Latest news with #LindenbergRacing
IOL News
08-08-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Paige Lindenberg leads championship charge as Zwartkops turns pink for Women's Day
History Championship leader Paige Lindenberg stands next to her car Image : Supplied Image: Image: Supplied Paige Lindenberg returns to Zwartkops Raceway this weekend (8–10 August) as the current leader of the Historic Championship, ready to battle for the title in what promises to be one of the most meaningful rounds of the season. The weekend coincides with Women's Day, and Zwartkops will be a sea of pink in honour of the occasion. All participating teams are encouraged to incorporate the colour into their cars or uniforms, and the Lindenberg Racing team will don pink caps to pay tribute to the role of women in motorsport. 'This weekend we have a very full schedule,' says Lindenberg. 'For the first time in a long time, we will be racing on Women's Day. Our team is leading three championships so far for the year, and we have two races left.' Lindenberg will compete in her Ford Fairlane, supported by teammates James Temple (Ford Capri Perana), Djurk Venter (Shelby Daytona Coupe), and newcomer Alistair Simpson (1968 MK1 Ford Escort). The Historic Championship typically features seven to eight races per season, with the driver collecting the most points crowned champion. Lindenberg currently leads both her class and the overall standings. Beyond her on-track success, Lindenberg is a respected figure in South African motorsport, having grown up in a racing household. Born on 19 June 1992, she began racing powerboats at age seven and claimed the Powerboating World Championship by 11. She has since transitioned into a successful circuit racing career, capturing titles in the Legends and Historic Championships, while also securing podium finishes at high-profile events like the Knysna Hillclimb and the Festival of Motoring. 'I have been racing since I was seven. I started off with powerboats, then I went into race cars at about eleven,' she continued. 'I currently race in the Historic Legends V8 Championship and we are leading the championship overall and in class of the car. We finished second overall last year and won the class. We have had a few good years.' Paige was named Women in Motoring's Woman of the Year in 2023. Image: Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Lindenberg's passion for motorsport extends well beyond the driver's seat. She played a pivotal role in launching Shelby South Africa and now serves as a group manager, overseeing Shelby SA, Road to Race SA, and Lindenberg Racing. Still, her schedule goes far beyond racing and business. She is a passionate advocate for women's empowerment, health, and education. In 2018, she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in support of the Nelson Mandela Foundation to raise funds for sanitary pads for schoolgirls. 'I love training, I gym pretty much every day. I also run a lot. I am not a good runner, but I just enjoy it. I have done a few marathons and long charity runs, and I climbed Kilimanjaro a few years ago to raise money for girls' sanitary pads. I really love helping others and giving back.' She also runs a practical vehicle safety initiative, teaching basic car maintenance to women across South Africa. 'I have a small project. The main aim of it is to cover basics about cars, because most women do not know anything about cars—like how to jump start your car, change a tyre when you get stuck on the side of the road, how to check your oil and water. 'We do that now for corporate and schools. We do courses at Tiger Wheel stores around the country. It's a project close to my heart because obviously I grew up knowing a lot about cars.' Paige at the Nelson Mandela Foundation initiative Image : Supplied Image: Image : Supplied Balancing the demands of racing with her personal life has also become part of the challenge. 'I try very hard to be present in the moments that I have. On the weekends when I have time, I try very hard to switch off and spend moments with people I'm close to. 'My husband is very understanding, which is amazing, but there are times when we are under pressure with work and racing, like now with Women's Month. There is a lot going on, and I am lucky to have a family that is understanding.' Despite her family's deep motorsport legacy, racing was never forced on her. 'We are three girls and I am the only one that races. It was never ever forced on us, and it was never something which was expected to do. We were all given the same opportunities and my sisters never took to racing.' Lidenberg briefly stepped away from racing as a teen, but her passion remained unshaken. 'I was forced to stop racing for two years when I was a young teenager. My dad decided that I needed to be a girl and enjoy things like girls' parties, because with racing you miss out on a lot of stuff. 'But I begged him until he allowed me back. So, he did try to give me other opportunities to try other things, but I chose to stick around and go back.' The 33-year-old is also a die-hard Formula One fan, proudly backing the papaya orange of McLaren. 'My favourite team is McLaren, and what I have liked this season is the youngsters that have come in. A few of them are showing a lot of talent and it's going to be an interesting time in the next few years. 'For a race to be hosted here would create a lot of excitement for motorsport in South Africa and gain more support. I don't know if it's going to come to South Africa. I really hope it does and hope it's affordable for everyone.' Paige Lindenberg has her sights on winning the Historic Championship Image : Supplied Image: Image: Image : Supplied
