.
Available in four sizes, the
VL333ISM variant now has a torque
capacity of 3 300Nm in a package
previously capable of delivering only
2 600Nm. The VL3 CV joint system
can also maintain performance while
reducing package size by approximately
seven percent.
Berger said GKN has pioneered
the development of CV joints for
more than 60 years. “The latest innovations
offer improvements in every
area of importance for automakers,
including strength, endurance, efficiency
and weight, helping to produce
a dynamic driving performance
and optimising power delivery from
the engine to the wheels. We have
also minimised backlash, which leads
to a refined driving experience.”
The VL3 has recently been named
as an Automotive News 2016 PACE
Award finalist. — WR.
For more information on
Witness Wheels advertising
Contact Avir on 084 278 3447
or Avir@witness.co.za
Adam gets swing top roof
Opel has released a limited edition of only 150 Adam
models with a swing top canvas roof, 15 mm higher road
clearance, extra cladding around the sides with front and
rear skid plates, as well as the whole list of features in
the 1,0 Adam Glam that have sparked 120 sales of this
award­winning gem of a driver’s car each month. Opel
calls the limited run the Adam Rocks, in a nod to
parkour runners, and dealers will want R273 400 for it.
PHOTO: QUICKPIC

By Pieter from Maritzburg
I had an adventure this weekend. Some of my friends took me out bungee-jumping. I’ve never been
great with heights, so at first I was very unhappy about hurling myself out into space. Once all the
safety gear had been explained to me, though, it was fantastic. I needed to know I was safe so I could
enjoy the thrill.
Buying a new car is always a big adventure; and like any good adventure it should be a mixture of
thrills and security. That’s why I’m excited to tell you about the brand new Passat Comfortline, which
is launching at Barons Pietermaritzburg.
The Passat Comfortline packs a whole lot of thrills and a whole lot of luxury into an affordable
A New Adventure
package. Speed-sensitive power steering? Check. Automatic headlight activation? Check. Acoustic
parking distance control? Check. Media system with 6.5” touch screen and 8 speakers? Check. Turbo
Stratified Injection? Check. The list of features is as long as my bungee line.
With Barons Pietermaritzburg’s unbeatable financial packages and after-sales service, you know
you’re in good hands. So take my advice: take the new Passat Comfortline out for a spin, and have
yourself an adventure!
Barons VW Pietermaritzburg can be found at 9 Armitage Road. They are committed to bringing you
quality cars and excellent service at the best possible prices ALL year round! To start hunting for your
dream vehicle, visit www.baronsvwpmb.co.za. And to book a test drive or service call (033) 845 3100.
Open Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm, and Saturdays 8am – 1pm.
Choose one to suit your needs.
European car of the year.
Purchase a Polo hatch
from R2,956* per month.
Model
Vehicle Price
Monthly
Instalments
No. of Interest Rate
Instalments Linked / Variable
Polo 66kW TSI Comfortline R229,300 R2,972* 72 7.65%*
Polo 70kW TSI BlueMotion R239,200 R2,956* 72 7.80%*
Polo 81kW TSI Highline DSG R266,400 R3,214* 72 7.41%*
Deposit
Balloon
Payment
6% 35%
(R13,758) (R80,255)
9% 35%
(R21,528) (R83,720)
10% 35%
(R26,640) (R93,240)
Total Cost Incl
fees & VAT
R294,267
R296,548
R324,647
New Passat TSI 110kW Comfortline
DSG from R4,999* per month.
The New Passat TSI 110kW Comfortline DSG standard features include:
- City Emergency Braking
- Park Distance Control
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Side and curtain airbags
- 479l Luggage space
- European Car of the Year 2015
- Electronic Stability Programme (ESP)
Model
New Passat TSI 110kW
Comfortline DSG
Vehicle Price
Monthly
Instalments
No. of Interest Rate
Instalments Linked / Variable
Deposit
Guaranteed
Future Value
Total Cost Incl
fees & VAT
R398,800 R4,999* 36 6.68%* 10.78% R242,072 R422,025
Visit us on www.baronsvw.co.za
An optional cost of R900 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate,
currently 9.5%. Note: Offers calculated on the Polo 66kW TSI Comfortline, Polo 70kW TSI BlueMotion
and Polo 81kW TSI Highline DSG range in standard specification. Instalment excludes optional extras, but
includes monthly administration fee of R57. Offers may not be used in conjunction with any other special
service or offering. Subject to bank approval. Information subject to change without prior notification.
