Round three of the Engen SupaKart championships took place at the rollercoaster hillside Idube circuit just outside Pietermaritzberg on Saturday (9-July).

Once again it was the Super Rok class that claimed the headlines and the controversy and a spectacular accident will be talked about for years to come.

The opening race was characterised by a lot of pushing and shoving and eventually won by local ace Mathew Swanepoel aboard a CRG as the three drivers behind him, Ian Young (Birel), Simon Moss (Dixon Batteries/Southern Sun TonyKart) and Chassen Bright (GO chain wax/RKT/Zanardi) were all handed five place penalties for their driving conduct.

A massive first corner accident involving Swanepoel, Moss, Bright and Young caused race two to be red-flagged and then Young was penalised again in the third heat after an incident with Ricky Hill.

Despite a spectacular spin in the final, Swanepoel still managed to scoop the overall win with a three-point advantage over Ayrton Good (TonyKart) who was the same margin ahead of Moss. Former junior champion Mitchell Licen made a return to the sport with a borrowed TonyKart and did well to take fourth ahead of Bright and Tecno mounted Philip Viljoen.

The big news in Junior Rok honours was that runaway championship leader Luke Herring did not win.

Instead the big trophy went home to Pretoria with RKT/Zanardi’s new signing Michael Taylor who put in an ace performance to win heat two after only qualifying 10th fastest.

Birel driver Nathan Parkin won two of the three heats but a frightening crash in race two cost him an almost certain overall win and he was forced to settle for the runner-up trophy. Castrol Toyota’s Birel driver Morgan McColl had a superb day and broke his Idube jinx with a well deserved third place.

Fourth went the way of TonyKart’s Benjamin Habig as Sheldon van der Linde (Ferodo/Autoquip Birel) was fifth ahead of Jonathan Wing as Herring was seventh.

With the biggest field of the day, Mini Rok was a humdinger as only four points separated the top five drivers. Bradley Liebenberg (Birel) and Chayse Augustus ended the day tied on 89-points, with Liebenberg getting the honours after a countback.

RKT/Zanardi’s Kohen Bam was beaten for the first time this year and very relieved to grab third place after a troubled day as Clinton Bezuidenhout (Kart Shoppe/Birel), Henry Bam (RKT/Zanardi) and SAKRA’s Nicholas Thompson rounded off the top six.

After a day of close racing, controversial decisions and upset results the titles in all three classes are wide open and the scene has been set for an exciting grand final at Vereeniging in August.

East London, Saturday – The historic East London Grand Prix circuit lived up to its reputation for drama here today at the penultimate round of the WesBank Super Series.

Championships were decided, others were left in limbo and amid a litany of protest and counter protest a young lion and a grizzled veteran produced two motorcycle races of epic proportions – with a twist in the tail. It was a meeting that had a bit of just about everything, and the remaining championship issues will be decided in the Motorsport South Africa boardroom and at the final outing of the season at Kyalami at the end of November.

For sheer drama one would have to look far and wide to surpass the fare dished up by championship contenders Greg Gildenhuys (Autohaus BMW) and Lance Isaacs (Bikefin Honda) in two magnificent Interfile SA Superbike Championship races. Gildenhuys, a gifted youngster, and Isaacs, a veteran in the twilight of his career, kept a good crowd turnout spellbound.

Gildenhuys shadowed Isaacs for nine and a half laps in race one and then dived past the Cape Town based rider on the final corner. Race two looked to be turning into a carbon copy of the first heat, when Gildenhuys decided to make a move at the halfway mark.

Isaacs responded and the pair fought a high speed duel that was breathtaking. The Interfile Superbikes hit speeds of 280 km/h plus at the East London circuit, and this makes huge demands on bravery.

Battles going on behind Gildenhuys and Isaacs hardly mattered, and once again the climax arrived at the final corner. This time Isaacs faltered under the Gildenhuys attack, fell at Beacon Bend and limped home in eighth place

Gildenhuys led home Dane Hellyer (Bikefin Honda) and Nicolas Grobler (Jonway BMW) to leave the championship poised on a knife edge. Six wins in the last six starts had now given Gildenhuys a 12 point lead over Isaacs with matters ostensibly to be settled at Kyalami.

Then came the bombshell. Guildenhuys was excluded from both races for a technical issue, with the BMW team predictably appealing against the decision,

The “brat pack” Interfile Supersport brigade also served up two supercharged races with a first and a second wrapping up championship issues for Interfile/Gallardo Yamaha rider Ronan Quarmby. Despite injury problems, Quarmby has dominated the series but was given a run for his money today by Alberton teenager Steven Odendaal on the MS Aircon Suzuki.

Like Isaacs later in the day, Odendaal blotted his copybook in the first race with Quarmby then leading home James Egan (Thundersport Yamaha) and Dave McFadden on the Race Prep Honda. Young Odendaal then atoned for earlier indiscretions in race two.

Odendaal produced a desperate move, and made it stick, at the last corner that threw a little cold water on Quarmby’s championship celebrations. It set the seal on what had been an intriguing duel with Egan picking up his second podium of the day by coming home behind Odendaal and Quarmby.

Another Young Turk wrapped up a championship when teenager Brandon Auby (ELT International Jaguar) put the finishing touches to the WesBank V8 Supercar title. When closest challenger Jaco Correia (LiquiMoly Chev Corvette) won the opening heat ahead of young Auby there were visions of late championship drama.

Correia led home an Auby family train with father Deon (ELT International Holden) sandwiched between sons Brandon and Jimmy who was having his first outing of the season in an ELT International Lumina. Within a lap of heat two the Correia challenge had fizzled out when the Welkom based driver parked the Corvette at Cocabana Corner.

A spin also dropped Auby down the pecking order but at the end of the day he had put the championship out of reach of Correia who will rue accidents and reliability issues. Family honour was restored, however, when Correia’s brother Danie took the win ahead of Deon Auby and veteran former champion Ben Morgenrood in the BM Auto Jaguar.

The GT Class title is, however, still up for grabs. A win and a third kept veteran Des Gutzeit (Dezzi Mustang) seven points clear of local driver Darron Gudmanz who picked up two second places in the Indigo Boats Chev Corvette.

Another veteran in Larry Wilford (Fuchs Mustang) stays in the race on mathematical grounds. After missing the first heat with mechanical problems Wilford won the second race to keep alive the slenderest of hopes.

Unofficial scoring left champions elect Anthony Taylor and Graeme Nathan each needing a single point at Kyalami to clinch the Class A and Class T titles in the Bridgestone Production Car Championship. Both Taylor (AfroX BMW) and Nathan (IndyOil/Kaye Eddie VW Golf GTi) arrived in East London with healthy points leads, and both endured hard times in the two back to back sprint races that form part of the Bridgestone format.

Reigning champion Johan Fourie (IndyOil Audi) and Michael Stephen (Xtreme Team Audi) won the two sprint races ahead of Melvill Priest in the second Afrox BMW. Taylor never featured but kept the best for last and romped home ahead of Stephen and Fourie in the feature race.

