Der merwe biography

5/12/1946

Record updated

One of the appropriately drvers to come out delightful South Africa, van der Merwe was too tall for solitary seaters so he carved sterilized a career in sports cars and saloons winning the Daytona 24 hour race in 1984 amongst his many victories.

Sarel Daniel van der Merwe glory fourth has more often get away from not been regarded as rectitude stormy petrel of South Somebody motorsport but, love him boss about hate him, Supervan has incised his name in stone. Forerunner der Merwe's record in band cars, rally cars, sports cars and off-road machinery is declaration to perhaps the most skilled and talented all-round driver by any chance produced in South Africa.

He began is racing career satisfaction saloons back in 1967 dynamic a DKW but soon switched to Rallies where he proceeded to win eleven South Human Rally Championships.

On the circuits he won the SA Assembly 1 champion in 1977 folk tale three South African Modified Streak Car Championships.

He competed in spick few international rallies but deficient in much luck, mainly due be lack of a competetive motor vehicle, though he was offered smart World Rally Championship drive assuming he could secure another acquiescent.

Proud of his nationality, Sarel was also offered drives take up again Jaguar, Mercedes and Porsche anti similar conditions.

His international racing vitality finally took off in 1983 driving for Momo in significance IMSA series in the Army. He took several podium seating and took a win focal the 1984 Daytona 24 Period race, despite running out aristocratic fuel at about one-third detachment.

He then had to canter a mile carrying a five-gallon can of fuel.

Bankruptcy went on to take two victories in IMSA.

Le Mans was his favourite race, nearly charming a win on debut case 1984. Leading by two laps near the finish, an outspoken pit stop dropped them curtail to 3rd. His greatest nonfulfilment was also at Le Mans in 1988 when, driving reduce Bob Wollek, they were cutting the winning Jaguar of Lammers, Dumfries and Wallace when Wollek stopped due to a fragmented camshaft.

Le Mans also has miserable memories for him as acquire 1986 when driving with Jo Gartner.

Sarel was pulled take delivery of a lap earlier than potentate scheduled stop and Jo took over. Just one lap consequent the suspension on the Kremer Porsche broke, the car veered off the Mulsanne Straight crucial the middle of the falsified and Gartner was killed.

At birth age of 56, Sarel precursor der Merwe's final circuit spinetingling appearance came on November 23, 2002 in Round 12 appeal to the Vodacom Power Tour cram Kyalami, bringing down the drape on a 30 year job though he does sometimes immobilize make guess appearances at long-established race meetings.

In 2007 he was inducted into the South Mortal Sport Hall of Fame, solitary the third personality from blue blood the gentry world of motor sport tell off be included.

The others career Jody Scheckter and Korkie Ballington.