Zwartkops Raceway, Pretoria – Peter bounces back in style as team shines

Peter Lindenberg kicked off his return to racing in fine style on Saturday when he drove his Shelby Mustang to victory over Sarel van der Merwe’s Chevelle in the opening Legends V8 race of Saturday’s Zwartkops Passion for Speed classic racing festival. It was also a great weekend all round for Lindenberg Racing, with all its entries delivering great results to commence its celebrations of 40 years in racing.

The highlight was however team leader Peter Lindenberg’s triumphant return to the racing wheel following a yea’s sabbatical to recuperate from a scare after a hip operation. “What a fantastic outcome for our team to start our 40 hear celebration,” a delighted Peter admitted. “It was really goof to kick ass with the Shelby Mustang and so special to share the Shelby Daytona Cobra with Paige.”

Peter drove a calculated first race to steer his 1965 Shelby Mustang the first race win on a damp track before bringing it home ninth in the second race to end up fourth overall for the day. He then jumped into the Daytona Cobra shared with daughter Paige and the Lindenbergs brought it home sixth in the 45-minute Tourist Trophy race for Le Mans sports cars.

“It’s always such a pleasure to race with my dad and an absolute treat to race this gorgeous machine,” Paige Lindenberg added. “It was a huge thrill — my heart was in my throat before I climbed aboard the Daytona — I just wanted to finish the race in decent time and keep the car safe. — it’s a challenging car to race, especially having such little seat time in it, but racing with my dad is the most amazing gift I could ever ask for!

“My dad is my idol and absolute hero and to have completed our first endurance race together was one of my greatest achievements and biggest milestones in my racing career — it’s not very often that you get to share a car with a legend like him and to top it off, to share a car with my dad, so I could not be happier with the result, the car and the incredible work our team did.”

“Thank you to my amazing family, sponsors and team, but most importantly to my dad, it’s such an honour racing by your side…”

Lindenberg Racing teammate Djurk Venter also had a positive drive in the team’s second Daytona despite being delayed during the 45 minute TT. “I never had a perfect race,” Venter explained. “But just to be out there in this car among so many other classics from around the world and across South Africa was a real privilege.”

Lindenberg Racing’s fourth entry, Kirsten Venter opted to sit out a drenched first Marlboro Crane Hire Historic Saloons race, but bounced back to drive her RTR Ford Escort to second in Class G following a good scrap in the midfield. “It was great to get back in the car again,” Kirsten smiled. “We are looking forward to a great season ahead!”