Backdraft Racing South Africa

🏁 IT'S ALL ABOUT SEAT TIME! 🏁

When you only have a handful of weekends a year to go racing, you want to spend as much time in the seat as possible.

And at the Backdraft Racing Series, you get plenty of it. In fact, you get so much seat time that you’ll probably want a co-driver! 😎

Every endurance weekend gives you:

⏱️ 3 hours of practice
🏆 45 minutes of qualifying
🔥 4h 20 minutes of racing — averaged across the season

That’s a LOT of track time.

And with our Arrive & Drive Programme, you don't have to worry about how much fuel, tyres or spare parts you need.

We’ve got it covered. You just bring your racing shoes. 👊

Ready for more seat time?

📩 Send us a private message to find out more about our Arrive & Drive Programme.



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Team Principal Brian Martin is known for his clear, no-nonsense replies. 😎

When you ask Brian a question, you better be prepared for a straight answer!

So, we’ve started asking Brian some questions — and we’re kicking things off with a big one:

“Who’s the worst team-mate?” 👀

Brian Says:

“Steve Clark, because he continuously fiddles with the setup of the car. He has the NS Virus — Never Satisfied! 😂

But, in saying that, he is one of the best drivers in South Africa.”

Ouch! 😂

We’re pretty sure Steve is going to have something to say about this…



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Brian Says. And Brian Doesn’t Hold Back. 😏

Our Team Principal, Brian Martin, is known for his straight answers. Ask him a question and you’ll get an unsalted reply.

Some of his answers are simply too good not to share. 😂

So, starting tomorrow, we’ll be posting some of Brian’s thoughts, opinions and insights on our competitors, our drivers and the Backdraft Racing Series.

No sugar-coating. No PR spin. Just Brian Says.

Got a question you’d like Brian to answer? Drop it in the comments below. 👇



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🚗 Know Our Drivers! X

We're getting close to the halfway mark of our Know Our Drivers series, and next up are two drivers who certainly know how to stand out on track!

🏁 Mark Futcher currently sits 14th in the Backdraft Racing Series Championship and has competed in two rounds so far this season, with a different co-driver at each event. His best result came in the opening round at Dezzi Raceway, where he secured an impressive 3rd-place finish.

And if you've ever wondered who Mark supports in F1, there's absolutely no need to ask! 😂🇬🇧

His Lewis Hamilton replica helmet makes him instantly recognisable out on track. 🪖🏎️

🏁 Dan Hirsch is a driver who is capable of much more than his current 17th position in the championship suggests.

He's competed in three rounds so far, securing one podium—a fantastic 2nd place. Racing alongside Richard van Heerde, Dan is a fierce competitor who certainly doesn't believe in doing things by halves.

His American-themed livery proudly highlights his nationality 🇺🇸, while his driving style is equally easy to identify: flat out!

For Dan, it can sometimes be a case of either a non-finish or a podium—but when it all comes together, he's a serious front-runner.

With three rounds still remaining, we wouldn't be surprised to see Dan climbing significantly higher up the championship standings. 🔥🏁



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🚗 Know Our Drivers! IX

The duo in our championship standings used to be a trio! 👀

This year, Dean Wolson and Mark Harvey are sharing a seat in the Backdraft Racing Series, after their long-time teammate Philip Meyer joined forces with Gavin Rooke for the 2026 season.

Dean and Mark are both long-time competitors in the Backdraft Cobra, and over the years they've consistently shown that they have the speed and experience to challenge at the front.

Their 2026 season hasn't been entirely straightforward. They had to miss Round 2 at the East London Grand Prix Circuit due to other commitments and were particularly unlucky in Round 3, suffering a very rare DNF.

But in the other two rounds they've competed in, the potential has been clear.

With three rounds still to go, we're expecting some strong results from this dynamic duo. Don't count them out just yet! 🏁🔥



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🚗 Know Our Drivers! VIII

The next two drivers have both shown that consistency and race craft can make a big difference in the Backdraft Racing Series.

🏁 Ross Hill has a simple formula: when he races, he finishes in the top five! And that kind of consistency delivers a very healthy bag of championship points.

Ross missed one round this season, but his steady performances have still earned him a well-deserved 12th position in the championship. With three rounds remaining, he's more than capable of making a big move up the standings—and a top-five championship finish is certainly within reach.

🌧️ Allan Spies has only competed in two rounds so far, but his second-place finish in Gqeberha, in absolutely torrential rain, says plenty about his race craft and ability to handle challenging conditions.

In his most recent race, Allan finished 6th. So, with the next rounds approaching, is Allan already doing his rain dance? 😂🌧️

Together with teammate Ryan Matchett, Allan forms a very strong combination. When these two get the strategy right, they can certainly challenge the front runners.

Three rounds to go... and anything can still happen! 🏁🔥



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Moustache 🥸

Our Backdraft Racing Cobras have a large front splitter that generates serious front-end downforce. 🏎️💨

The downside? It also has some pretty impressive scooping capabilities when you go off-track! 😂

Do it badly enough, and you might just end up with a Moustache on your Backdraft Cobra! 🥸🤣

Ask Andre Bettencourt about it… 😜



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🚗 Know Our Drivers! VII

The next two drivers belong to the hard-core racers—the ones who simply can't get enough of being on track! 🏁🔥

🏎️ Richard van Heerde competes in just about every racing series he can, and that experience certainly shows on track. His current 11th position in the championship doesn't truly reflect his speed or potential.

The first two rounds didn't go Richard's way, but over the past two races he's shown exactly what he's capable of. With a drop round still available, Richard is certainly not out of the championship fight. Don't be surprised to see him making a serious push for an end-of-season trophy.

🏎️ Fabienne Lanz has been one of the fastest female racers in the country for years. Put her in anything with four wheels and an engine, and there's a good chance you'll find her running at the sharp end of the field!

Fabienne competes in both the Overall Championship and the Backdraft Racing Series, and while her results have been a mixed bag so far this season, her performance in the last round in Mozambique showed her true never-give-up mentality.

She's also not afraid to put in an extra stint when the race strategy calls for it—exactly the kind of attitude that makes a difference in endurance racing.

Two hard-core racers. Two serious competitors. And with three rounds still to go, there's plenty more to come! 💪🏁



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I KNOW WHAT I’M DOING! 😂

When a driver is IN THE ZONE, the last thing on his mind is coming into the pits for any reason.

He knows what he’s doing… 😉

Every now and then, a driver decides to run his own strategy because, well… it’s working for him!

Unfortunately, the pit crew often has the bigger picture. They’re watching the fuel, the timing, the competition and the overall race strategy.

So the real question becomes:

How do you get the driver OUT of the stint? 😂😂



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