All finance offers are subject to credit approval from Volkswagen Financial Services. Offers only available
through Volkswagen Financial Services South Africa Proprietary Limited trading as Volkswagen Financial
Services an Authorised Financial Services and Credit Provider. NCRCP6635. Terms and Conditions apply. All
the above is subject to price increase and valid until 25 November 2015.
e&oe
Visit us on www.baronsvw.co.za
An optional cost of R900 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate, currently
9.5%. Note: Offers calculated on the New Passat TSI 110kW Comfortline DSG model in standard specification.
Instalment includes initiation and monthly administration fee of R57. Total Retail Price R398,800 at a
Guaranteed Future Value of R242,072 based on 20 000km per annum Offers may not be used in conjunction
with any other special service or offering. Subject to bank approval. Information subject to change without
prior notification. All finance offers are subject to credit approval from Volkswagen Financial Services. Offers
only available through Volkswagen Financial Services South Africa Proprietary Limited trading as Volkswagen
Financial Services an Authorised Financial Services and Credit Provider. NCRCP6635. Terms and Conditions
apply. All the above is subject to price increase and valid until 25 November 2015.
e&oe
• Mileage certified • 80-point mechanical check
• Full Service history • 2-year / unlimited km warranty*
• 7-day exchange plan • Vehicle History Integrity Check
• Vehicle Customization • Balance of VW Automation Plan
• 24 Hr roadside assistance • Professional Vehicle Reconditioning
Polo Vivo
2011 Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door Silver R114 900 55 000 km
2013 Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door White R119 900 44 000 km
2014 Polo Vivo Sedan 1.4 Trendline Silver R107 900 71 000 km
2014 Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door White R132 900 26 000 km
2014 Polo Vivo Sedan 1.4 Trendline Silver R129 900 20 000 km
2015 Polo Vivo 1.4 Trendline 5 Door Silver R149 900 8 000 km
2015 Polo Vivo GP 1.6 Comfortline White R149 900 14 000 km
Polo
2012 Polo 1.6 Comfortline 5 Door Red R165 900 31 000 km
2012 Polo 1.6 TDI Comfortline 5 Door White R175 900 58 000 km
2014 Polo Sedan 1.4 Trendline White R148 900 32 000 km
2014 Polo GP 1.2 TSI Trendline White R169 900 34 000 km
2015 Polo GP 1.2 Comfortline Red R224 000 9 000 km
Golf
2011 Golf GTI 2.0 FSI DSG Red R229 000 117 000 km
2013 Golf 7 1.4 TSI Comfortline DSG White R219 900 73 000 km
2013 Golf 7 GTI 2.0 FSI DSG Red R315 000 70 000 km
2014 Golf 7 1.2 TSI Trendline Silver R208 900 28 000 km
2014 Golf 7 1.4 TSI Comfortline White R254 900 19 800 km
Jetta
2012 Jetta 1.4 TSI Comfortline Silver R179 900 57 000 km
2012 Jetta 1.2 TSI Trendline White R155 900 79 000 km
Up!
