Historic Roar: The Icons Return for PowerSeries 2!
Dust off your sun hats and get ready for a hit of high-octane nostalgia. This Saturday, 7 March 2026, Killarney International Raceway is set to transform into a living museum of speed as the Laude Classic Cars return to the tarmac for the second round of the PowerSeries.
There’s something visceral about historic racing—the smell of unburnt fuel, the scream of naturally aspirated engines, and the sight of legendary steel being pushed to its absolute limit. If you miss the days when cars had character and drivers had to work for every corner, this is where you need to be.
Here is your official breakdown of the gladiators lining up this weekend:
Class A: The Heavy Hitters
The “Big Guns” are out to play. Expect the ground to shake when Franco Donadio’s brutal Chev Can Am squares off against Boetie van Zyl’s iconic Ford Fairmont GT.
Franco Donadio – Chev Can Am
Boetie van Zyl – Ford Fairmont GT 351
Eric van der Merwe – Porsche 944T
Jarryd Evans – Ford Capri MK1
Class B: Muscle vs. Precision
Class B offers a fantastic contrast in engineering. From the American V8 grunt of a Stingray to the surgical precision of the BMW “Gusheshe” 325is.
Trevor Momberg – Ford Capri 3.4L
Bruce Avern-Taplin – Toyota Corolla 1650cc
Dave Alhadeff – BMW 325is
Robin Forbes – Corvette Stingray 5.7
Brian Evans – Ford Escort MK1
Class C: The Packed Mid-Field
This is the biggest grid of the day. Keep an eye on the battle of the Sciroccos and the sheer displacement of Diedericks’ 5L Capri.
Robert Rowe – BMW 325i
Cary Blow – Datsun 240Z
Theo Claassen – Nissan Skyline GTZ
Ian Richards – VW Scirocco MK1 2L
Layne Hutchings – VW Scirocco MK1
Deon Conradie – Toyota Conquest Rsi
Wayne Lotter – Ford Escort 2L
Jaco Oosthuizen – Toyota Conquest 1.8L
Daniel Lotter Snr – Ford Escort MK1
Dave Rowley – VW Beetle 2380cc
Andre Diedericks – Ford Capri 5L
Class D: Technical Tussles
From Alfa Romeos to Porsches, Class D is all about maintaining momentum and clever lines.
Daniel Lotter Jnr – Ford Escort MK2
Nicholas Fourie – VW Golf MK2 1.8L
Herman de Kock – Ford Escort 1.6
Vance Kearney – Ford Capri V6 3.4L
Malcolm Pheiffer – Alfa Romeo GTaM
Jacques Blom – Ford Sierra 2L
Piet Matthee – Porsche 944 3L
Class E & Class X: The Wildcards
Bradley Rowe flies the flag solo for Class E in the beautiful BMW 2002 ti, while Class X features new car/driver combinations looking to make their mark—including a very cool Mazda Capella.
Bradley Rowe – BMW 2002 ti (Class E)
Lee Moulden – VW Scirocco 1.8L (Class X)
Peet v d Walt – VW Golf 2L (Class X)
Andre Fourie – VW Jetta 2L (Class X)
PW Louw – Mazda Capella (Class X)
Roy Obery – Porsche 924 GTP (Class X)
Why You Should Be There
Classic racing isn’t just a sport; it’s a spectacle. You aren’t just watching cars go around a track; you’re watching history being driven with zero driver aids and 100% passion. Whether you’re a die-hard Ford fan or a Porsche purist, there is a rivalry here for everyone.
Bring the family, fire up the braai in the stands, and let the sound of these legends remind you why we fell in love with racing in the first place.
See you at Killarney!
Qualifying Results
At the sharp end of the grid, Franco Donadio (Start No. 32) delivered a clinical performance in Class A. Clocking a blistering on his third lap, Donadio secured pole position with a commanding gap of seconds over his nearest rival. His average speed of km/h was the benchmark for the field, signaling that the blue-and-white machine is the one to beat in the main races. Boetie van Zyl (No. 72) put in a valiant effort to secure second on the grid with a , while Jarryd Evans (No. 414) rounded out the Class A podium spots in third, stopping the clocks at .