It was much the same scenario in Class T where Gennaro Bonafede (Ferodo VW Golf GTi) and surprise package Hein Bose (MFC Mazda3) took the sprint races. Reigning champion Gary Formato (Team Ford/Nando’s Ford Focus) then won the feature race ahead of Bose with Nathan picking up enough points that will see him in a championship comfort zone at Kyalami.

There was more drama after Matthew Hodges (PG Glass VW Polo) looked to have secured back to back Engen Volkswagen Cup titles. Hodges won the opening heat, his 12th win in 16 starts, ahead of Graham Donker (Mini Maxi Panelbeaters VW Polo) and Kyle Barnes in the CFP Tyres/Conti World VW Polo.

Barnes has come on strongly in the second half of the season, and took a maiden win in race two with Miguel Pasqualli (Xtreme Team VW Polo) and Hodges completing the podium. Hodges, Barnes and Shaun la Reservee (Alpine Motors VW Polo) were then excluded from the results of both races for a technical infringement – with team manager Iain Pepper lodging an immediate appeal which made the results provisional.

The Formula Volkswagen title was settled last time out in Cape Town, but newly crowned champion Simon Moss (Southern Sun/Dixon Batteries FVW) was a little over ambitious and put himself out of the running on the first lap of the first race. Tasmin Pepper (PG Glass/Plastomark/VW Racing FVW) then drove impeccably to take her first national win in the series ahead of Chad van Beurden (Beurden Construction FVW) and Daniel Rowe in the LUK/GC Diesel FVW.

Normal service was resumed when Moss won race two ahead of Miss Pepper and Ernie van der Walt in the second Southern Sun/Dixon Batteries FVW.

Results:
WesBank V8 Supercars:
Race 1 - Super GT Class - 1 J Correia (Chev Corvette); 2 B Auby (Jaguar); 3 D Auby (Holden).
GT Class – 1 D Gutzeit (Mustang); 2 D Gudmanz (Chev Corvette); 3 R du Plessis (Mustang).
Race 2 – Super GT Class – 1 D Correia (Chev Corvette); 2 D Auby (Holden); 3 B Morgenrood (Jaguar).
GT Class – 1 L Wilford (Mustang); 2 D Gudmanz (Chev Corvette); 3 D Gutzeit (Mustang).

Bridgestone Production Cars:
Race 1 – 1 J Fourie (Audi A4(); 2 M Priest (BMW 335i); 3 M Stephen (Audi A4).
Class T – 1 G Bonafede (VW Golf GTi); 2 H Bose (Mazda3); 3 K Quarmby (VW Golf GTi).
Race 2 – 1 M Stephen (Audi A4); 2 M Priest (BMW 335i); 3 T Sipuka (Audi A4).
Class T – 1 H Bose (Mazda3); 2 G Formato (Ford Focus); 3 G Bonafede (VW Golf GTi).

Engen VW Cup:
Race 1 – 1 M Hodges (VW Polo); 2 G Donker (VW Polo); 3 K Barnes (VW Polo).
Race 2 - 1 K Barnes (VW Polo); 2 M Pasqualli (VW Polo); 3 M Hodges (VW Polo).
Results subject to appeal.

Formula Volkswagen:
Race 1 – 1 T Pepper (Formula VW); 2 C van Beurden (Formula VW); 3 D Rowe (Formula VW).
Race 2 – 1 S Moss (FVW); 2 T Pepper (FVW); 3 E vd Walt (FVW).

Interfile SA Superbike:
Race 1 - 1 G Gildenhuys (BMW); 2 L Isaacs (Honda); 3 C Leeson (Honda).
Race 2 – 1 G Gildenhuys (BMW); 2 D Hellyer (Honda); 3 N Grobler (BMW).
Results subject to appeal.

Interfile SA Supersport:
Race 1 – 1 R Quarmby (Yamaha); 2 J Egan (Yamaha); 3 D McFadden (Honda).
Race 2 – 1 S Odendaal (Suzuki); 2 R Quarmby (Yamaha); 3 J Egan (Yamaha).

STUNNING TOYOTA KALAHARI 1000 DESERT RACE WIN FOR GROBLER/TER STEGE

A stunning performance from veterans Hannes Grobler and Hennie ter Stege has confined Toyota to having to wait for another year if they are to win the Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1000 Desert Race.

Toyota have not won their own race, the only marathon event on the Absa Off Road calendar, since 1999 and for the second year in a row finished with four cars in the top five in the Production Vehicle category – and missed out on first prize. Grobler’s legions of fans in Botswana went into ecstasies when he and ter Stege brought the diesel powered RFS BMW home with more than nine minutes to spare over championship leaders Chris Visser and Japie Badenhorst in the RFS Toyota Hilux.

At the start of today’s racing section Toyota must have fancied their chances of ending the win drought, and any bookmaker would have given enticing odds against a BMW win. The two factory Castrol Toyota Hilux entries of Anthony Taylor and Robin Houghton and Duncan Vos and Rob Howie led Visser and Badenhorst, and matters looked to be under control for the race sponsors. Grobler and ter Stege were fourth, but after more than seven hours of racing only around three minutes separated the four cars. There was a little added insurance for Toyota with George Barkhuizen and David van Wyck (AIM Toyota Hilux) lying in a handy fifth place.

But after an intriguing chase in sweltering conditions and a total race distance of 964 kilometres, Grobler and ter Stege finally finished nine minutes ahead of championship leaders Visser and Badenhorst. Vos, who was looking for a fourth successive win with all his previous successes coming with Nissan, and Howie were a further eight minutes adrift.

The ebullient Grobler first won this race way back in 1986 and a policeman, charged with the difficult job of crowd control at the finish, quipped that today would be a public holiday in Botswana. It was Grobler’s fifth Desert Race win and by far his most dramatic. “I can’t believe it,” said an emotional Grobler at the finish. “We always felt the BMW had potential, but to win a race like this so early in its development is phenomenal. This is always a tough race but the car was great and Hennie did a wonderful job of not getting us lost.”

All the various race equations were thrown into disarray within 30 kilometres of the restart at Kumakwane, 25 kilometres west of Gaborone. Taylor and Houghton, who shared Toyota’s last win on this event with Apie Reyneke, went out with a broken gearbox and midway through the first of the two loops that made up the final day Grobler/ter Stege had moved into second and were chasing Vos and Howie.

Midway through the final loop Grobler/ter Stege were ahead of Vos/Howe by less than 10 seconds, and it was game on. But the sting in tail that characterises this event struck again and when Vos and Howie ran into a steering problem 10 kilometres from the finish, Visser and Badenhorst sneaked through to consolidate their championship lead. There was a little extra consolation for Toyota with Barkhuizen and van Wyck edging out the Atlas Copco Toyota Hilux of Gary Bertholdt and Andre Vermeulen to complete the top five. A victory in Class D also helped sweeten bitter disappointment.

