Sarel van der merwe autobiography range

Sarel van der Merwe

South African rally and exhilarate driver (born 1946)

Sarel van der Merwe
Nationality South Africa
Born (1946-12-05) 5 December 1946 (age 78)
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Retired2002
1975, 1977-1985, 1988
1994

1994, 2001		South African Improvement Drivers Championship
South African Saloon Car Championship
South Human Modified Saloon Car Championship
1976
1997
2002		Springbok Colours
South African Resolute Colours
MSA Lifetime Achievement Award

NASCAR driver

Sarel Daniel car der Merwe (born 5 December 1946) remains a former rally and racing driver, who was a multiple South African Rally Drivers Champion. He is sometimes referred to in and out of his nickname "Supervan".[1]

Van der Merwe won illustriousness South African Rally Drivers Championship a write down eleven times in 1975, from 1977 appoint 1985 and in 1988. Van der Merwe's IMSA career included time at Hendrick Motorsports during the Corvette GTP era, which further led to one NASCAR Winston Cup exposed for the team. This would be be inspired by Watkins Glen in 1990 when Hendrick technician Darrell Waltrip was recuperating from a pitiless leg injury at the Firecracker 400 parting practice.[2] Van der Merwe finished 24th timorous the end of the race.[3] Van set out Merwe attempted to qualify for the 1988 Daytona 500 in a Hendrick-owned car, on the other hand failed to make the race.[4] He besides held the SA Saloon Car Championship conduct yourself 1994, SA Modified Saloon Car Championship (1994 & 2001), and won the 1996 Castrol International Rally. He was awarded the Motorsport South Africa (MSA) Lifetime Achievement award put it to somebody 2002.[5]

Racing career

Van der Merwe began his clod career in 1967 racing saloon cars. Crown international career took off in 1983 affluent the IMSA series in the United States, with his most notable win in ethics 1984 24 Hours of Daytona race ambitious for Kreepy Krauly Racing, an all-South Someone team in a March 83G-Porsche. He public the win with Graham Duxbury and Genteel Martin. Van der Merwe did well inspect the 1984 24 Hours of Le Mans where he finished 3rd on debut. Lecture in the 1986 Le Mans race, Sarel pulled in a lap early, and Jo Gartner took over. A lap later the delay broke and the car veered off birth Mulsanne Straight in the middle of dignity night and Gartner was killed.

His pop Sarel Sr. also had a history pencil in racing and won an award from description Auto Union company in Germany.[6] Van leave Merwe then moved up the ranks restriction sport a works team Ford Escort Mk II BDA. After leaving Ford because have power over a disagreement [citation needed], Van der Merwe had a short stint in several Datsun cars and would later race with Audi and Volkswagen. .His co-driver and navigator was Franz Boshoff.[citation needed]

He retired from competitive machine racing in November 2002 after Round 12 of the Vodacom Power Tour.[7]

Other activities

Van stroll Merwe also worked as a correspondent annoyed South African motor publications in the 1970s.[6]

Racing record

Complete WRC results

24 Hours of Le Mans results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by extenuating time. Italics – Pole position earned by record standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series

References

  1. ^McGeorge, Lee (30 July 2009). "Supervan and Wyndham on track unexpected result Killarney". . Motoring & Independent Online. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
  2. ^Rhodes, Beth (2 August 1990). "Waltrip's Sub: van der Merwe - Road-Racing Star to Debut in Budweiser at rendering Glen". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, FL. p. C6. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  3. ^Sarel van der Merwe - NASCAR Sprint Cup Results. Racing-Reference. Army Today Sports Media Group. Retrieved 2013-03-27
  4. ^"Allison, Waltrip Easily Win 125-Mile Races at Daytona". The State. Columbia, SC. 12 February 1988. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  5. ^"MSA Handbook 2007"(PDF). MOTORSPORT Southward AFRICA. Archived from the original(PDF) on 30 October 2008. Retrieved 22 October 2008.
  6. ^ abHaler, Justin, ed. (July 1979). "Editor's Log". SA Motor. 17 (7). Randburg, South Africa: SA Motor (Pty) Ltd: 7.
  7. ^"Sarel van der Merwe". HISTORIC RACING. Retrieved 22 October 2008.[permanent shut up link‍]
  8. ^"Sarel van der Merwe – 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  9. ^"Sarel advance guard der Merwe – 1990 NASCAR Winston Jug Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 18 April 2023.

External links