2015 Take UP! 1.0 55kW White R119 900 6 000 km
2015 Move Up! 1.0 55kW Blue R125 000 5 000 km
Other VW
2010 Scirocco 2.0 TSI White R199 900 115 000 km
2011 Tiguan 1.4 TSI Trend Silver R189 900 90 000 km
2011 Touran 2.0 TDI Comfortline Grey R204 900 78 000 km
2011 Touareg 3.6 FSI V6 Brown R349 000 39 000 km
2013 Volkswagen CC 2.0 TDI DSG BlueMotion Black R279 900 55 000 km
2015 Tiguan 1.4 TSI Trend Silver R314 900 6 000 km
2015 Touareg GP 3.0 TDI V6 Blue R679 000 14 500 km
2015 Amarok Double Cab 2.0 BiTDI 4Motion Auto Beige R489 000 15 000 km
Other
2008 Mercedes Benz A170 Blue R109 900 62 000 km
2010 Audi A5 2.0 FSI Multitronic Sportback Grey R199 900 79 000 km
2013 Hyundai Veloster 1.6 Silver R189 900 75 000 km
2013 Hyundai IX35 2.0 Silver R245 900 78 000 km
2015 Isuzu Double Cab KB300 D-Teq Auto White R379 000 16 000 km
2015 Nissan Navara Double Cab 2.5 DCI White R319 900 9 500 km
*The advised price exclude the 2 year Mastercars Warranty. The Mastercars Warranty
is available as an option and is a contract between the customer, an insurer and
administrator. This extended Warranty is not available for all Amarok and Light
Commercial Vehicle models. Terms & conditions apply. While stocks last.
Mastercars Sales Consultants: Laurie - 082 783 8040 • Rajen - 072 228 9834 • Sanjay - 083 639 0989
Barry - 072 235 4244 • Phumlani - 073 744 8350 Sales Enquiries: 033 940 1445
Visit us on www.baronsvwpmb.co.za and fi nd us on facebook.com/BaronsPietermaritzburg
Tiguan Trend & Fun from R299,900* incl. VAT
Tiguan TSI 90kW Trend & Fun for R299,900*
incl. VAT vs Tiguan 2.0 TDI 81kW Trend & Fun
for R319,900* incl. VAT
The Tiguan TSI 90kW Trend & Fun
standard features include:
- 90kW @ 5,000 r/min
- 200Nm @ 1,500-4,000 r/min
- Turbo Stratified Injection (TSI)
- 152g/km CO2 emissions
- 6-speed manual
- 16” Portland alloy wheels
Visit us on www.baronsvw.co.za
The Tiguan 2.0 TDI 81kW Trend & Fun
standard features include:
- 81kW @ 4,200 r/min
- 280Nm @ 1,750-2,500 r/min
- Turbo Diesel Injection (TDI)
- 139g/km CO2 emissions
- 6-speed manual
- 16” Portland alloy wheels
An optional cost of R4550 incl VAT will be charged for metallic paint. Note: *Linked to FNB prime rate,
currently 9.5%. Note: Offers calculated on the Tiguan TSI 90kW Trend & Fun and Tiguan 2.0 TDI 81kW Trend
& Fun models in standard specification. Instalment excludes optional extras and monthly administration
fee. Offers may not be used in conjunction with any other special service or offering. Subject to bank
approval. Information subject to change without prior notification. All finance offers are subject to credit
approval from Volkswagen Financial Services. Offers only available through Volkswagen Financial Services
South Africa Proprietary Limited trading as Volkswagen Financial Services an Authorised Financial Services
and Credit Provider. NCRCP6635. Terms and Conditions apply. All the above is subject to price increase and
valid until 25 November 2015.
e&oe
BP Advertising
Barons Pietermaritzburg
9 Armitage Road, Pietermaritzburg, 3201 • Tel: 033 845 3100
New Sales Consultants
Alison Wiltshire – Sales Manager • John Brown • Merglin Rama • Menzi Ngubane
Bahle Bhengu • Erica Neff • Thando Gumede • Keshnee Pillay
Sales Enquiries: 033 940 1445

6 WitnessWheels MOTORING
November 12, 2015
Merc lights it up
Fleet operators celebrate success with the Daimler Group
A full­size N3 Gateway map is now available at official
tourists nodes on the highway.
GRAPHIC: SUPPLIED
GATEWAY TO N3 AVAILABLE
THE latest annual N3 Gateway
map is now available at the 13
official N3 Gateway tourist
nodes situated in the N3.
The map shows activities
and tourist attractions presented
by members of tourism associations,
co­operatives and municipalities
that have elected to
become members of N3 Gateway.
First launched in 2008, the
map and cartoon characters
were developed by Darin Michau
in collaboration with Des
van Tonder of Des Designs and
each edition has become a rare
collector’s keepsake in their
own right. — WR.
