The 24 Hours of iLamuna is ready to rock Red Star this weekend

The third annual MF Autobody 24 Hours of iLamuna will get under way at Red Star Raceway in Delmas this weekend and promises to be a juicy one. 

Open only to “lemons” costing less than R55,000 (excluding the cost of mandatory safety gear), this immensely popular endurance race will see a record field of 74 clunkers battle side by side on circuit for 24 hours. A variety of rust buckets will take to the grid — everything from a decommissioned tow truck to a ropy Mazda RX-7. Other notable whips include a Toyota MR2 Spyder, Fiat Uno Turbo, Porsche 924 and Datsun 1200 GX.

Crews of four drivers, with team names such as Boetfighters, Nucking Futs, Sax and Violins, Ma Se Porsche, Sheep Shaggers, Happy Hookers and fan-favourite Princess Asstina the Fifth, will begin the race with a run across the track to their cars in a classic Le Mans-style start at 12.15pm Saturday and cross the finish line at the same time on Sunday.

Among the teams is the first-ever all-women 24-hour endurance team in Africa. BeauAnn Hegyi, Jo-Anne Gibbon, Lea-Anne Massey-Hicks and Natalie Weston will tackle the exhausting race in an old Mercedes SLK. The stereotype-smashing Pink Arrows ladies team has entered with hopes of inspiring other women to challenge them.

“Yes, racing is traditionally a male-dominated sport, but the four of us want to prove to ourselves, and hopefully other women, we can do the things we sometimes think we can’t,” said team captain Hegyi.

“I hope our iLamuna entry encourages more women to not let stereotypes define them and enter motorsport. A 24-hour race is a daunting experience but we’re excited for the challenge.”

Another notable driver, Nikki Vostanis, will become the youngest-known driver to contest a 24-hour main circuit race at just 15 years old. His track experience began with karting in 2021 and he has since scored podium placings in the Toyota GR Yaris Cup as well as a top-five finish in his recent Polo Supercup debut. The youngster forms part of the Asiento Rapido team, which is campaigning a reasonably rapid Seat Leon.

TimesLIVE Motoring's resident club racing driver Thomas Falkiner is also taking part in the endurance event. Again piloting the Team Short-Shifters VW Beetle (possibly the oldest car on the entry list), Falkiner will be sharing the driving with experienced iLamuna campaigners Wernher Hartzenberg, Rob van Aarle and Wihan Tiedt. 

Race fans can follow the weekend's action unfold on Facebook or Instagram.