This year’s South African Production Car Championship will embrace a new, potentially explosive format at the Port Elizabeth Aldo Scribante circuit next Saturday (April 12). –
– The near-standard tin-top brigade will visit the tight, twisty 2,4-kilometre Scribante circuit with 37 cars, divided into five separate classes. They will all race together, tackling three separate, ten-lap races during the course of the day. Experts predict the format of three sprints, rather than one short and one long race, to produce flat-out racing all day. –
– Meanwhile the speed difference between the various classes should see a full-scale, high-speed traffic jam in all three events. Bringing tactics into play, drivers will have to use the same set of standard Firestone Firehawk tyres for all three race heats, which will make tyre preservation an important factor. –
– Topping the Class A entry list will be the factory-supported Castrol BMW 330i models of Etienne van der Linde and Anthony Taylor. They will be severely challenged by the similar, privateer BMW 330i entries of Kaye-Eddie team drivers Reghardt Roets and Steve Morris, plus the Vaal-HP equipe’s Richard Sorensen and Mark Allison. –
– With absolutely no love lost between the various BMW teams, various other marques could disrupt their 330i model’s current domination. Leading that onslaught should be the LG Flatron Alfa Romeo 156 GTA of Martin Steyn. Racing in the rain, the nimble front-wheel-drive Alfa beat the BMW brigade at Killarney last month. That could happen again at Aldo Scribante, where the tight circuit outlay will suit the Alfa’s handling characteristics down to the tarmac. –
– Also fully in the victory hunt should be the Champion EON Mercedes-Benz C320 models of Leeroy Poulter and Gary Formato. Following intensive testing and development over the last three weeks, the three-pointed star brigade expect to race on podium pace. –
– In Class B, current title points leader Dawie Brough (Prominent Paints Honda Ballade V-TEC) will have a tough time to stay in front of Mike O’Sullivan (OKI Honda V-TEC), Jessie Adams (Killer Loop Honda V-TEC), Bert Grogor (German Workshop Toyota Corolla RSi) and the similar Imperial Toyota of class newcomer Zack da Silva. –
– Class C – an all Honda Ballade 180i affair – should produce tight competition. Veteran Lawrence Boshoff (Orbit Coach Works Honda) will come under attack by Craig Nicholson (Sabat Honda), Molefe Lebethe (OKI Honda), Doug Reekie (Ray Ban Honda) and Ian Long (OKI Honda). –
– The Class D brigade could well produce the day’s tightest racing. Clinton Weston will lead the factory Ford team in his Furman Glass Ikon 1600, supported by the identical Murray and Roberts car of Miguel Pasqualli. Taking them on will be reining SA Junior Production Car Champion Dave Compton (Toyota Tazz 1600), James Menin (Le Grange Opel Corsa 160 GSi), plus MotorHouse VW CitiGolf 1,6i pilots Angus Thompson and Dale Knez. –
– Class E should see fierce competition, with drivers fighting for both Championship points and the prestigious CAR Rookie of the Day award. The man to beat must be Darren Murphy (VW CitiGolf 1,4i), challenged by Riyad Jaffer (Toyota Tazz 1300) and Jody Powell (Ster Opel Corsa 140i). Newcomers who will be anxious to impress should include Shane Williams (Ford Fiesta 1300), Robert Preuss (Opel Corsa 140i) and Eckhart Schoenknecht in his VW CitiGolf 1,4i.