With all the other Class D runners suffering weekends to forget Deon Venter and Ian Palmer, in the 4x4 Mega World Toyota Hilux, cruised home to an impressive sixth overall. It was only the Toyota’s second competitive outing and lifts Venter/Palmer into championship contention.

A little history was also made in Class E where teenager Lance Woolridge, in his first Desert Race, and Ward Huxtable won Class E in the Team Ford Ranger. Woolridge’s father Neil is a former winner of the Desert Race and his son’s performance was ample compensation for the former SA champion.

Woolridge senior and Kenny Skjoldhammer dropped out of the race on Saturday in the factory Ford Ranger running in the SP Class. A proud father was full of smiles with young Woolridge and Huxtable tightening their hold on the Class E championship.

VARIAWA / ROUSSEAU take Specials victory

It was mission accomplished for former South African champion Shameer Variawa and Siegfried Rousseau as they continued their love affair with the Toyota 1000 Desert Race today with the Team Total pair scoring a hat-trick of wins in the Special Vehicle category on the only marathon event on the Absa Off Road Championship calendar.

In a master class display, Variawa and Rousseau, in the Team Total Porter, finished a slender one minute and 36 second advantage over 2007 winners and national champions Kallie and Quintin Sullwald, in the Elegant Fuel BAT. A second Sullwald father and son combination, Herman and Wichard Sullwald, completed the podium in the Sullwald Racing SVR.

A third win this season for Variawa and Rousseau also moves them a further five points ahead of Kallie and Quintin Sullwald in the overall championship. For the Sullwald family an impressive performance for the second event in a row keeps the pressure on Variawa and Rousseau over the final two events of the year.

The weekend, however, belonged to Variawa and Rousseau and after finishing fifth on the Donaldson Prologue on Friday to determine start positions they completely dictated matters. The race was then effectively over when the pair opened up a lead of just over four minutes on the first racing section on Saturday.

“It turned into a perfect weekend for us,” said Variawa. “We were happy to start in fifth on Friday and on the first racing section all we were aiming at was a clean run. “We got what we wanted, and while we knew Kallie and Quintin would put in a big charge all we had to do was control the pace from the front. It would be nice if all races were as straightforward as this one turned out.”

The top five in Class A were completed by another father and son combination in Nardus and Louis Alberts in the Wrapsa BAT. They had a bit to spare over local driver Keith du Toit and Lesotho veteran Ashley Thorn who showed great patience to grab an impressive result in the White Star Racing BAT.

Two other impressive displays saw fourth and fifth overall go to a pair of Class P crews with Cape Town brothers Johan and Deon Bezuidenhout (Adenco BAT) edging out championship leaders Johan van Staden and James Rossouw in the Atlas Copco BAT. The brothers reported a clean run, and it was a fine recovery for van Staden and Rossouw who started ninth in class after problems on the Donaldson Prologue.

Third in Class P went to Swaziland driver John Thompson and stand-in navigator Zelda Niemandt in a Zarco. It was a plucky performance from Niemandt who was suffering from an eye ailment on what was her first national outing of the season.

The battle of the veterans in Class B finally went the way of Coetzee Labuscagne and daughter Sandra, in the Raysonics Zarco, who outlasted former champion Giel Nel and Jaco Jonck in the Zarco Truggy. In an ironic twist it is Nel who prepares the Labuscagne car with the two Zarcos the only finishers in the class.

 Round 4 of the 2010 ENGEN SUPA KARTS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS  

Bridgestone Adrenalin Raceway – Vereeniging – 25 September  

In a day of fast paced drama, the thrilling 2010 Engen Supa Karts National Championship came to a close at the Bridgestone Adrenalin Raceway in Vereeniging.  

Despite not feeling well, Durban’s Clinton Bezuidenhout (Unity Car Hire) wrapped up a good season by winning the Junior GP championship with a win and a sixth. He then sat out the final as the title was safely his.  

Winner of the day was Bradley Liebenberg with two wins after taking second behind Bezuidenhout in the opening race. Runner-up was Liam Pienaar, but he was only one point clear of Kohen Bam. A countback settled the battle for fourth and Riaas Asmal got the position despite being tied on points with Michael Potgieter. Trent Varejes completed the top six after being tied with Jarred Odendal.  

The Junior Rok title was settled under a cloud of controversy. Kelvin van der Linde (Birel) won the two opening races and it came down to the final heat which Mathew Swanepoel (CRG) needed to win with Kelvin van der Linde (Birel) lower than second.

It ended in van der Linde’s favour when Mathew Swanepoel (CRG) was shovelled out of the race coming onto the pit straight as they came to start lap three. “A Birel driver took me out,” he said angrily.  That left Vd Linde to take the day’s overall win ahead of final heat winner Chad McIver as a good result in the opening race saw Castrol Toyota Development driver Morgan McColl claim third place. 

Super Rok was even more controversial as there was drama throughout the day. The opening race saw title contenders Ian Young (Birel) and Simon Moss (Tecno) both have poor results which left Chad van Beurden (Birel) sneak into contention after finishing second behind Wesleigh Orr (TonyKart).  

False starts characterised race two and there there were no fewer than six attempts to start the race. Young even managed to drive over the front of Moss’ kart on one of the warm up laps as he made his way through the field after stopping out on the circuit with a mechanical problem.

Van Beurden eventually won the race which set the scene for a winner take all final. Young emerged smiling from a nail-biting final after a controversial clash between him and van Beurden resulted in Young grabbing the lead, the win and the championship, but results are provisional until various protests and appeals have been heard.  

an Beurden’s determined drives won the day ahead of a fired up Duke Ridgway and Orr.  

Results:  

Junior GP

1. Bradley Liebenberg - 102 points: 2. Liam Pienaar - 91: 3. Kohen Bam - 86: 4. Riaas Asmal - 85: 5. Michael Potgieter - 85: 6. Trent Varejes - 74 

Junior Rok

1: Kelvin vd Linde – 100 points: 2. Chad McIver - 90: 3. Morgan McColl - 85: 4. Mathew Swanepoel – 83: 5. Michael Taylor - 83: 6. Nathan Parkins - 80 

Super Rok

1: Chad van Beurden – 95 points: 2: Duke Ridgway - 89: 3. Wesleigh Orr - 88: 4. Phillip Viljoen - 79: 5. Naomi Schiff - 76: 6. Ricky Hill - 75. 

EXCITING DAY AT WESBANK SUPER SERIES MEETING

Pretoria, Saturday – If they dished out man of the meeting awards at WesBank Super Series meetings Greg Gildenhuys would have been at the front of the queue at today’s sixth round at Zwartkops.

The talented Gildenhuys produced two thoroughly professional performances to score a double in the Interfile SA Superbike Championship event. More important from a championship point of view is that Gildenhuys took a big slice out of the lead veteran Cape Town rider Lance Isaacs took to Zwartkops.

Isaacs, on the Bikefin Honda, was 31 points clear of Gildenhuys, on the Autohaus BMW, going into the meeting but at the end of the day the lead was down to 21 points. With 50 points up for grabs at each of the remaining three meetings this season, it is now game on.

