Story: Evan Rothman
Pictures: Motorpics
Andre Cleenwerck is one of the most consistent drivers in the South African Rally Championship. This National Class Champion pushes his rally driving to its limits to not only increase his speed, but also to improve his skills as much as possible. Taking on the Volkswagen Rally this weekend, Cleenwerck from Cape Town will be a driver to keep an eye on this weekend to win Class A5.
H&H: Congratulations on your Class A5 win in the Rally of South Africa. How was the event for you?
Andre Cleenwerck (AC): “The event went well without any problems, except the puncture we suffered in SS3, which was the 56km stage. This saw our lead vanish and we knew we had a tough day ahead of us the Saturday. Fortunately, things went our way and we managed a class win.”
H&H: You face stiff competition this year. What will you be doing to win the Drivers’ Championship title this year?
AC: “I will try my best and with good equipment would like to win it. I will push as hard as I usually do and try not to make it easy for the younger guys. “It will also be interesting to see what happens when we eventually get our new cars.”
H&H: Ashley Haigh-Smith is shaping up extremely well this year. Who are you main rivals for 2010?
AC: My main rivals are Ashley and Morne’ [Janse van Rensburg]. Ashley has become quite quick and is not an easy opponent. We have great battles with each other on events. Morne’ has also picked up his pace and is driving well.”
H&H: A former Class A5 South African Champion. You have always had the good fortune to be at the sharp end of Class A5. What is your recipe for your success?
AC: “Diving aggressively and knowing where to pace myself. I’ve also always had the ability to set a very good first stage time. The team (BP Volkswagen Racing and Citisport) has also given me great support.”
H&H: A national and regional competitor: how is your 2010 season panning out?
AC: “On the national scene, it hasn’t been a great first half of the season for me. With two non-finishes due to mechanical problems, it has left me watching my rivals race off into the sunset.
“It has been tough, but I like a challenge. I’ll be fighting all the way to the end of the season.
“I’ve been in these situations before. The regionals are purely there for practice and when the time and budget allows. I love driving on the roads in Cape Town.”
H&H: Your new Volkswagen Polo Vivo was reportedly expected to debut at the Rally of South Africa, but has been held back. How is the new car going?
AC: “They are busy with the cars at Volkswagen Motorsport and trying to get them done for the Volkswagen Rally. We’ll have to wait and see.”
H&H: What has been your best moment in your career?
AC: “Having endless duels with my team mate Gugu [Zulu] and pushing each other harder and harder. Also, winning a very tough championship in 2008, when our cars weren’t the strongest in the class after the fuel regulations were changed.”
H&H: Have you had any “this is going to hurt” moments?
AC: “Enough! I’ve rolled a few times.”
H&H: Your Volkswagen CitiGolf A5 is a great rally car, with a fantastic record. Please tell us about your machine.
AC: “It’s a 1400cc 8-valve Volkswagen engine with a few modifications. The gearbox is a 6-speed unit with limited slip diff. Suspension in front makes use of standard control arms, which are strengthened, and the rear is a split axel allowing each wheel to operate independently. The shocks used are Reigers front and rear. The engine and gearbox mountings are modified units. Tyre size is 185/60/15. The rest of the car is what you would find on a standard CitiGolf.”
H&H: What is your favourite event?
AC: “For the roads it would be the Osram Rally, whether it is in Aliwal North or Dewetsdorp. They both have their different challenges.
“Then for the event it would be the Volkswagen Rally, because it’s a home event away from home.”
H&H: What is your most memorable rally moment this season? And in your career?
AC: “This season it must have been the Sasol Rally. On SS1 in the mist: when we set one hell of a time and beat all the A7 cars and and were 20sec slower than the slowest S2000.
“In my career it must have been the last stage at Rally Star on the Gauteng Rally with an outside chance of winning the Class A5 championship again. While leading we experienced an engine sensor problem and after Des [de Fortier] and myself failed to push the car, I had to reverse it over the last hill, then turn around and idle to the end of the stage… How frustrating!”
H&H: Regional rallying in the Western Cape is highly competitive…
AC: “It is fairly competitive with some quick cars and drivers around. I’ve been battling to get my Class A7 Volkswagen Polo to run properly after the engine was rebuilt in Cape Town, but without success. I’ll be back!
“Besides the competition, the atmosphere is great with plenty of laughs shared between stages and service parks.
“The roads offer so much variation and it is therefore good practise.”
H&H: Some F1 drivers talk of “tunnel vision” when setting hot laps. Do you experience something of this in rallying?
AC: “No. I think its because I do not achieve the speeds that they do. I also think that because in F1 there are walls/barriers on either side and they concentrate more in front of them they experience it whereas in rallying there are no safety barriers or walls and you have to continually know whats around you.”
H&H: How do you mentally prepare for a stage? A rally?
AC: “I clear my mind and only focus on the stage that lies ahead of me.”
H&H: Punctures are the worst setback for a driver. What else in a stage gets you down?
AC: “Mechanical problems that end your event prematurely, especially if you are in a good position.”
H&H: What are your aims for 2011 and beyond in rallying?
AC: “I’d like to enter a higher class next year, maybe A6. And then, to prove myself in a faster car. I mean, I do drive a 2.0-litre 20-valve Class A7 on the regional events. It is, unfortunately, out of my hands and up to my team boss at Volkswagen Racing. I would ultimately like to work towards the premier Class S2000 and be at the top of my game.”
H&H: What do you do when not rallying?
AC: “I enjoy the outdoors and spending time with friends and family. So I go camping whenever I get the chance. I also like 4x4ing, and spend lots of time with friends on 4×4 trails.”