GOVERNMENT have joined forces with the Windhoek Motor Club (WMC), to finance the biggest race track re-tarring project in the history of Namibian motorsport, with the finishing touches of Phase 1 of the Tony Rust Track just being completed.
After lengthy negotiations between the WMC and the Ministry Youth, Sport & Culture , a sum of N$500 000 was released for repairs specifically on the Tony Rust Race Track, which saw the re-surfacing process begin in August. Minister Jerry Ekandjo finalised the deal, and gave the green light during the end of July 2013, when they handed over the money for the project, to the WMC who are custodians of the Tony Rust Track.
Phase 1 of the three phase track re-surface project, is a milestone in the history of motorsport, with the 2.6 kilometre and ten meter wide circuit track being saved after 30 years of wear and tear, which had taken its toll. Colas Construction from Okahandja was responsible for laying the tar track, which has breathed new life into the track.
“The track was falling apart, and we needed to save it as well as make it a safer place to race, “said Christiaan Liebenberg (Chairperson WMC) who together with the project team embarked on a super human effort to restore the country’s only racing arena.
“Without Government’s input this would not have been possible, and we would have lost the track, and eventually circuit racing in Namibia would have become extinct “he said, adding that already the big field of bike racing stopped because of the unsafe racing surface.
“The Club simply would not have been able to finance such a huge re-surfacing job, but it also couldn’t have happened without the hard work and dedication of the WMC members who spent many hours assisting in this process.
“We put in a lot of hard labour cleaning the site and preparing the surface from start to finish, so the machines could come in and do their job.
“Now we are reading for action, and racing will be brought back on a bigger scale, with the bikes starting up again, and more South African’s visiting,” Liebenberg added, saying that the race track will be ready just in time for this week-end’s Cymot Rally, when the first cars will be using part of the newly laid surface during the special stages.
The Grand re-opening will be held on 2 November, with a big race week-end of drags, circuit, karting and oval track, with the Minister officiating the proceedings. Phase two of the track will continue next year with the final layer being laid over the race track the oval track upgrade.
Said Michel Rust (Vice Chairperson WMC) “Because we host all the event codes of motorsport at the Tony Rust , inclusive of racing, rally-X, drag racing, oval track, motorcycles and karting, without the induction of money from the Government these motorsport codes would become extinct in Windhoek.
“To build a new track would cost millions, so it makes economic sense to rehabilitate the current facility, which is the country’s racing Mecca, and one of the jewels of motorsport in Southern Africa, which is now going to attract a lot of ‘international’ racing interest for the future.”
He said that planning of an extended drag strip, run off areas and enhanced spectator points will fall within Phase 3 of the Tony Rust Track upgrading project later on down the line.
Liebenberg, extended a special mention of thanks to Michel Rust, Jaco Van Dyk, Frans Smit, Bertus Botha, Marius Both, Luigi Bedoli, Nichol Koen, Dudley Sowden, Guillium Kruger , Carla Havenga and Gee Prinsloo for their hard work and dedication in helping to turn a dream into a reality.
By Donna Collins