In both today’s heats Gildenhuys timed to perfection his bid for the lead. He twice surged past Isaacs with four laps to go and it was all over bar the shouting.

In two fiercely contested races Bikefin Honda youngster Dane Hellyer and reigning champion Sheridan Morais (Emtek Racing Aprilia) shared third places. It was a gutsy performance from Morais who was not feeling well, but stuck to his guns to earn valuable points.

Talented Alberton teenager Steven Odendaal would have been right behind Gildenhuys in the man of the meeting parade. Odendaal (MS Aircon Suzuki) also took a double in the Interfile SA Supersport heats but had to fight tooth and nail, particularly in race two, to take his tally of wins this season to three. There was plenty of drama in the Supersport category. Championship leader Ronan Quarmby (Interfile/Gallardo Yamaha) was one of half a dozen riders sent to the back of the grid in both races for a rules infringement during official qualifying.

With only a three point lead over Robert Portman (Emtek Triumph) in the championship it was a setback for Quarmby – with worse to come. A storming ride in race one took Quarmby to fourth behind Odendaal, Brent Harran (Bikefin Honda) and Bjorn Estment (NFB Financial Services Yamaha).

Quarmby was then docked 30 seconds for passing Portman, who finished fifth, under yellow flags. That dropped Quarmby to 15 and gave him a solitary point.

Another storming ride in race two saw Quarmby finish third behind Odendaal and Clinton Alberts (Cayenne Racing Kyalami Honda) who were tied together throughout 12 absorbing laps. Portman was fifth but at the end of the day had turned the three point championship deficit into a four point advantage.

At the other end of the scale Anthony Taylor and Brandon Auby, leading the Bridgestone and WesBank V8 Supercar championships respectively, did their title hopes no harm at all. And, in Taylor’s case he did it without registering a win in three races.

Hennie Groenewald (Timken Subaru) and Reghardt Roets (Rough Rider BMW 335i) shared the wins in the two back to back sprint races. Afrox BMW team-mates Melvill Priest and Taylor completed the podium in race one, with Taylor and Dawie Olivier (Timken Subaru) completing the top three in race two.

Groenewald then won the 15 lap feature race from Taylor, Olivier, Priest and Roets. The upshot at the end of the day was that Taylor increased his championship lead over Priest, Michael Stephen (Xtreme Team Audi A4) and reigning champion Johan Fourie (IndyOil Audi) who retired from the feature race after clipping the back of Tschops Sipuka’s Xtreme Team Audi.

Class T leader Graeme Nathan (IndyOil VW Golf GTi) also left Zwartkops with an increased championship majority. The sprint race wins went to Michael van Rooyen (Team Ford Nando’s Focus) and Gennaro Bonadfede (Ferodo VW Golf GTi) but Nathan won the feature event which carried double points.

In terms of the championship the important factor from Nathan’s point of view was that he outscored reigning champion Gary Formato, in a second Team Ford Nando’s Focus, by a handsome margin. Two thirds and a second in the feature race were also a fair return for youngster Kieren Quarmby in the Interfile VW Golf GTi.

On the WesBank V8 Supercar front teenager Auby (ELT International Jaguar) tightened his hold on the championship with a first race win and a third in race two which was run from the usual inverted grid. Auby’s championship hopes were given a further boost when challenger Jaco Correia (LiquiMoly Corvette), pulled into the pits with power steering problems at the end of the race one warm-up lap.

Auby then cruised to victory over his father, Deon, in the ELT Holden and veteran former champion Ben Morgenrood in the BM Auto Jaguar. Race two then produced a grandstand finish with Danie Correia (LiquiMoly Corvette) scoring his first ever win by holding off brother Jaco and young Auby.

Race one in the GT Class was won by Larry Wilford (Fuchs Mustang) who arrived home from an overseas trip just in time to make it to Zwartkops for official qualifying. Wilford led home veteran Des Gutzeit (Dezzi Mustang) and Romano Sartori in the AMC Jaguar.

The second heat saw Darron Gudmanz (Indigo Boats Corvette) move ahead of Wilford late in the proceedings. Sartori completed a good day by taking another third place in a championship that looks to be heading all the way to the wire.

The Formula Volkswagen championship, however, is all but over. Two more wins for teenager Simon Moss (Southern Sun/Dixon Batteries FVW) have left the Port Elizabeth youngster just about high and dry.

Moss took two comfortable wins ahead of Tasmin Pepper (PG Glass/Plastomark/VW Racing FVW) who was as steady as ever. Gordon Connelly (OCC/Cowan Signs FVW) and youngster Ernie van der Walt (Southern Sun/Dixon Batteries FVW) shared third places.

Reigning champion Mathew Hodges (PG Glass VW Polo) had a streak of six wins in a row broken in heat one of the Engen Volkswagen Cup. Hodges trailed in behind Kosie Weyers (Xtreme Team VW Polo), Divan Robertson (Ferodo VW Polo) and Kyle Barnes (CFP Tyres/Autoworld Wheel and Tyre VW Polo) in the first race.

Hodges then set the record straight, and tightened his hold on the title chase, with a comfortable second heat win. There was plenty of action behind him with Weyers eventually leading home Robertson, Robyn Kruger (Azoic Panelbeaters/Nyaleti Investments VW Polo) and Bryan Morgan in the Timken VW Polo.

Results

WesBank V8 Supercars

Race 1 – (Super GT Class) 1 B Auby (Jaguar); 2 D Auby (Holden); 3 B Morgenrood (Jaguar).
(GT Class): 1 L Wilford (Mustang); 2 D Gutzeit (Mustang); 3 R Sartori (Jaguar).
Race 2 – (Super GT Class) 1 D Correia (Corvette); 2 J Correia (Corvette); 3 B Auby (Jaguar).
(GT Class): 1 D Gudmanz (Corvette); 2 L Wilford (Mustang); 3 R Sartori (Jaguar).

Bridgestone Production Cars:

Race 1 – 1 H Groenewald (Subaru); 2 M Priest (BMW 335i); 3 A Taylor (BMW 335i).
(Class T): 1 M van Rooyen (Ford Focus); 2 G Nathan (VW Golf GTi); 3 K Quarmby (VW Golf GTi).
Race 2 – 1 R Roets (BMW 335i); 2 A Taylor (BMW 335i); 3 D Olivier (Subaru).
(Class T): 1 G Bonafede (VW Golf GTi); S Duminy (Ford Focus); 3 K Quarmby (VW Golf GTi).
Race 3 – 1 H Groenewald (Subaru); 2 A Taylor (BMW 335i); 3 D Olivier (Subaru).
(Class T): 1 G Nathan (VW Golf GTi); 2 K Quarmby (VW Golf GTi); 3 S Duminy (Ford Focus).

Engen Volkswagen Cup

Race 1 – 1 K Weyers (VW Polo); 2 D Robertson (VW Polo); 3 K Barnes (VW Polo).
Race 2 – 1 M Hodges (VW Polo); 2 K Weyers (VW Polo); 3 D Robertson (VW Polo).