The real ‘Back to the Future’
U.S. company Terrafugia this week announced it
is on track with its plans to build a viable flying
car, but not quite as predicted for 2015 in the
movie Back to the Future. The Terragugia is still
far from going on sale as testing continues.
PHOTO: TERRAFUGIA
MERCEDES­BENZ on Monday
formally announced its biggest
deal yet, with 300 trucks worth
close to half a billion rands sold
to Imperial Logistics.
Head of Mercedes­Benz
Trucks, Clinton Savage, said that
the deal is the single biggest deal
yet for the group, which is why
Imperial Logistics was judged
most worthy, from clients in 150
countries, to receive the millionth
truck built in Germany.
To mark the group’s appreciation
for the deal and formally
hand over the millionth Actros
truck tractor produced in Germany,
clients and media were invited
to a week­long celebration of the
power of impossibilities on the
banks of the Vaal River in Vanderbjilpark.
A sunset cruise down the river
between the Free State and Gauteng
was followed by helicopter
flips to the FNB Stadium, where
a massive laser light show recreated
seemingly three­dimensional
images of trucks, animals —
even a shark eating one of several
parachutists as he landed in the
dark.
Executive director of Daimler
Trucks and Buses, Kobus van Zyl,
explained the power of impossibilities
concept by referring to
various highlights in the group’s
recent history. These include the
group introducing leased financing
and then underwriting over
a billion rand for cars and trucks
in October last year, and surprising
the geeks in Germany by making
telematics work in Africa.
Van Zyl said that when South
Africa asked for the group’s telematic
system called Fleetboard,
Germany suggested pinging a
truck every half hour.
“In this time a truck can be stolen
twice in Africa! Now one of
our dealers shows real­time diesel
consumption across the fleet on
a screen, to show clients how
Fleetboard constantly monitors
each truck,” said Van Zyl.
He recalled how it snowed in
Pretoria when the group
launched a used­truck division,
which now sells over 700 trucks
a year, about a third of which go
north to other African states.
Van Zyl told Wheels that this
percentage will improve, as Africa
is a very important sales channel
for all the brands sold by the
group, namely Fuso, Freightliner,
Event co­ordinator Melissa Klein prepares for the first day of a week­long trucking party on the
banks of the Vaal River, where Mercedes­Benz this week treated clients and formally handed
the millionth Actros truck tractor (in the background) made in Germany to Imperial Logistics,
which is Merc’s most worthy client in 150 countries.
PHOTO: ALWYN VILJOEN
Western Star and Merc trucks.
Another milestone was the introduction
of American­style
“nose trucks”, which fleet operators
said were too long for South
Africa’s legislation, but which
now dominate the truck recovery
scene and pull the longest road
trains in Africa at Richards Bay
Minerals.
The recent launch of the first
medium trucks built in Daimler’s
new plant India, which is on par
with any factory in Germany,
showed another impossible
made possible.
The many passengers using
the Gautrain buses, all of which
are build by Mercedes­Benz, is
another success that the doubters
never saw coming.
Van Zyl added that Daimler
South Africa is obviously about
making sales, but the process of
making money starts by making
magic with the best people.
“We don’t want to sell the
most trucks, we want to make a
difference in the lives of our stakeholders,”
said Van Zyl. — WR.
‘Lurkers’ will make final cross country challenging at Mooi River 250
A STRONG field of 31 competitors
in cars and on quads have
entered the final round of this
years KZN cross country championship
which will be held in
Mooi River this weekend.
With the championship positions
having been all but decided
at the previous round in Harding,
a no holds barred outlook should
be expected from all the competitors.
Daniel Brookes and Gavan
Gray have won the club and class
a championship, but will earn
some extra respect by winning
on Saturday. They will have to
contend with a number of crews
who for one reason or another
have a big score to settle.
Arthur Barns has had two accident
related retirements in a row,
almost within sight of the start
each time.
Lance Trethewey will be out in
his monster Bat Venom and will
have a point to prove considering
how close he was to winning the
National championship this year.
