23 March 1991 - Killarney

The controversy around the BMW’s weight hit a peak going into the race at Killarney. The usual contenders, Johann Coetzee, Larry Wilford, Gary Dunkerley and Ivor Raasch, were absent in protest against the special ruling for the BMW. Johan Coetzee was vocal in his condemnation of the special ruling, but insisted that he had not boycotted the event. He claimed that he was waiting for gearbox parts and special Kevlar panels to reduce the weight of his Skyline to compete against the BMWs. Coetzee is quoted as saying: ”I think the situation is crazy. Motor Sport Control should not have allowed this to happen. I also say to BMW – why don’t they come race a 528 against us? How can I, with a 2.8 litre motor, compete against a 3.5 litre?” The pitlane gossip at the time was that BMW threatened to pull out if they could not run at 1100kg.

The two BMWs turned out with no real opposition. The Owen Ashley-prepared car of Joubert blew it’s engine on the dyno after practice, and was hastily fixed. The fix was unlikely to have lasted, so the car was withdrawn. Viana, now preparing his 535i himself, was out with the front suspension conversion done back to McPherson struts, but the car had had very little development and was a second slower than Joubert’s practice time of 1:18.1. Both cars were still well under Johan Coetzee’s lap record of 1:20.22. It was a hollow victory for Viana, with the only other competitor in class B being Eric Varkel in his Boss Paving Nissan Skyline.

 

Results:

Heat 1 – Overall Result (Top 6)

1. Ben Morgenrood (Mazda 323TRS), 2. Sarel van der Merwe (Ford Sapphire Cosworth Turbo), 3. Willie Hepburn (Opel Rekord V8), 4. Chris Aberdein (Audi 500 Turbo), 5. Terry Moss (Audi 500 Turbo), 6. Tony Viana (BMW 535i)

Heat 1 – Class B Result

1. Tony Viana (BMW 535i), 2. Eric Varkel (Nissan Skyline)

 

Heat 2 – Overall Result (Top 6)

1. Ben Morgenrood (Mazda 323TRS), 2. Willie Hepburn (Opel Rekord V8), 3. Chris Aberdein (Audi 500 Turbo), 4. Terry Moss (Audi 500 Turbo), 5. Tony Viana (BMW 535i), 6. Peter Lanz (VW Golf 2)

Heat 2 – Class B Result

1. Tony Viana (BMW 535i), 2. Eric Varkel (Nissan Skyline)