Formula Volkswagen

Race 1 – S Moss (Formula VW); 2 T Pepper (Formula VW); 3 G Connelly (Formula VW).
Race 2 – 1 S Moss (Formula VW); 2 T Pepper (Formula VW); 3 E van der Walt (Formula VW).

Interfile SA Superbikes

Race 1 – 1 G Gildenhuys (BMW); 2 L Isaacs (Honda); 3 D Hellyer (Honda).
Race 2 – 1 G Gildenhuys (BMW); 2 L Isaacs (Honda); 3 S Morais (Aprilia).

Interfile SA Supersport

Race 1 – 1 S Odendaal (Suzuki); 2 B Harran (Honda); 3 B Estment (Yamaha).
Race 2 – 1 S Odendaal (Suzuki); 2 C Alberts (Honda); 3 R Quarmby (Yamaha).

4X4 MEGA WORLD 400 VICTORY FOR TEAM CASTROL TOYOTA 

Team Castrol Toyota Hilux pair Duncan Vos and Rob Howie gave the squad a much needed boost when they romped to victory in the Production Vehicle category on the 4x4 Mega World 400, round five of the Absa Off Road Championship, at Carnival City today. 

It was the factory team’s first victory under new team principle Glyn Hall and Toyota’s third success of the season with privateers Chris Visser and Japie Badenhorst twice winning earlier in the season. Visser and Badenhorst, in the RFS Toyota Hilux, followed Vos and Howie across the line to consolidate their position at the top of the championship table. 

The final podium place went to veteran former South African champions Hannes Grobler and Hennie ter Stege in the RFS BMW. It was only the third outing for the diesel BMW which is still very much in the development stage. “That was hard work,” said Vos who is the reigning South African drivers’ champion. “The route turned into a co-driver’s nightmare but Rob did a fantastic job, and this was a win the team needed. “With so many hidden dangers and lots of dust it was difficult to find a rhythm. A persistent misfire did not help but we stuck to our guns and it worked out okay.” 

Visser and Badenhorst reported a clean run with Grobler and ter Stege delighted with the diesel BMWs maiden podium finish. Fourth place went to the second Team Castrol Toyota Hilux of Anthony Taylor and Robin Houghton with their day ruined by punctures and an overheating problem. 

With Vos/Howie, Visser/Badenhorst and Grobler/ter Stege all frontrunners in the overall and premier SP Class championships, title races are now delicately poised. With three events remaining a race to the wire looks to be on the cards. 

An encouraging performance gave Free State crew George Barkhuizen and David van Wyck their second top five finish of the season in the AIM Toyota Hilux, with Sun City winners Terence Marsh and Buks Carolin sixth in the Regent Racing Nissan Navara.

Pretoria youngsters Christiaan du Plooy and Henk Jansen van Vuuren brought the RFS Toyota Hilux home seventh with Free State crew Louw de Bruin/Riaan Greyling (Ruwacon Ford Ranger) having a good day to complete the top eight. 

It wasn’t such a good day for former SA champions Neil Woolridge and Kenny Skjoldhammer in the Team Ford Ranger. A gearbox problem on the prologue saw them start from the back of the field, and they were then penalised 60 minutes for deviating from the route – which dropped them to 16th overall and 12th in class and hurt their championship hopes. 

Another notable retirement saw Thomas Rundle and Juan Mohr, third on the Sun City 400, call it a day on the second of the two 175 kilometre loops that made up the race. The Barden Tyres Nissan Navara picked up overheating problems. 

What also looked like a good day for Louis Weichelt and Johan Smalberger, in the N1 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser, turned sour. They were credited with the Class D win first time out in a new car, but were later excluded from the results for a technical infringement.  With the retirements of championship leaders Dewald van Breda and Johann du Toit (Northam Toyota Hilux), and the 4x4 Mega World Toyota Hilux of Deon Venter and Ian Palmer there were no finishers in Class D. 

There was, however, plenty of compensation for the Mega World team. Pikkie Labuschagne/Rikus Erasmus and Hein Moolman/JD Wolfaardt, both out in 4x4 Mega World Toyota Hilux entries, were first and second in Class E. Teenager Lance Woolridge and Ward Huxtable (Team Ford Ranger), who led the championship going into this weekend’s event, were third. [

The title race is now delicately poised with young Woolridge facing a baptism of fire on his first Toyota Desert 1000 Race in Botswana next month.  

SULLWALD FAMILY AFFAIR ON 4X4 MEGA WORLD 400 

Two Sullwald teams today turned the Special Vehicle category on the 4x4 Mega World 400, into a family affair. Herman and Wichard Sullwald, in the Sullwald Racing SVR, crossed the finish line seconds ahead of Kallie and Quintin, in the Elegant Fuel BAT, to give the father and son teams a unique double.

Brothers Herman and Kallie won the South African championship racing together in the mid 90s, Kallie and Quintin won the championship in 2008 and today’s result saw Wichard score his first ever national victory. 

Only 13 seconds separated the two teams at the finish with Herman and Wichard starting fourth in Special Vehicle category and Kallie and Quintin seventh after the Donaldson Prologue on Friday to determine grid positions. Herman and Wichard lost time on the prologue when they stopped to help championship leaders Shameer Variawa and Siegfried Rousseau who were stuck in a donga in the Total Porter. Ironically, Variawa built the SVR being campaigned this season by the Sullwald’s.

A persistent misfire also hampered the winners with an errant plug lead at the root of the problem. “The plug lead came loose just before the end of the first loop, and the misfire reappeared about 70 kilometres from the finish,” said Herman. “We thought Kallie and Quintin would catch us, but there was a lot of dust out there and we were maintaining a steady pace.” 

For Kallie and Quintin it was another good result after their win on the Sun City 400. “It was a great day for family,” said Kallie. “Second does our championship hopes no harm so we are happy.” 

A third father and son team, Nardus and Louis Alberts, crossed the line third in the Wrapsa BAT with the pair bouncing back after a disastrous Sun City 400 when a driveshaft broke on the start line and the pair covered all of five metres. But more disaster awaited the pair and they were penalised 30 minutes for deviating from the route. That dropped them to 10th overall and seventh in Class A with Jimmy Zahos and Stefan Coetzee elevated to third for their first podium finish in the Cobalt Racing Porter.

Steady drives took Nick Harper/Kevin Hume (Atlas Copco BAT) and Brett and Steve Parker (Jimco) into fifth and sixth.

Three Class P crews in Archie Rutherford and Jacque le Roux (Regent Racing Jimco), Johan van Staden/James Rossouw (Atlas Copco BAT) and Etienne Lourens and Philip Herselman, in a second Atlas Copco BAT, completed the top eight. 

The biggest losers on the day were Variawa and Rousseau and prologue winners Colin Matthews and Alan Smith in their first outing in the Century Racing CR3. A gearbox problem handed Variawa/Rousseau their second non finish of the season, with the reliability bogey again sidelining Matthews and Smith who retired early in the race with fuel pressure problems. 

