Racers go all out in national finale

Despite fewer entries for Saturday’s sixth and final leg of the 2025 National Championships, the racing battles on the track were fierce, with competitors giving their best performances.

A highlight was the intense track battle between Alan Martin and Deon Friedenthal during the second of the three heats.

Martin, driving a Volkswagen Golf, had to draw on all his skill, navigating between fourth and sixth gear due to a faulty fifth gear.

Friedenthal capitalised on Martin’s technical issue, but neither driver eased up as both pressed hard for the win.

Ultimately, Martin’s experience and skill proved decisive, earning him the victory by a winning margin of seconds.

After the race, Friedenthal told TopRevs it was a fun contest, as always, against the more experienced Martin.

“His Golf is fast, and I had to keep up,” Friedenthal said.

Martin concurred, stating the race was “insane” despite his mechanical handicap.

“Nobody gave anything for nothing; I had to fight for that position,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ekko Eisenberg, behind the wheel of his powerful V8 Lumina, not only kept fellow racers on their guard but also thrilled spectators with the roaring sound of the car at full throttle.

Eisenberg acknowledged the value of seeing spectators cheering trackside.

“It (the Lumina) is a lovely car to drive. It is like a dream come true, but I have to look after the brakes because they get hot, and it makes the race a bit more difficult,” he said.

Namibia’s high temperatures naturally affect the cars, requiring drivers to constantly monitor their vehicles to prevent overheating during the races.

Racers used the opportunity after each lap to service and repair their cars before rejoining the track.

Richard Slamet, the chairperson of the Windhoek Motor Club (WMC), admitted that 2025 was a difficult year for the sport.

They started slowly and often struggled to get cars on the track.

He attributed this to various factors, noting that almost all racers are privateers competing from their own pockets, and sponsorships are becoming harder to secure.

However, Slamet noted that the year was not all doom and gloom. As the season progressed, drivers sorted out their cars and returned to the tracks.

“Today was well attended and was an awesome day. I would like to see what the 2025 season brought up to see where everyone ended,” Slamet said on Saturday.

“But at the end of the day, we ended well and strong.”

Slamet took the opportunity to thank everyone involved throughout the season, including marshals and officials, Ash-Med International for providing medical services and a fully equipped ambulance, the media (including The Namibian and Kosmos 94.1), and M+Z Motors for making pace cars available for each event.

Slamet is optimistic that the strong comeback of the racing teams bodes well for a “super year” in the 2026 season.
Results
Clubmans Class B: First – Eisenberg, second – Martin, third – Friedenthal
Clubmans Class C: First – Clive Strydom, second – Cecil Koorts, third – Marius van Zyl
Clubmans Class D: Horazio ‘Rassie’ Rietz.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.