The creative tension was palpable in Class B, where Trevor Momberg (No. 73) led the charge with a . However, the highlight of the session was the razor-thin margin between Robin Forbes (No. 171) and Brian Evans (No. 441). After six and seven laps respectively, the two were separated by a microscopic seconds, with Forbes taking 6th overall at and Evans 7th at . This sets the stage for a classic “door-to-door” battle come race time.
In Class X, Roy Obery (No. 85) showcased exceptional pace, splitting the Class A leaders to take 4th overall with a . PW Louw (No. 80) followed in 8th place, posting a on his final lap, proving that Class X remains a wild card in the series.
Class C saw a dominant showing from Andre Diedericks (No. 182), who took the top spot in the category with a despite only completing two laps—suggesting either supreme confidence or a mechanical gremlin that cut his session short. He was chased closely by Wayne Lotter (No. 120) at and Layne Hutchings (No. 74) at . The Lotter family presence was strong, with Daniel Lotter Snr (No. 147) and Daniel Lotter Jnr (No. 14) both showing consistent pace. Junior led Class D with a , narrowly outperforming Vance Kearney (No. 93) by half a second.
Down the field, the determination was no less intense. Robert Rowe (No. 11) and Bradley Rowe (No. 27) represented the family name across Classes C and E, with Bradley braving the limits of Class E to record a . Meanwhile, Malcolm Pheiffer (No. 195) and Stephen Manuel (No. 62) were locked in their own private duel in Class D, separated by only seconds.
As the sun slowly dropped towards the horizon, the qualifying session concluded with Andre Fourie (No. 58) and Bradley Rowe rounding out the timing sheets. With the grid now set, the stage is prepared for a gladiatorial showdown where the raw power of the Class A giants will meet the strategic finesse of the midfield contenders. Fans can expect high stakes for Race 1, where tyre management and the cooling Cape breeze will play as much of a role as the drivers’ right feet.
Race 1
The late afternoon from the Friday qualifying tension spilled over into a frantic and exhilarating Race 1 for the Classic Cars at Killarney International Raceway. As the lights went out for Round 2 of the Power Series, the roar of historic engines echoed through the Tygerberg hills, signaling the start of a seven-lap sprint that would test both mechanical endurance and driver temperament.
At the front of the pack, Franco Donadio (No. 32) proved why he is the gold standard of the category. Starting from pole, Donadio delivered a masterclass in defensive driving and consistent pace. He controlled the race from the first corner, crossing the line with a total time of 9:55.053. However, his victory was not without pressure. While Donadio took the checkered flag, the statistical “Fastest Man on Track” was actually Jarryd Evans (No. 414). Evans, piloting his Class A machine with surgical precision, clocked a blistering 1:23.804 on lap six—beating the winner’s best time by 0.031 seconds. Despite the pace, Evans had to settle for third overall after a fierce mid-race tussle with Class B standout Trevor Momberg.
Momberg (No. 73) produced perhaps the most impressive drive of the afternoon. Splitting the faster Class A cars, he secured second place overall and a dominant win in Class B with a time of 10:12.414. He led a high-speed train of Class B and C competitors, holding off a late-race charge from Brian Evans (No. 441) and Dave Alhadeff (No. 95), who finished fifth and sixth, respectively.
The Class C battle was a story of raw speed versus tactical positioning. Andre Diedericks (No. 182) took the class honors with a fourth-place overall finish, but he spent the entire race looking in his mirrors for Ian Richards (No. 64). Richards was a man on a mission; after a difficult start, he carved through the field with a best lap of 1:25.785, significantly faster than any other car in his class. Had the race been a lap longer, the podium positions might have looked very different. Wayne Lotter and Layne Hutchings kept the pressure on, finishing ninth and tenth respectively, separated by a mere two-tenths of a second in a classic Killarney slipstreaming battle.
