Qumbu-born Production Car racing driver Tschops Sipuka has his sights on single-seater stardom… He recently returned from testing at Snetterton in the United Kingdom, where he qualified to take part in next month’s Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy.
By Bobby Cheetham – The Herald
Qumbu-born Production Car racing driver Tschops Sipuka has his sights on single-seater stardom… He recently returned from testing at Snetterton in the United Kingdom, where he qualified to take part in next month’s Formula Palmer Audi (FPA) Autumn Trophy.
Sipuka, who has two South African Engen Volkswagen Polo Cup titles to his credit and now races a Nissan 350Z in the Bridgestone Supa Production Car series, was offered a test drive in a single-seater Audi by 87-grands prix veteran Jonathan Palmer, and South African businessman Chris Hyman, the chief executive of London-based international service company Serco, while he was at Brands Hatch in the UK last year.
Last week, Sipuka completed 81 laps of the super-fast Snetterton circuit, setting a best time of 1 minute 07,67 seconds, a remarkable effort considering the test marked his first run in a European-spec single-seater machine. After his run, Sipuka was gushing in his praise of both FPA – a formula that has proved a breeding ground for some of the Grand Prix and Champ Car racers in the United States – and the Snetterton circuit.
The man dubbed the “Transkei Tornado” put up the second fastest time (he was only three-hundredths of a second slower than the quickest driver) and qualified to take part in the FPA Autumn Trophy on November 4 and 5. The six-race two-meeting series finishes at Brands Hatch the following weekend.
“It’s a dream come true for me and without the support of Palmer, Hyman and Wesbank, it would have been very difficult for me to make an international impression,” Sipuka said. “(The 225-kW Audi turbo-engined) FPA is awesome! The setup is very professional, very friendly and very efficient. The circuit is fantastic too.
“With some hard work and help from my very supportive sponsors, WesBank and Sasol, I hope to be back for the Autumn Trophy,” Sipuka, who is due to meet potential sponsors for his next international foray later this week, added.
Formula Palmer Audi has earned a reputation over the past eight seasons for offering close racing because all 22 cars are prepared to an identical standard. Among the many successful ex-FPA drivers are Champ Car ace Justin Wilson, Porsche Super Cup champion Damien Faulkner, McLaren test driver and DTM champion Gary Paffet, A1 Grand Prix driver Robbie Kerr, and World and European Touring Car champion, Andy Priaulx.
Sipuka, who was guided by motorsport team owner Terry Moss for many years, started his racing career in 1989 when he won his first race at Killarney. In 1999 Sipuka was nominated as the first and only driver of colour in the world to drive a Mercedes-Benz Super Race Truck (from Germany) in the Continental Tyres series in South Africa. He has also competed internationally at the 25-hour Fun Cup race at Spa-Franchorchamps and at the Sepang F1 Circuit in Malaysia.