After his successful season in
the national cross country championship,
Gareth Woolridge will
also be giving everyone a show
with the impressive Ford Ranger
that he campaigned in this years
National series.
The Class B championship for
two­litre vehicles is certain to go
the way of Rob Spencer and Kevin
Theron.
All they must do is ensure they
reach the finish line, with second
placed Marcus Taylor and Trace
Price Moor the only crew with
a mathematical chance of stealing
the title. Manfred Schroder,
driving a Zarco, will be worth
watching as he is very competitive
and generally wins or breaks.
The clubman’s class has a
GRAPHIC: SUPPLIED
strong entry for this event on will
be hotly contested. as will be the
quad bike category.
With conditions at this stage
being extremely hot and dry, dust
will prove to be a big problem for
everyone, and to compound the
problem the Mooi River area is
well known for “lurkers” or rocks
which line the edges, and often
middle of the track.
Often in the past though, organising
an off road race has
brought out the rain, so conditions
may be very different.
The race will be based at the
Mooi River polo cross grounds
on Timm’s Farm, about an hour’s
drive from Pietermaritzburg and
come rain or shine, the day’s
events promise petrolheads the
best action all weekend.
The prologue starts at 7.30 am.
The main race will start at 10 am.
Thanks to the six sponsors including
Tillit Contracting, Maverick
contracting, Inland Recovery,
KKK logistics, Brokenshas
Delta Estcourt and RM transport.
— Own Correspondent.
Directions
To get to Timm’s Farm, turn off
the R103 onto the P18 and follow
the orange markers.
Entry is free but the marshalls
have to be obeyed.

November 12, 2015 MOTORING WitnessWheels 7
New technology to cut fuel consumption, CO2 emissions significantly
Merc staff proving diesel consumption and CO2 emissions can
be significantly reduced with an integrated approach.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Mitsubishi SA offers
‘softer, quieter’ Triton
MITSUBISHI Motors South Africa
(MMSA) has confirmed that
its next­generation Triton pickup
range will be available in
Southern African markets from
mid­2016.
“We are delighted to confirm
the introduction of the all­new
Triton in the local market. In
countries where it’s already been
launched, automotive journalists
who have driven the new Triton
were extremely complimentary
about the quiet car­like drive it
offers. The softer and quieter
SUV type ride, complemented by
the functionality of a traditional
load bin, prompted Mitsubishi’s
engineers to label it a Sport Utility
Truck (SUT),” said Wynand
Pretorius, chief operations officer
(COO) of MMSA.
This is the fifth generation
Mitsubishi
pickup
and by far
its most
advanced
commercial
vehicle to date.
The new model
has already started raking in accolades
in countries where it has
been introduced, including that
of 2015 Truck of the Year by Auto
Express in the UK.
The sleek and flowing design
of the new Triton results in a
dynamic and elegant look, as well
as improved aerodynamic performance
that contributes to
better fuel efficiency.
The new Triton boasts a bold
grill framed by bi­xenon lights,
strongly accentuated flanks and
a larger load bay. “The new design
harks back to the popular
Colt, which was the top­selling
pick­up in South Africa in the early
2000s,” said Pretorius.
The unique J­line design that
was introduced on the current
Triton range back in 2007 is retained
in a more conventionallooking
way on the new model
and helps give double cab passengers
with class­leading interior
length and overall comfort.
Seat shapes have been updated
with thicker side bolsters and
tighter support for drivers to
maintain a natural driving position
and to reduce driver fatigue
on long journeys.
The Triton’s innovative design
results in a class­leading turning
circle of only 5,9 metres and
makes it a pleasure to drive in
PHOTO: QUICKPIC
congested urban areas and harsh
off­road conditions alike.
The fully revised suspension
enables car­like ride comfort and
superb driving stability. Stiffer
suspension springs and expanded
stabilisers in front reduce
body roll, provide quicker handling
response and ensure a safer
ride when the driver is required
to make sudden manoeuvres to
avoid obstacles. The combination
of finely­tuned rear shock
absorbers and an extension of
the rear leaf springs further contribute
to a quieter and more
comfortable ride.