Further down the order, the “Lotter Dynasty” continued to shine as Daniel Lotter Jnr (No. 14) claimed the Class D crown, finishing 13th overall. He successfully fended off a persistent Vance Kearney (No. 93) and Piet Matthee (No. 944), the latter of whom missed out on the runner-up spot in class by less than four seconds. In the lower tiers, Bradley Rowe (No. 27) drove a lonely but disciplined race to take the Class E victory, ensuring he banked valuable championship points.
The race was not without its heartbreaks. Boetie van Zyl, who had looked so promising in qualifying, saw his race end prematurely after just one lap. Similarly, Roy Obery and Herman de Kock faced the frustration of non-finishes, leaving their crews with a mountain of work before the afternoon’s second heat.
As the cars returned to pit, the air was thick with the smell of scorched rubber and hot oil. Donadio may have the trophy for now, but with Jarryd Evans finding more speed in the closing laps and the midfield battles reaching a fever pitch, the stage is perfectly set for an explosive Race 2.
Race 2
The second heat of the Classic Cars at the Killarney Power Series Round 2 was a high-octane finale that saw established champions under pressure and underdog stories emerging from the Cape’s afternoon heat. As the sun began its descent on March 6, 2026, the grid lined up for an extended eight-lap showdown that would push these vintage masterpieces to their absolute limits.
Franco Donadio (No. 32) once again asserted his dominance in Class A, delivering a flawless wire-to-wire victory with a total time of 11:20.645. Donadio’s composure was most evident on his final lap, where he set the fastest time of the entire race—a 1:22.854. It was a psychological blow to his pursuers, proving that even with eight laps of wear on his tires, the Class A leader had plenty in reserve. Jarryd Evans (No. 414) maintained his role as the primary challenger, securing second overall. Evans showed incredible consistency, particularly around the mid-race mark with a 1:24.204, but he could not bridge the 11-second gap to the flying Donadio.
The shock of the afternoon, however, came from the Class C ranks. Andre Diedericks (No. 182) drove the race of his life, punching well above his weight to finish third overall and first in class. Clocking a best lap of 1:26.397, Diedericks successfully fended off the more powerful Class B machine of Trevor Momberg (No. 73). Momberg, who finished fourth overall, found himself embroiled in a multi-class dogfight with Brian Evans (No. 441) and PW Louw (No. 80). Evans and Louw crossed the line within six seconds of one another, showcasing the incredible parity found in the mid-grid classes.
A story of redemption unfolded for Boetie van Zyl (No. 72). After the heartbreak of an early retirement in Race 1, Van Zyl brought his Class A entry back to life for the second heat. Starting from the back, he carved his way through the field to finish 7th overall, setting a best lap of 1:26.616 on his final tour—matching Momberg’s pace and proving he belongs at the front of the pack.
The Class C midfield was a hive of activity. Wayne Lotter (No. 120) and Layne Hutchings (No. 74) reprised their rivalry from the morning session, finishing 9th and 10th, respectively. The two were separated by a mere half-second at the line, a testament to the surgical precision required to navigate Killarney’s technical back section. Further back, Robert Rowe (No. 11), Theo Claassen (No. 55), and Dave Rowley (No. 148) were locked in a nose-to-tail battle for the better part of five laps, with Rowley showing a late-race burst of speed to record a 1:30.322 on the final lap.
In Class D, Daniel Lotter Jnr (No. 14) completed a perfect day, taking his second class win of the event. He was pushed hard by Vance Kearney (No. 93) and Nicholas Fourie (No. 22), while Piet Matthee (No. 944) recovered from earlier struggles to finish 20th overall. Bradley Rowe (No. 27) closed out the active finishers in Class E, once again demonstrating the reliability that is so crucial in club racing.
As the engines cooled in the Killarney pits, the narrative of the day was clear: while Franco Donadio remains the king of the mountain, the rising pace of Andre Diedericks and the grit of Boetie van Zyl have set the stage for a thrilling Round 3. For the fans who braved the heat, Race 2 was a vivid reminder that in classic racing, history doesn’t just sit in a museum—it roars.