South Africa's ace grand prix driver Jody Scheckter starred in a new role when he co-drove a works BMW to victory in the Wynns 1000, an international endurance race, at the Kyalami track near Johannesburg on Saturday (6 November).

SYNOPSIS: The two works BMW teams west the pace from the start of the race. Both works cars were CSL 3,0 models.

Scheckter shared the driving of car number 2 with Harold Grohs and Gunnar Nilsson. But it was the other BMW, car number 1, with Sweden's Ronnie Petersen and John Fitzpatrick co-driving that took the early lead.

The BMW's swopped the lead six times during the first seven laps of the 1,000 kilometres (about 620 miles) race. Eventually Petersen built up a sizeable break.

The race settled down with the BMWs leading last year's winner Hans Heyer in the Zakspeed Escort, with Stuart Graham in the Chev Camaro behind him. Scheckter's relentless driving began to take its toll on the rest of the field as the race progressed.

Only Petersen, another formula one driver, could match him.

Another BMW with another Scheckter at the wheel also put in a tremendous performance. Ian Scheckter, Jody's younger brother, in the BMW 530 was to fill fourth place.

Jody Scheckter was still in second place when he brought his car in for a chance of drivers. Cunnar Nilsson took the wheel and immediately resumed the pursuit of Petersen.

Petersen brought his BMW in for a driver change soon after, and then things began going wrong.

The car was eventually forced out of the race with a fractured fuel tank.

The female driver in the race, Desire Wilson, put up a creditable battle in her works Alfa Romeo before handing over the wheel to Louis Cloete.

The Chev Camaro of Stuart Graham and Reine Wisell was to fill third place, completing 231 laps of the 4 kilometres (2.5 mile) circuit. The race was finished as soon as one car completed 244 laps -- the 1000 kilometre mark. And that car was number 2.