News24
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- News24
Shelby Super Snakes and historic Ford Mustangs ready to thrill petrolheads at Simola Hillclimb
The seventh-generation Mustang GT and Mustang Dark Horse will make their first appearances at the popular Simola Hillclimb this weekend, 2 to 4 May, in Knysna. Lindenberg Racing and Shelby South Africa have six Shelby vehicles competing in the King of The Hill. The 1965 Ford GT40 will compete in Classic Car on Friday, paying tribute to the historic win at Le Mans in 1966. This weekend, I will be crying in a corner and suffering from serious FOMO because I won't be attending the Simola Hillclimb, which has taken place annually in Knysna since 2009. I'll miss Classic Car Friday and the annual parade of epic race cars through the sleepy town. I won't be cheering for my friend and fellow motoring journalist, Jeanette Kok-Kritzinger, who will pilot the only Suzuki Swift Sport up the hill. Jeanette still holds the South African record for the fastest woman, breaking the local land speed record in a Ford Mustang a couple of decades ago. Speaking of Ford, this year's event will also feature a variety of Ford and Ford-powered cars, with an expected 20 000-strong spectator crowd over the three-day event. This will be the seventh-generation Mustang's first appearance at the event as the Mustang GT and Mustang Dark Horse are raring to gallop up the 1.9km Simola Hill. MasterDrive, partners to the Simola Hillclimb official safety car and VIP hospitality rides, will use the latest Mustang GT. At the same time, current South African Rally-Raid Championship driver Lance Woolridge will swap his familiar Ford NWM Rangers cockpit for the Mustang Dark Horse's to perform exhibition runs. With its advanced fourth-generation 5.0-litre Coyote V8 powertrain and unmistakable exterior design cues, the Mustang promises to put on a show and thrill those who get a chance to experience what it's like to sprint up the hill. The performance-focused Shelby brand will attempt to win their respective categories with vehicles steeped in motorsport heritage. Competing in their 12th Simola Hillclimb, with more than 4 000kW, Lindenberg Racing and Shelby South Africa are fielding the most cars in one team at the event. Their track record of success in previous years sets high expectations for their performance in 2025, with six Shelbys competing in the King of The Hill under the all-new Team Shelby Racing umbrella. They will be running three Ford-powered cars in Classic Car Friday. James Temple will be driving his 1965 Shelby Daytona Coupe, which boasts a potent 5.8-litre Ford V8 engine producing 390kW. Paige Lindenberg will be hustling her Ford Fairlane V8, and Djurk Venter will return to the event with the 1972 Group 2 Capri Perana. A diverse line-up of six Shelby Mustangs will tackle the demanding Hillclimb course in the King of the Hill Challenge on Saturday and Sunday. Temple will be behind the rare Shelby Wide Body Super Snake wheel. Lindenberg will pilot the Shelby Speedster alongside Joshua O'Callaghan, Vinesh Padayachy, Deon Smit and Paul Malatjie in a trio of Super Snakes. Also competing in Classic Car Friday is a recreation of a 1965 Ford GT40 driven by Peter MacPherson. The GT40 has achieved numerous podium finishes at the famed Simola Hillclimb, including winning its class at last year's event. The car pays tribute to the historic win by Ford and Shelby at Le Mans in 1966. It celebrates these two legendary automotive brands' incredible performance, endurance and resilience legacy. Powered by a naturally aspirated 4.9-litre V8 engine, this South African-built Ford GT40 tribute car will undoubtedly be a major highlight at the 2025 Classic Car Friday event. Bonafide race cars such as the two March single-seaters driven by Charles Arton and Ian Schofield are powered by the legendary Ford Cosworth BDG engine, as is Franco Scribante's Chevron. Single-seater Formula Ford cars, powered by the Ford Kent engine and driven by Robert Wolk and Simphiwe Mohlahlo, will also be pushed to their limit. For enthusiasts who cannot attend the Simola Hillclimb in person, the entire event—three days of competition—is live-streamed. The live stream is free and can be accessed via the website