The jewel in the new Triton’s
crown certainly is its new­generation
2,4­litre turbo diesel engine.
Its quick response at low revolutions,
along with the improved
aerodynamic design of the new
Triton, drastically improves
fuel
consumption,
responsiveness
and
acceleration.
The six­speed
manual and fivespeed
automatic gearboxes contribute
to a smooth and nimble
driving experience similar to that
of passenger cars.
This new light­weight engine
produces 133 kW and a whopping
430 Nm of torque and is
matched to a choice of two newly
developed transmissions resulting
in responsive acceleration
performance. Numerous noise
insulators, noise absorbing­ and
damping materials are applied in
many parts of the body to further
reduce NVH levels.
The decision to construct the
cylinder block from aluminium
(another world­first from Mitsubishi’s
engineers) resulted in a
further 30 kg overall weight reduction.
The lighter overall body
construction contributes to improved
responsiveness, excellent
handling and improved braking
reaction — all without compromising
on safety considerations
or work­load ability. The top­ofthe­range
4x4 double cab derivatives
will offer Mitsubishi’s
unique state­of­the­art Super Select
II 4­wheel drive system,
which is also used in the Pajero
and Pajero Sport ranges. This system
offers four types of driving
modes including full­time 4WD
and 2WD which improves cornering
performance. — WR.
The new Fiat bakkie that is coming to SA next year, able to carry over a ton, on either 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrains.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
ALWYN VILJOEN
STUTTGART/ BERLIN — Using
technologies available on the
market, the fuel consumption,
and therefore the CO2 emissions,
of modern truck combinations
can be reduced by a double­digit
percentage.
This was the finding of a field
test, the results of which were
presented this week in Berlin by
Daimler Trucks together with the
project participants. These results
from field tests with the
name Efficiency Run will be of
great significance in the future
for achieving CO2 targets for
road freight transport.
This is because the Efficiency
Run has demonstrated that fuel
consumption, and therefore also
CO2 emissions, can be significantly
reduced — also at lower
cost — if optimisation efforts focus
not just on the engine of the
tractor unit, but on the vehicle
as a whole. Additional significant
CO2 reductions, which could add
up from factors like specific fuels,
fleet operations or driver trainings,
have not yet been considered
in this field test.
The series of tests was conducted
by Daimler Trucks in cooperation
with the leading German
logistics companies DB
Schenker Logistics, Grosse­Vehne
and Elflein. This involved genuine
freight being driven on genuine
routes under realistic conditions.
The tests were supervised
in detail by the Dekra testing organisation,
which laid down the
test conditions, carried out the
measurements and evaluated the
results. One of the key results:
The two Mercedes­Benz Actros
standard semi­trailer combinations
that were optimised for the
Efficiency Run each consumed
around 12 to 14% less fuel than
standard semi­trailer combinations
of the respective transport
companies based on their fleets
in 2014. The Efficiency Run also
investigated the potential of the
Long Combination Vehicle —
once again with a clear result. In
the test, the standard Long Combination
Vehicle showed a reduction
in consumption of around
17% compared with the standard
semi­trailer combination used in
volume­based transport.
The goal now is to adopt an
integrated approach with commercial­vehicle
manufacturers,
body/tyre suppliers, logistics
companies and, last but not least,
politicians.
HOT on the heels of the news of
Renault’s Oroch bakkie, Fiat unveiled
one of the most anticipated
one­tonners yet in the bakkie
world to the world’s media at the
Dubai Motor Show on Tuesday.
Developed in tight secrecy under
the code­name Projecto Fiat
226, the latest bakkie from Fiat
is called the Fullback and will be
a boon for Johan Cloete, Fiat’s
new project manager of Fiat Development
to oversee a campaign
to get more people to buy
Fiat’s commercial vehicles,
which includes facelift derivatives
of the Ducato and Fiorino
vans as well as the Ducato Van,
Minibus and Motorhome Chassis­cab.
Cloete has extensive commercial­vehicle
industry experience,
spanning more than 40 years,
having previously worked in retail
as well as at OEM level for
Daimler Trucks presented this
concept together with other European
manufacturers at the
2014 IAA for Commercial Vehicles.
The objective of the integrated
approach is to optimise the
entire truck/transport system.
