The Sasol Steam Team’s Johan Fourie and Shaun Watson-Smith retained the top 2 spots on the WesBank Samcar championship log, the Sasol Supervan Racing Astra drivers finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively, behind Grant van Schalkwyk (Hi-Q Mustang), in both heats at Aldo Scribante, Port Elizabeth, on Saturday (12 April). –
– Defending champion, Fourie (Sasol DualFuel Astra) now leads the 2003 series by 5 points from his Macromed/Sasol Astra team-mate, who like many in the top half of the WesBank field knows that young Van Schalkwyk has given notice of his winning ability and championship challenge. –
– Sasol DualFuel Polo racer, Phillip Kekana, started the weekend superbly by qualifying 11th on the 30-car Engen Volkswagen Cup grid. The top 19 were separated by the incredible margin of just one second. A shoelace hooked around the accelerator was, however, to negate his fine effort. –
– Sadly the tyre wall at the Esses got the better of the Sowetan and his (to be) battered Sasol entry early in race one. He recovered to take last spot with Hennie Groenewald victorious. –
– Frantic repair work enabled him to start the later heat (from 11th), but a number of “spinners” in front forced Kekana to have to fight back and finish 23rd, his back aching, but his resolve to persevere strong. Tschops Sipuka won. –
– The Sasol DualFuel privateers all achieved at least one podium in the three 10-lap sprint races held by the Production Cars. Miguel Pasqualli and Clint Weston (Ford Ikons) and Angus Thompson (Motorhouse Citi Golf) did the trick behind triple Class D winner, Dave Compton in the ex-Kekana Toyota Tazz, Craig Nicholson struggled a bit with his Sabat Honda in Class, but was rewarded with a 3rd in races one and two. –
– On the subject of rewards, for the 3rd time this year a Superbike rider won the Sasol/SAGMJ “Top Gun of the Day” award. The young and talented KZN star of the future, Hudson Kennaugh received the cash and trophy after winning both the fierce heats in Port Elizabeth on Saturday. –
– The fourth round of the Vodacom Power Tour will be raced at East London’s Mercedes Benz GP Circuit in two week’s time (24 April). Watch highlights of the PE action on Supersport’s Vodacom on Track (Supersport2 – 18h00) over the next few Thursday evenings. –
– For the latest news and inside stories on the Sasol Steam Team go to: www.sasolmotorsport.co.za or www.CarToday.com. –
– NOTE: Free images of the Sasol Steam Team from the Aldo Scribante races are available at: http://www.motorpics.co.za/annPics.asp?anncode=71599528470
