It all started in 1998 after a second trip to JHB to take part in their annual GTi Jamboree, then Chairman Grant van Eck stayed on to watch a round of the Gauteng GTi Challenge (soon changed their name to “VW Challenge” when it broke away from the local club) and to meet the committee. Following another successful GTi Jamboree at Killarney, which included the ever popular 5 lap race, Grant approached local WPMC Chairman Denis Joubert to introduce a local “version” of the GTi Challenge the following year. After many months of negotiation, Denis agreed to allow us to compete at 3 local race meetings in 1999 as demonstration races only. During this time, members rode their everyday road cars that were used at normal club events.

Starting with just 8 cars increasing to 15 by the 3rd race meeting, the seed was planted. Some of the early drivers that were well known in the local club scene included the likes of Grant van Eck, Brett van Eck, Wanie Phillips, Greig Edwards, Cobus Erasmus, Peet van der Walt, Anton Slabbert, Paul Winter, Peter Leid, Anton Kriel and Robby Ferroli. Some still race today.

We now had our foot in the door, however we still had some work to do. In order to compete in 2000, MSA insisted that we comply with normal rules and install roll cages, seats, harnesses and extinguishers – not taken lightly by our drivers, a few die hards stuck it out and did what they needed to do to keep the Scrutineers at bay. The next step was to put a set of rules together that was a cross over from the older Gauteng rules, but allowed us to maintain the cars that we had and allow other members to make an easy transition to challenge racing. After a lot of hard work we finally convinced all the powers that be and 2000 brought with it 7 local race meetings. And so GTi “Club” Challenge was born.