Rutherford and le Roux, making his national debut, won an interesting Class P tussle by 39 seconds from championship leaders van Staden/Rossouw. It was a great comeback by the Atlas Copco pair who started 28th among the Special Vehicles after a disappointing prologue. 

There was also an impressive off road debut by former rally champion Lourens. He was walking around with a huge grin after he and Philip Herselman finished less than two minutes off the pace. Veteran Bez Bezuidenhout and daughter-in-law Lindie (Adenco BAT) scored their second successive win to move into the lead in the Class B championship.

The pair finished half an hour ahead of brothers Keith and Andrew Makenete, in a Zarco, and took control when Simon Beckett and Steve Harris (Century Racing BAT) retired. 

Now in its fourth season, the Red Square Kawasaki ZX-10R Masters Cup has established itself as one of the most fiercely contested championships currently racing in South Africa.Former SA Superbike champion Stewart Macleod (Blu Horizon) joined the series in June and with five wins in a row, is the man to beat.

Current champion Gavin Lightfoot (KMSA/Trojan Panelbeaters) qualified fastest and was never far behind Macleod but there were no mistakes from either and both races had the same result.

Third in the opening race was Brad Stark (Steelrode) who was on a borrowed bike after his regular mount nuked its engine during the week. “Big thanks to Joe Alves for lending me his bike,” he said. Next home was Jannie Stander on the Insane Racing entry who was comfortably clear of Sergio da Silva (Trojan Panelbeaters) as Brian Bontekoning (Jaguar Instruments) completed the top six just ahead of a close battle that raged throughout the race.

Royden Bennett (Ebersohn) won the closely fought tussle for seventh. The battle had raged throughout the 12-lap race and behind him was Joe Shearer (O’Mage), Richard Carmody (Xtreme Motorcycles) and Johan le Roux (Avidan). 

The big drama of the day came in race two when Stark crashed heavily at turn four while making up ground after a poor start. Although his (Alves’) bike cartwheeled over the barriers, he was okay.  That gave Stander (Insane Racing) an easy run to third place.

Bontekoning was fourth, but under huge pressure from da Silva after the pair had traded places throughout the race in what will probably be remembered as the dice of the year. le Roux won the dogfight for sixth and was chased home by Carmody and Robbie Breakspear (Supersport Gearbox Centre). Alan Ryan won the Stunt SA battle as he was ninth ahead of teammate Andre van Vollenstee.

New winners add spice to Shelby Can Am races

Welkom, Saturday 14 August  – The resumption of hostilities in the WesBank Super Series produced a mixed bag with round five of the national championship menu at the Phakisa Freeway spiced up by a pinch or two of controversy.

There was early drama when riders in the Interfile SA Superbike and Supersport championships expressed concerns about circuit safety. Three of the most experienced riders in the country in reigning Superbike champion Sheridan Morais, current championship leader Lance Isaacs and Supersport frontrunner Robert Portman were then delegated by clerk of the course George Portman to carry out a circuit inspection.

After feedback from the riders Portman ruled the circuit was not safe for racing. The motorcycle brigade agreed, however, to take part in two Superpole sessions where riders could stay on the racing line without fear of being baulked in a racing situation.

Championship contender Greg Gildenhuys (Autohaus BMW) then pipped Bikefin Honda trio Isaacs, Chris Leeson and Dane Hellyer in the Superbike shootout. Championship leader Ronan Quarmby (Interfile Yamaha), Clinton Alberts (Kyalami Honda Cayenne Racing) and Steven Odendaal (MS Aircon Suzuki) led the way in the Supersport category.

The fact that Gildenhuys lapped comfortably below the lap record on a circuit that was deemed unsafe for racing didn't go down well with fans who thought they'd been cheated. There had been a northern regions championship motorcycle race meetings the previous weekend and there were no concerns about the track being too dusty.

There was also drama when the two Timken Subarus driven by Hennie Groenewald and Dawie Olivier, and the Midas Subaru of Richard Pinard were precluded from taking part in the Bridgestone Production Car championship qualifying session over technical issues regarding induction tract restrictors.
 
It was finally agreed the three cars could take part in the Bridgestone championship’s three race format, but would start the first heat from the back of the Class A grid. To further complicate the issue Olivier then proceeded to win the second of the back to back sprint races from the front of a reverse grid which led to more mutterings.
 
The opening race produced a high rate of attrition with mechanical failures and racing incidents decimating the Class A and Class T fields. Championship leader Anrthony Taylor (Afrox BMW 335i) was one of those to suffer from mechanical maladies, while a single incident sidelined the Class T trio of youngsters Gennaro Bonafede (Ferodo VW Golf GTi) and Kieren Quarmby in a similar car with Interfile/Gallardo backing and Shaun Duminy (Nando’s Team Ford Focus) who triggered the accident by hitting Bonafede at the corner before the pit entrance.
 
Reigning champion Johan Fourie (IndyOil Audi A4) led from flag to flag to win Class A ahead of Michael Stephen (Xtreme Team Audi A4) and Melvill Priest in the second Afrox BMW. The Class T honours went to reigning champion Gary Formato and Michael van Rooyen, in Nando’s Team Ford Focus entries, and arch rival Graeme Nathan in the IndyOil/KayeEddie VW Golf GTi.
 
The second six lap sprint race saw Olivier take the win ahead of Fourie, Priest, Stephen and Pinard. On the Class T front Formato took a second win with Nathan sandwiched between the reigning champion and van Rooyen.
 
Taylor was back for the 12 lap feature race and managed to salvage something from a wretched day with a solid fifth while benefitting from a couple of retirements. Fourie completed a great day with another comprehensive win ahead of Priest and Marco da Cunha (SAM Racing/Tubular Tech Nissan 350Z) who both got past Reghard Roets (Rough Rider BMW 335i) on the last lap.

This time around Nathan finally got the better of Formato to cruise to a comfortable Class T victory. Third went to Hein Bose, in the MFC Mazda3 MPS who just held off Duminy to take the final podium place.

The WesBank V8 Supercar heats saw championship leader Brandon Auby (ELT International Jaguar) further tighten his hold on the Super GT title chase with a brace of wins. The teenager held off local hero Jaco Correia (LiquiMoly Corvette) to take race one with Deon Auby (ELT International Holden), veteran former champion Ben Morgenrood (BM Auto Jaguar) and Franco di Matteo (Varta Batteries Jaguar) completing the top five.

Race two, from the customary reverse grid, produced more drama. From eighth on the grid Jaco Correia produced a demon first lap to slot into second place behind Morgenrood with Auby still stuck in traffic.

Correia continued to hound Morgenrood until lap five when the Corvette suddenly careered off the circuit at the end of the pit straight, shot over no man’s land and slammed head on into a safety barrier. It was a huge impact and the safety car was deployed while marshals and paramedics extricated Correia from the car. A worrying aspect about the incident was that the barrier was ripped out the ground.

It is thought something broke on the front of the Corvette which was badly damaged. A shaken Correia was taken to hospital for x-rays on possible back injuries.