In addition to the tractor unit,
consideration is given also to the
semitrailer (e.g. weights and dimensions,
air resistance, lightweight
design), tyres (e.g. rolling
resistance, air pressure, single
tyres) and fuel (e.g. biofuel, natural
gas). Yet the integrated approach
also attaches importance
to vehicle operation (e.g. driver
training, cargo pooling), infrastructure
and the issue of fleet renewal.
The Efficiency Run has
now demonstrated that the integrated
approach works in realworld
practice. — Supplied.
Fiat joins SA’s
hot bakkie race
Vehicle developed in tight secrecy under code­name Projecto Fiat 226
V JOHAN CLOETE
Fiat’s new project manager,
Fiat Development
“We are serious about the future
viability of the Fiat Professional brand
in South Africa and believe its presence
can be strengthened through the LCV
development programme I have been
tasked with heading up.”
Mercedes­Benz, Freightliner,
FUSO, Volkswagen Commercial
Vehicles and most recently MAN
Trucks.
“We are serious about the future
viability of the Fiat Professional
brand in South Africa and
believe its presence can be
strengthened through the LCV
development programme I have
been tasked with heading up,”
commented Cloete.
The new Fiat bakkie will come
to South Africa’s shores next
year on 4x2 or 4x4 drivetrains,
powered by a 2,5 turbo diesel or
a 2,4 petrol, both with five speed
transmissions and both licenced
to carry 1,1 tons.
Fiat’s bakkie roots go all the
way back to the 1951 Woody and
follows in the highly successful
tyre­tracks of the half­ton Fiat
Strada that was sold locally until
2012, as well as Fiat’s less successful
2007 collaboration with
Tata to build and sell a bakkie in
Argentina.

8 WitnessWheels MOTORING
November 12, 2015
Rotax karting at its finest
10 South Africans among 288 drivers taking part in 2015 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals
THIS week in Portimao, on the
beautiful Algarve coast of Portugal,
10 South African kart racers
will take on the world’s best drivers
at the 2015 Rotax Max Challenge
Grand Finals.
This year sees the 16th running
of the Grand Finals, effectively the
world championship for the Rotax
karting series which has revolutionised
kart racing in the past
two decades. The Rotax organisers
point out that the 288 drivers
competing at the Kartodromo Internacionale
do Algarve — part of
a huge motorsport complex located
in the Algarve’s second­largest
city — have earned their place in
the finals as the top racers in 2015
in their respective countries,
where some 15 000 Rotax karters
raced across the globe.
The Rotax series is unique in
many ways, most notably that, unlike
many other karting championships,
only champions, or vicechampions
in their countries may
take part in the series. This means
that the level of competition in
the Grand Finals is the highest in
the world, and to ensure even
tighter competitions, all drivers
compete in brand­new identical
kart chassis with brand­new identical
engines, supplied by Rotax of
Austria — so, no special tuning or
modifying.
The Rotax Grand Finals 2015
got underway on Sunday, November
8 with a welcoming ceremony,
with the action due to start on
track at the Kartodromo today,
November 10, after the drivers
have taken delivery of their brand
new karts via a raffle system. In
addition to the karts, each driver
receives a kart trolley, tyres and fuel
for the week­long competition
and tools. No other race series in
the world offers this level of support
to its competitors.
By a series of qualifying and
elimination heats the top 34 drivers
from around the world in each
of the four Rotax classes will fight
for the world championships on
Saturday, November 14. The Finals
action starts early on Saturday
morning, and viewers here in
South Africa can follow the action
via live­streaming video, by going
to www.rotax­kart.com, and activating
the video option.
South Africa has an amazing
record in the history of the Rotax
Max Challenge Grand Finals, run
each year since 2000. No less than
12 World titles have been won by
South Africans in this ultra­competitive
karting arena.
Gavin Cronje won the very first
Grand Finals in Peurto Rico in
2000 and since then our World
Champions include Claudio Piaz­
Each of the 288 competitors from around the world receive brand new karts, engines, tyres, kart trolleys and tools to compete
in the 2015 Rotax Grand Finals in Portugal.
