Summarize

What happens when you put a 17-year old karting star into a legendary 15-year old racing car? A Killarney Clubmans sensation, that’s what! Charl Visser’s regular ride was not ready in time for Saturday’s races, but he was more than delighted when dad Charl senior suggested that junior drove his classic 2006 Group N racing Nissan 350Z. Best of all is that the youngster took the car by the scruff of its neck to deliver a splendid show at Killarney.

“I was supposed to race my Polo in the cheapercars GTi Challenge on Saturday, but it was not going to be ready in time,” Durbanville schoolboy Charl explained. “So dad suggested we rather race the Nissan in Mike's Place Clubmans race. “Dad's 350Z is a very special car — Glyn Hall built the car and it was raced by Leeroy Poulter, Tschops Sipuka, Gary Formato and others in Group N back in the day. It won many races and several championships, so it’s a pretty special car!”

Young Charl was quickly on the pace in testing on Friday before he put the car onto a shock pole position ahead of Cody Alberts' BMW, a car similar to those that the Nissan raced in its Group N heyday. “I never made the best of starts and I dropped back to fourth,” Charl admitted. He was soon back to second though and set about trying to deal with Niaaz Modack’s mighty powerful BMW. “Niaaz’s car is hugely powerful so I had to drive so hard to catch him. “We had a great cat and mouse dice and in the end I had to settle for second — I was also happy to get the fastest lap of the race.” 

The second race start went a little better and Charl found himself in another tight battle with Modack and Cody in close attendance too. “I was closer to Niaaz late in the race and tried a brave move around the outside of turn 2 on the final lap. “Unfortunately I ran out of space a bit and Cody managed to slip by as I found my way back. 

“So I ended up third in race 2 and second overall for the day. “I'm happy how it went and especially for the chance to race such a great car — it was also huge fun to fight it out with a far more powerful rival!” Multiple South African karting champion, Charl is racing both the national VW Polo Cup with Universal Racing and in the WP regional cheapercars GTi Challenge in his maiden main circuit racing season.