With a total of 37 cars on the grid and many issues to be resolved, the final two rounds of this year’s South African Production Car Championship should provide fireworks at AA Kyalami next Saturday (November 22). –
– Topping the entry list and locked in a struggle for this year’s Class A Championship will be Castrol BMW 330i teammates Etienne van der Linde and Anthony Taylor. Taylor will need to win both of the day’s races – and set both the quickest lap times – to snatch the title, while Van der Linde could clinch the crown with a victory and quickest lap in the first race. With no team orders in place, the gloves will be off from next Friday’s first practice session. –
– Backing the two title contenders will be Shaun van der Linde in the Castrol team’s third BMW 330i – fighting for third place in the Championship with Kaye-Eddie BMW 330i driver Reghardt Roets. Separated by a mere two points on the official title log, both drivers will aim to occupy the podium, with Roets assisted by young British racer Steven Morris in the Kaye-Eddie equipe’s second BMW 330i. –
– Willing and able to rain on the BMW parade will be Steve Wyndham (Ford Credit Falcon XR8), Leeroy Poulter (Champion EON Mercedes-Benz C320) and Martin Steyn, in the LG Flatron team’s Alfa Romeo 156 GTA. All three of the drivers have won races earlier this year, and all three of them would love to repeat the achievement this weekend. –
– Also determined to end the season on a high note will be already crowned Class B Champion Dawie Brough (Prominent Paints Honda Ballade V-TEC). His closest contestants should be talented youngster Bert Grogor (McCarthy Toyota Corolla RSi), Brian Martin, who has recently found winning pace in his Havoline Toyota RunX RSi and Zack da Silva, coming to grips with his Imperial Toyota Corolla RSi. –
– Able to mix it with the Class B runners will be various drivers in Class C, led by 2003 Champion elect Lawrence Boshoff in his Orbit Coach Works Honda Ballade 180i. Out to beat Boshoff will be Doug Reekie (Ray-Ban Honda Ballade 180i) plus OKI Honda Ballade 180i pilots Molefe Lebethe and veteran Mike O’Sullivan. Other drivers who could spring surprises will be Craig Nicholson (Sabat Honda), Gary Gordon (Honda Spares Ballade), Jesse Adams (Ray-Ban Honda) and Hector North (East Rand Honda Ballade 180i). –
– Class D could provide the day’s closest racing, with new title holder Dave Compton starting as favourite in his Bumpertech Toyota Tazz 1600. Fighting for second place in the Championship will be Clint Weston (Furman Glass Ford Ikon 1,6i), Miguel Pasqualli (Ford Racing Ikon 1,6i) and Angus Thompson in his Garonga Safari VW Golf 1,6i. Other possible winners will include John Kruger (Ford Fiesta 1,6i), Fanie de Bruin (M&R Ford Ikon 1,6i), Robi Beninca (Born to Send VW Golf 1,6i) and James Menin in his Le Grange Opel Corsa 160 GSi. –
– Having clinched the year’s overall Junior Production Car title, Darren Murphy must start as Saturday’s Class E favourite in his Genuine Parts VW CitiGolf. Trying to beat him will be the likes of Francois van Zyl (Opel Corsa 140i), Deon Crous (VW CitiGolf), Eckhart Schoenknecht (Caltex VW CitiGolf) and Rob Preuss in his Opel Corsa 1400. –
– Adding urgency to their quest, Saturday’s two races will be the final decider of this season’s CAR Magazine Rookie of the Year contest. The overall winner – to be announced by a panel of judges on Saturday evening – will take home R25 000 in prize money.