When racing restarted Brandon Auby managed to squeeze past Morgenrood with Deon Auby working his way up to third. Correia’s brother, Danie, in the second Liqui Moly Corvetyte, and Wade van Zummeren (Border Towing Mustang) completed the top five.
There were problems for championship leader Roelf du Plessis (RJ Panelbeaters Lumina) in the GT Class. An oil pump problem kept him out of heat one and he retired early in heat two.

That opened the door for title challengers and veteran Des Gutzeit (Dezzi Mustang) and Darron Gudmanz (Indigo Boats Corvette) took full advantage. Gutzeit won the opening heat from Larry Wilford (Fuchs Opel Astra) and Gudmanz with only two seconds separating the trio.
Aided by the lengthy stint behind the safety car Gudmanz then romped away with the second race. Gutzeit took second with Romani Sartori (AMC Jaguar) completing the podium finishers.

Reigning champion Mathew Hodges continued his domination of the Engen Volkswagen Cup with two commanding wins in the PG Glass VW Polo. That brought his tally of wins for the season to eight, and the championship has turned into a one horse race.

Heat one saw Hodges come in ahead of Kosie Weyers (Xtreme Team VW Polo) and Alberton teenager Devin Robertson in the Ferodo VW Polo. Young Robertson held off Hodges for a couple of laps in race two and then had to fend off Weyers in the later laps.

With closest challenger Wesleigh Orr deciding to further his kart career, Port Elizabeth teenager Simon Moss (Dixon Batteries/Southern Sun FVW) has been left high and dry at the top of the Formula VW championship. A second and a win saw Moss consolidate his hold on the championship although he had to play second fiddle to another teenager, Chad Van Beurden, in the first of the two heats.

Van Beurden (Beurden Construction FVW) took his first Formula VW win ahead of Moss and Gordon Connelly (Cowan Signs FVW).

It was back to winning ways for Moss in race two. This time he shut out van Beurden with Connelly again on the podium after getting past Tasmin Pepper (Plastomark/PG Glass/VW Racing FVW) in the latter stages of the race.

End

Shelby Can Am and Red Square Kawasaki ZX10 Masters put on thrilling races to keep a small Kyalami crowd thoroughly entertained at round six of the Pro Tour on Sat 31 July. It was also the first time the road show visited the famous Midrand venue this year.

With backing from Hawkins Manufacturing, 2009 champion Darryn Lobb only found out he was racing on the Thursday before the race and as he’s already missed two events, he made the most of the opportunity by taking pole position, setting the fastest lap and taking two wins.

The first indication of his pace came in qualifying when he secured pole position with a lap of 1 minute 42.593, nearly 1.5 seconds faster than Rui Campos in the Hugo Boss car.

Championship contender Guy Botterill in the in the Yato Tools/Bigfoot Express entry headed row two from Alan Eve (Phakisa/Sunshine Testing). Thomas Reib (Jägermeister) was pleased with his fifth place and Brian Algar (Etana Insurance) completed the top six.

Eight of the interesting Cape based the V8 Masters cars joined the Shelby Can-Am field and Marcel Angel (Autohaus Angel) set the pace as former Shelby Can Am champion Francois Gerber was next. There was stiff competition in the form of Fabio Tafani (Quench Spring Water) and ex Shelby racer Alan Green as Charles Arton (Redwood Property Ventures) and Ferdi van Niekerk (Duo Plus) made up the top six. Robert Franco (Graphix Supply World) and René Dalias (APV) were the other V8 Masters runners.

The opening race saw Lobb win from Eve and Algar. There was early drama as the race was interrupted by the safety car after Arton and Shelby racer Greg Walker (Indy Oil) had separate accidents on lap two. Campos had his hopes dashed when he pitted for attention to an electrical problem on lap three and rejoined behind the V8 Masters middle, but there’s no overtaking allowed when the safety car is out.

The next drama was on lap seven when Doug Macdonald (Fantastic Racing) crashed heavily and the safety car was called out again. Botterill’s hopes were dashed when he retired from second place with a gear selection problem.

There was no further drama as Lobb took the flag ahead of Eve and Algar while Reib, an elated Andrew Strike (Strike 1 Racing) and Hanno Pengilly (Azura Retreats) completed the top six.

With light fading fast, race two was reduced from 12 to ten laps and despite starting eighth in the partially reversed grid, Lobb still won comfortably, this time from Algar and a fired up Campos who chased him across the line.

Eve was a lonely fourth with Bertil Hoffman (GP Energy Drink) and Strike making up the top six after Botterill slowed with more mechanical problems and Reib retired early with a final drive problem.

V8 Masters was claimed by Gerber with his old sparring partner Green grabbing second ahead of Angel and Tafani as Dalias and Franco rounded off the top six.

On his way to winning the first race Lobb set a new lap record of 1 minute 43.452, which is almost one and a half seconds under Jeroen Bleekomolen’s record (1:45.036) set in set November last year.

Results

Race 2

Red Square Kawasaki ZX-10 Masters Cup

In only his second race since joining the Red Square Kawasaki ZX-10 Masters Cup at the last round, Stewart Macleod showed the same class he had when he won the SA Superbike crown way back in 2000.

Aboard the Blu Horizon backed Kawasaki ZX-10 he qualified on pole position and went on to win both races with consummate ease as a hungry pack behind him fought hard for a podium placing.

Macleod’s pole time of 1 minute 45.055 got tongues wagging and set the tone for the day. Bradley Stark (Stark Products) lined up second with Gavin Lightfoot (Execuline) and Jannie Stander (Insane Racing) making up the front row. Sergio da Silva (Trojan Panelbeaters) headed the second row from Andrew Jones (DNA Racing), Robbie Breakspear (Supersport Gearbox) and Joe Shearer (O’Mage).

As expected Macleod led the colourful 35 bike field off the start and quickly began to build a lead but as the race started settling down, East London racer Darren Gogh had a huge accident when he lost the front at turn two on lap four. This brought out the red flags as emergency vehicles were parked dangerously just off the circuit.

The restarted race lasted but two laps before a serious looking accident involving Cordell McQueen and Neil Westmorland left the track almost blocked and brought out the red flags again. Fortunately both riders limped away with nothing more than bruising, although McQueen did not make the second race.

Official results for the two-part 7-lap race had Macleod winning by six seconds as Stark was second ahead of Lightfoot. A close fight for fourth saw da Silva pip Stander by a wheel as Jones completed the top six just ahead of Pieter de Vos (Jonnesway) and Shearer while Breakspear and Royden Bennett (Ebersohn) rounded off the top ten.

The second race was free of drama and the 10-lapper was a demonstration of Macleod brilliance as he romped to an 11-second win as Stark was again second with Lightfoot claiming the final podium step ahead of Stander.

There was a good scrap for fifth and former off-road and enduro champion Brian Bontekoning (Jaguar Instruments) put in a good ride to take fifth ahead of Jones as Breakspear was a few bike lengths behind. Eighth was de Vos with Bennett and Shearer rounding off the top ten.

