Killarney hosted round two of the Engen Volkswagen Cup championship on Saturday (29 March). The first took place at Zwartkops Raceway earlier this month and there Daniel Rowe stepped up as the most successful driver on the day, recording his first race win and also claiming victory overall.
Race one
In the Cape it was Dewald Brummer, driving like a man possessed and using every opportunity that claimed the first race victory. Brummer started the race in ninth place, working his way through the field and then making a dash for the finish line after a Safety Car was called out when Juan Gerber’s Polo Vivo ended up on its roof on the outfield at Turn 4. An incident at almost the same point in the race between Mathew Hodges and Eddie Rodrigues saw Rodrigues’ Polo standing at the side of the track with a damaged front end.
The Safety Car returned to the pits with just two laps to go, it was a flat-out dash for the finish line with Brummer the quickest off the mark.
Race two
Race two saw Tasmin Pepper start from pole position and with a battle taking place for second, third and fourth, between Sheldon van der Linde, Daniel Rowe and Capetonian Jano van der Westhuizen, Pepper made good use of the opportunity to open a gap on the field.
That early break was all Pepper needed, maintaining her pace and only coming under pressure from Van der Linde in the dying stages – although it was a determined and spirited display by Van der Linde as he tried to challenge for the lead. Pepper’s race win, her second in the series, was enough to give her second overall for the day.
Overall
Rowe’s second and third saw him again at the top of the points and claiming overall victory for the day. It was also a good day out for Michael Gibson, a newcomer to the series. Round two was the first time Gibson had ever seen Killarney and he managed a placing ninth overall for the day – which bagged him the Driver of the Day title in the process.
Trevor Bland’s win in the Masters category seems to indicate that this fight is going to become ever-more interesting as the season progresses. Just two rounds done and Hodges’ early lead and Rodrigues’ title defense look to be under threat. The next round, another coastal race, will see the Engen Volkswagen Cup field meet at Aldo Scribante Raceway in Port Elizabeth where a good qualifying is going to be a critical factor for race-day success.
