High flyers honoured at motorsport awards

Two prominent figures in motorsport were recently awarded for their role in developing and promoting motocross (MX).

Both Ingo Waldschmidt and Andreas Brendel were acknowledged by the Namibia Motorsport Federation (NMSF) for their role in the development of the code.

Receiving the accolades from NMSF president Daniel Tjongarero from the federation was the first-ever acknowledgement in the ‘Hall of Fame’ award category.

“I believe it is deserving for everyone in motorsport in recognition of what they have done – not only for the sport, but also bringing the sport where it is today,” Tjongarero said at the recent awards ceremony.

Waldschmidt and Brendel are involved on and off the tracks with arranging events, managing, coaching as well standing in as track officials.

Waldschmidt has been involved in MX and enduro for 35 years, and was Namibia’s first private Dakar Rally participant.

“It is really inspiring, and I’ve learnt early in my life cutting corners is pointless. Stick to the book,” he said in his acceptance speech.

He said it is inspiring to see how many youngsters are taking up MX.

Meanwhile, Brendel, also a veteran in the sport, said the sport is not all about racing, but also about a lot of organising and planning.

“… and taking our riders to other countries to participate so they can get experience,” he said.

They are seen on and off the tracks at MX races to assist and ensure everything runs smoothly.

Tjongarero said it is his wish that everyone who excels in the sport is awarded.

Chairperson of the Windhoek Motor Club (WMC) Richard Slamet on behalf of the club thanked all the sponsors involved in events, in patricular M+Z Motors.

Around 10 motorised sport codes were selected for award categories for performance during the 2023 racing season.

The prize-giving event was scheduled for earlier this year, but was postponed.

For the first time ever in the Namibian motorsport history two new codes, spinning and e-sport, were added to the portfolio.

NMSF and WMC Awards
Circuit racing (first, second and third place):
Super cars: MP Pretorius, Zachary Martin and Richard Slamet Jr
Clubman’s Class A: Bazil van Rhyn (WMC), Richard Slamet Sr and Richard Slamet Jr
Clubman’s Class B: Michel Rust, Hein Bisschoff and Micheal Strydom
Clubman’s Class C: Ewald Bisschoff, Marius van Zyl and Bazil van Rhyn
Clubman’s Class D: Wayne Rust, Ewald Bisschoff and Mathew Strydom
Clubman’s E: Pieter Greeff, Clive Strydom (WMC), Jan Everson (WMC)
Clubman’s Class F: Graig Bisschoff, André Havenga (WMC) and Chané Havenga (WMC)
Clubman’s Class A, B, C Group: van Rhyn, Rust and Hein Bisschoff.
Clubman’s Class D, E, F Group: Wayne Rust, Ewald Bisschoff and Mathew Strydom

2023 Namibia Enduro Championships: (first, second and third place)
Class 2 pro open: Quinton van Rooyen, Keanu Weber-Trianus and Henner Rusch.
Class 5 senior pro: Heiko Stranghoner, Horn Greiter and Gernot Bahr.
Class 7 Intermediate: Rian Kritzinger, Horst Bekker and Brandon Joling.

Namibia E-sport championship.
E-sport Circuit: Adriaan Nel, Huandre du Toit and Jandre Dippenaar.
Namibia E-sport Rally: Jaco Wiese, Dippenaar and du Toit.

Oval tracks:
Hotrods: Eugene Swart, Louis de Kock and Bertus van den Heever.
4-cylinders: van der Heever, Jacobus van Dyk and Jolandie van Dyk.
V8’s: Frikkie Engelbrecht and Willy van Wyk, Jaco van Dyk**

2023 Namibia Rally-Challenge Championships. CR-Class
Rally overall drivers: Loic Bathfield, Ekko Eisenberg and Kritzinger.
Rally Overall navigators: Johan Steyn, Horazio “”Rassie Rietz, and Ian Stander.
Rally Challenge CR-1: driver : Bathfield, Eisenberg and Kritzinger.
Rally Challenge CR-1: Navigator: Steyn, Rietz and Stander.
Rally Challenge CR-2: driver, Werner Bartch.
Rally Challenge CR-2: Christel Fourie.

Namibia ROK karting Championship:
Mini Rok: Cecil koorts (jr), Kirsten Koudelka and Joane Kotze.
Kid Rok: Kristopher Koudelka, Hermann Schouw and JP du Plooy.
Bambino: Miko Botha, Ned Hannan and Gury dos Santos.
Maxterino: Joubert Espach and Travis Nell.
Micro Max: Nande Kaiyamo, Mandume Kaiyamo and Malan Coetzee.
Mini Max: Paul Oosthuizen, Jan-Hendrik Coetzee and Heinrich Roos.
Senior Max: Darius Kotze, Chucky van Dyk and Kobus Reinecke.
DD 2: Ivan Vorster, Justin Beulker and Zain Beuthin.
DD 2 Masters: Mark Villinger and Quinton Liebenberg.

2023 Namibia Spinning Championships.
Kyle van Wyk and Enzo Snyders.

Motocross (MX)
50cc junior: Miko Botha.
Open Class: Mark Sternagel and Don-Ray Botha.
KOTD: Sternagel and Botha.

Karting.
Mini Rok: Koortz (jnr), Kirsten Koudelka and Kotze.
Kid Rok: Kristopher Koudelka, Schouw and Milla Botha.
Bambino: Miko Botha, Hannam and Katherine Koudelka.
Max Terino: Espach.
Micro Max: Fischer, Jean Steytler and Espach.
Mini M ax: Mario Neves and Joshua Hanstein.
Senior Max: Darius Kotze, Jacobus van Dyk and Handree Espach.
DD2 and DD@ Masters: Mark Villinger.

Rally Class Navigators:
Class 2: Chané Havenga.
Class 3: Katja Pretorius and Wayne Rust.
CR-1: Steyn, Rietz and Hein Bisschoff.
Overall rally class Navigators: chané Havenga, Preorius and Rust.
Overall Rally Challenge: Steyn, Rietz and Hein Bisschoff.

Drivers:
Overall Rally Class:
Rolf Pretorius and Michael Kotze.
Navigators: Chané Havenga, Katja Pretorius and Wayne Rust.

Overall Rally Challenge:
Drivers: Bathfield, Eisenberg and Ewald Bisschoff.
Navigators: Steyn, Rietz and Hein Bisschoff.