Red Square Kawasaki Results – Race 1

NISSAN PRIVATEERS WIN SUN CITY 400

Sun City – Former South African champions Terence Marsh and Buks Carolin turned the form book upside down when they won the Production Vehicle category at the Sun City 400, round four of the Absa Off Road Championship, here today.

Marsh and Carolin, in the Regent Racing Nissan Navara, became the second privateer team to win an event this season. The pair started fifth on the road and edged out Atlas Copco Toyota Hilux crew Gary Bertholdt and Andre Vermeulen to join two-time winners Chris Visser and Japie Badenhorst (RFS/Visser Transport Toyota Hilux) on the privateer roll of honour this season.

Prior to this weekend Marsh and Carolin were lying 12th in the overall championship with their best result and eighth place on the Toyota Dealer 400. But it all fell into place for the veteran crew and they eked out a 23 second win ahead of Bertholdt and Vermeulen that rocketed them into fourth place in the championship.

“That was a tough race,” said Marsh who last won in 2008. “At the designated service point we were worried about a noise from the back of the vehicle, but we later discovered a piece of wire wrapped around a rear hub.

“It was the sort of result we needed and is a huge boost for the whole team.”

The form book took another beating when Thomas Rundle and former SA champion Juan Mohr completed the podium in the ex factory Barden Nissan Navara. In two previous outings this season Rundle/Mohr had failed to finish.

Reigning SA drivers’ champion Duncan Vos and Rob Howie, in a Team Castrol Toyota Hilux, recovered from starting 13th on the road to finish fourth with the top five completed by Kobus van Tonder and son-in-law Freddie Kriel in the Uni Freight Ford Ranger.

There was a controversial incident early in the race, which put leaders Anthony Taylor and Robin Houghton, in the second factory Team Castrol Toyota Hilux, out of the running. Taylor and Houghton had a coming together with Special Vehicle category crew Nick Harper and Kevin Hume (Atlas Copco BAT) that put the Toyota crew out of action with a damaged front suspension.

Marsh/Carolin took the lead late on the first of the two loops that made up the race, and managed to hold off Bertholdt and Vermeulen who were hit by four punctures during the course of the race. Bertholdt and Vermeulen also fought a cat and mouse battle with Rundle and Mohr, and at the finish just over a minute separated the two crews.

Sixth place went to Christiaan du Plooy and Henk Janse van Vuuren (RFS Toyota Hilux) who put together a typically gutsy race. They were only 26 seconds behind two-time winners Visser and Badenhorst who rescued valuable championship points with a storming drive from the back of the field.

A roll on the Donaldson Prologue saw Visser/Badenhorst start from the back of the field. They made up nine minutes on the field on the opening loop, and continued the charge to the finish.

Among the high profile casualties were veteran former champions Hannes Grobler and Hennie ter Stege who were having their first outing in the new diesel RFS BMW. They retired on the first loop with an oil leak.

“We were a bit worried after the prologue, and it was soon evident we were in trouble,” Grobler said. “Rather than blow the motor we decided to call it a day, but the car has a great deal of potential.”

The Class D honours went to Deon Venter and Ian Palmer, in the 4x4 Mega World Toyota Hilux, who were having their first outing of the year. They took control when reigning champions and current championship leaders Dewald van Breda and Johann du Toit (Northam Toyota Hilux) ran into a fuel starvation problem.

Down in Class E there was a second win for teenager Lance Woolridge, in his first season of national racing, and Ward Huxtable in the Ford Racing Ranger. The pair were just behind Gerald le Roux and Willem Pretorius (Ruwacon Racing Ford) after the first loop and then finished strongly to comfortably win the battle of the Fords.

Special Vehicle Category

In a dream result for a new sponsor Kallie and Quintin Sullwald took a flag to flag victory in the Special Vehicle category.

The former South African champions, in the Elegant Fuel Racing BAT, dominated the weekend by winning the Donaldson Prologue to determine start positions. The father and son combination then controlled the race from start to finish to score their first win of the season.

For the second year in a row current championship leaders Shameer Variawa and Siegfried Rousseau, in the Total Motorsport BAT, had to be content with second place. It was a great performance from the pair who started 15th on the road and gradually worked their way through the field.

“Halfway through the second loop we stopped chasing and decided to consolidate our championship lead,” said Variawa. “It was a typical Sun City 400 where the slightest mistake could cost you.” 

Third were Atlas Copco BAT crew Johan van Staden and James Rossouw who came up with another outstanding performance on the way to winning Class P. Earlier in the season the Pretoria crew made history by becoming the first Class P crew to win a national event overall.

“That was a real off road race,” Sullwald senior enthused afterwards. “A tough route had everything you could ask for, and at the end we were under pressure from Shameer and Siegfried.

“At one stage we thought we had a brake problem. Then we thought we had a flat but it all worked out and this is a dream result for us.”

Fourth place went to Nick Harper and stand-in co-driver Kevin Hume, in the Atlas Copco BAT, who were involved in a controversial incident early in the day. They collided with Production Vehicle leaders Anthony Taylor and Robin Houghton in an incident that put the Team Castrol Toyota Hilux out of the race.

In their best result of the season Naeem Moosajee and Rayhaan Bodhanya (Maxxis TyreRack Porter) started ninth and finished fifth. They were followed by Jimmy Zahos (Cobalt Racing Porter) who finished the race on his own after dispensing with the services of co-driver Pierre Jordaan at the designated service point.

“I wasn’t happy with some of Pierre’s calls,” said Zahos. “I felt the situation was getting dangerous, and told him at the compulsory stop that I would prefer to finish the event on my own.”

There was early drama when Bevan Bertholdt and Danie Stassen, second on the Donaldson Prologue on Friday, failed to make it to the start with an engine problem. Then Nardus and Louis Alberts, in the Wrapsa BAT, managed only a few metres off the start line when a drive shaft broke.

They were soon joined on the sidelines by reigning South African driver’s champion Evan Hutchison and new co-driver Darryl Curtis in the Motorite BAT. They were forced to call it a halt when the power steering broke, and Colin Matthews and Alan Smith (Century Racing BAT) were also casualties on the first of two loops that made up the race.

The early demise of Bertholdt/Stassen, the Wrapsa and Motorite entries and the Matthews/Smith car played into the hands of the crews who started behind them. An early charge by Swaziland crew John Thomson and Clinton McNamara, in a Zarco, also fizzled out with the pair dropping back with brake problems on the second loop.

A second loop charge lifted van Staden/Rossouw onto the podium while Harper/Hume lost time with a puncture. Hume was standing in for Harper’s son Ryan who was injured in an off road motorcycle accident.

Thomson and McNamara finished second in Class P and were followed by veteran Ernest Corbett and son-in-law Warwick Goosen in the Century Racing CR2. Corbett and Goosen won this race last year.

In his first outing this season Cape veteran Bes Bezuidenhout, partnered by daughter-in-law Lindie and having his first outing in 11 months, won Class B in the Adenco BAT. They were the only finishers in the class and were hampered on the second loop by a burst shock absorber.