PHOTO: MOTORPRESS
za­Musso, Mark Cronje, Cristiano
Morgado (four titles), Wesleigh
Orr (two titles), Leeroy
Poulter and Caleb Williams (two
titles). In the 2014 Grand Finals
in Spain, South Africa won the
prestigious Nations Cup, so this
year’s team has a huge reputation
to live up to.
DD2 GEARBOX
2015 South African DD2 Champion
is Bradley Liebenberg. Bradley
is only 16 years old, but this pupil
at Crawford College in Lonehill,
Sandton, has made his mark in a
remarkably short space of time.
He won championships in his
rookie year in 2012, including the
Africa Open championship in the
Junior Max class, and in 2014 he
won both the Junior Max and
DD2 Gearbox national titles, at
the age of 15 the youngest driver
ever to win in DD2.
2015 Africa Open DD2 Champion
Chad Maciver started karting
at a young age and in 2007
he was SA GP Junior Champion.
Since then, this 20­year­old student
at the Vega School of Brand
Leadership in Gauteng has a number
of karting titles to his credit,
including the 2012 Senior Max
Regional championship and the
South African Senior Max Championship
that same year.
SENIOR MAX CHALLENGE
2015 South African Senior Max
Champion Jonathan Aberdein
has had a remarkable career in
karting. He started just four years
ago, and in 2015 he was on course
to win both the Senior Max titles
and DD2 titles in the SA
Championship, before opting
to concentrate on winning the
Senior Max crown, which he
did in fine style.
2015 Africa Open Senior
Max Champion Jordan Sherratt
is 16 years old and hails
from Umhlanga and he attends
the Two Bridges School in Durban
North. He started karting
in the Cadet class at the age of
six, and he has since won two
titles in the Junior Max Class,
in 2013 and 2014. This year he
did not compete for a National
Championship karting title as
he has also embarked on a car
racing career, racing a Ford Focus
in the local Extreme Festival
and a Nissan 350Z, and he is also
on a short list for a drive in
the Audi TT series in Europe
in 2016.
DD2 MASTERS
2015 Africa Open DD2 Masters
Champion Michael Stephen
(34) has won a total of 11 South
African Championships, seven
of them in karts and four of
them in production cars. He
has competed extensively in international
karting, and in
2003 he finished fourth in the
Rotax Max Challenge Grand
Finals held at Zwartkops, near
Pretoria. Since then he has
made a name for himself in Production
Car racing, winning
three SA titles for the Audi
team, which he manages as
well.
2015 SA DD2 Masters
Champion Ronnie Baptista,
known as Ronnie to his friends
in the karting fraternity, won
both the SA DD2 Masters title
and the Regional title in 2015.
It was a fine effort, after a sabbatical
from karting.
Max title is quite remarkable, as
he was competing against many
youngsters who have up to a decade
of racing experience. Dino
was awarded the Driver of the
Year trophy in the Western Province
in his very first season in
2014, and his 2015 Junior Max Na­
cars
AND
tional title rewarded the faith
shown by karters in his “home
town”.
2015 Africa Open Junior Max
Champion Delano Fowle is just 16,
but he has already logged a decade
of karting experience, having begun
racing at the age of five! He
began showing serious form last
season when he finished second
in the Western Province Junior
Max series and third in the South
African Junior Max Championship.
His win in the Africa Open
Championship rewarded a few
years of running right at the sharp
end of the field in Junior Max.
• While not competing as South
Africans, three young karters
who are based in SA will be
competing as Portuguese nationals
in the Micro Max series
in Portimao. SA does not run a
Micro Max series here, so these
youngsters do not form part of
the official SA Team. Those
competing are Cameron Dias,
Joshua De Paiva and Daniel Paiva.
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The other Cameron Dias races karts at international level.
PHOTO: MOTORPRESS
JUNIOR MAX
2015 South African Junior Max
Champion Dino Stermin is 16
years old and only started karting
two years ago. Thus his
achievement in winning the
very competitive Rotax Junior
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