Best racing circuit ever ! Such a great tragedy that they changed it !

Wow! Thats my dad, Errol Shearsby in 5th place at the start.

Wow. So amazing to see this again after all these years. I never forgot this race even though I was only a teenager when I last saw it.

I was watching from Crowthorne one of the greatest races in SA racing history that day. I thought we are seeing two of the world's greatest drivers in action. Seemingly one was not such a great sportsman as he was a racer, and he ended the Silhouette series there and then. Shame on you mr Scheckter. We worshipped your family up to that day. After that you were down graded to junk status just like the SA economy. I see I commented on this a year a go too. Has to watch it every now and then. :)

the old Kyalami circuit was one of the finest racetracks worldwide, pity they turned it into a mickey mouse circuit

one of the racers sent this to me by email ... This video is worth watching to the climactic end. It is of S.African champions Ian Scheckter in his BMW 3.5 vs Sarel van der Merwe in his Escort 3.5 V6 Cosworth, in the short lived South African Manufacturers championship - which allowed only S.African built sedans, using any engine from within a motor group - such as a Rover V8 in a mini, or a Porsche engine in a VW. The regulations allowed max 5 litre engines, push rod, weighing 1100 kgs, or 3.5 Litre OHC engines weighing 1000 kgs or 2.5. Litre engines turbocharged weighing 950 kgs. Any chassis under the bodywork was allowed, and the body could be fibreglass replica !! The BMW and Escort you see are chopped 150 mm, below the doors. I was contracted to design, build and drive a Fiat 131 with a Ferrari 2.5 l turbocharged engine and gearbox for the series. A pic of this Fiat is attached, which was proved quickest until the Ferrari gearbox let go on its first outing, and then unfortunately Fiat withdrew from the South African market, a race or two before this one, ending my contract. Note the massive wheels for the 600hp engine - and the tubular chassis. With fibreglass bodywork, it weighed 950 kgs. The massive cost of these cars and lack of reflection of the manufacturer’s cars they were trying to attract, ended it within a year or so.

This was the finest race of the Manufacturers' Championship. What a pity that Scheckter adopted a 'win at all costs' attitude that killed the fun for everybody and endangered Sarel's life in the process. Despite having a clearly faster car, the only way Scheckter could beat vd Merwe was to take him out. Small man syndrome.

Good old 80s hay.

Ex Zakspeed Gp5 with Cosworth GAA fitted. Very Cool!! Thanks for posting.

Wow, thanks a lot for this long clip, If you have any other videos/Beta you want converted, i will do it free of charge on the old racing videos.

This was the end of Silhouette racing. Ian must have been really frustrated cause he just kept on pushing Sarel even when the Escort was already sideways. I cannot remember what the finale outcome of the hearing was, but looks like Ian was naughty here. I watched this race from Crowthorne, we saw it coming, two massively good and aggressive drivers. Thanks for the post!

SvdM got some of his own meds, I guess. Never knew the E30 was already in SA, 1980.

Ek het nooit van mnr sheckter gehou nie. Hy was altyd n bully gewees op die baan as hy agter daai stuurwiel ingklim het. Nie net hier maar oorsee ook as hy daar gery het. 'Win at all cost!' Agreed money and sponsorship was important but the comment saying him bei g a bit naughty? He could have seriously injured sarel or even have killed him that day with his ungentleman like sportsmanship and behaviour

Ian saw red mist, a great race up to that point. The backmarkers created the trouble that led to that, but Jukskei really wasn’t the place to pass

Sorry I'm not sure if its a age thing...but dem days ...

Typical of bmw of the day, but coming to think of it, they remain like that nowadays too..... Just watch them at a 4 way stop!

Watched it again. I was there. Nail biting times. These guys shared basically the same temperament. Sarel would have done the same. Nobody can loose. I suppose that's the winning spirit.

What does that stupid commentator mean that Schecktor has had enough, so its okay to push him of the road? Nuts!

Lewis Hamilton obviously watched this a learned how to play dirty. He also did same to a Dutchman.

sound ?????