Gerotek Test Facility, 4 September. Chery South Africa, a division of McCarthy Limited, has set the South African and African 48-hour endurance records for 800cc and 1100cc vehicles.

As part of this first-of-its-kind record-setting run, which kicked off at 12 noon of 2 September, three Chery QQ3 1100cc TXE and two QQ3 800cc TX models, powered by Shell Helix lubricants, have completed more than 6 300km and 2423 laps on the 3km high-speed oval track at Gerotek Test Facility.
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Gerotek Test Facility, 4 September. Chery South Africa, a division of McCarthy Limited, has set the South African and African 48-hour endurance records for 800cc and 1100cc vehicles.

As part of this first-of-its-kind record-setting run, which kicked off at 12 noon of 2 September, three Chery QQ3 1100cc TXE and two QQ3 800cc TX models, powered by Shell Helix lubricants, have completed more than 6 300km and 2423 laps on the 3km high-speed oval track at Gerotek Test Facility.

The vehicles experienced no technical or mechanical problems and they only came into the pit area for scheduled refueling, driver change, periodical tyre changes and the cleaning of windows.

The event was sanctioned and overseen by Motorsport South Africa and saw the QQ3 1100cc and the 800cc reach top speeds of 159km/h and 139km/h respectively.

To bear testament to the fuel efficiency of these vehicles, the records were set at a low of 7.4 litres/100km for the 1100cc and 8.6 litres/100km for the 800cc. At this point, it is important to note that the vehicles were running flat out at their maximum speeds. The number one car, a QQ3 1100cc, managed an average speed of 151.2 km/h, while the best performing 800cc model averaged 132.7 km/h over the 48-hour period.

After 48 hours on the track, the record was set at 7 262km and 6 369km for the Chery QQ3 1100cc and 800cc respectively. All the participating vehicles covered a total of more than 33 351km – a distance that could take you almost all the way to China and back, and that at top speed!

The earlier records, leading up to the 48-hour mark were as follows:

Time Records – 1100cc:

1 hour – A distance of 150km was completed and an average speed of 150km/h was reached.
3 hours – A distance of 453km was completed and an average speed of 151km/h was reached.
6 hours – A distance of 908km was completed and an average of 151 km/h was reached.
12 hours – A distance of 1813km was completed and an average speed of 151km/h was reached.
24 hours – A distance of 3623km was completed and an average speed of 151km/h was reached.

Time Records – 800cc:

1 hour - A distance of 132km was completed and an average speed of 132km/h was reached.
3 hours – A distance of 408km was completed and an average speed of 136km/h was reached.
6 hours – A distance of 806km was completed and an average speed of 134km/h was reached.
12 hours – A distance of 1606km was completed and an average speed of 134km/h was reached.
24 hours – A distance of 3195km was completed and an average speed of 133km/h was reached.

Distance Records – 1100cc

50km – At this point 17 laps had been completed within 00:20:26:788
100km – At this point 34 laps had been completed within 00:40:33:666
200km – At this point 67 laps had been completed within 01:19:35:339
500km – At this point 167 laps had been completed within 03:19:35:817
1000km – At this point 334 laps had been completed within 06:36:54:943
2000km – At this point 668 laps had been completed within 13:15:22:964
5000km – At this point 1669 laps had been completed within 33:02:51:143

Distance Records – 800cc

50km – At this point 17 laps had been completed within 00:23:08:609
100km – At this point 34 laps had been completed within 00:45:48:409
200km – At this point 67 laps had been completed within 01:29:36:389
500km – At this point 167 laps had been completed within 03:45:10:492
1000km – At this point 334 laps had been completed within 07:29:08:143
2000km – At this point 668 laps had been completed within 15:00:36:761
5000km – At this point 1669 laps had been completed within 37:33:51:525

“To our knowledge, it is the first time that a Chinese vehicle manufacturer has managed to set a 48-hour record and it is definitely a first here in South Africa and Africa in general,” said Brett Soso, managing director of Chery SA. The international standard for endurance records is usually 24 hours.