Saturday 22 February sees the start of an all-new South African national circuit racing season, when the 2003 Vodacom Power Tour kicks off at AA Kyalami. And one of the highlights of the day is certain to be the debut of the new Engen VW Polo Cup featuring an entire field of brand new race-ready VW Polos that are ready and ready to hit the track. –
– While the series has attracted a host of its usual stars as well as, several new drivers along with others who make a welcome return when Polo Cup takes to the track on Saturday. Reigning champion Tschops Sipuka will be everyone’s target, including series regulars, Silvio Scribante, Graham Nathan, Michael Stephen and the gang. But Production Car champ Philip Kekana will be out to show who exactly SA’s best driver of colour is… –
– Joining Philip in a fresh attack on the series are the likes of Production Car stars and ex-Polo champions Reghard Roets and Hennie Groenewald, while Superbike star Brad Anassis will be looking to prove his mettle in the four-wheeled world. But an interesting addition to the field will be a Media Polo that will be swapped between SA’s top motoring journalists every race. –
– The local motoring press has proven a point or two in national rallying via the media challenge over the past two seasons, but the Challenge came to an end last year and VW picked up the advantage to provide a race-ready Polo for a different journo driver each race this year. First into the hot seat will be the experienced Michele Lupini, publisher of Cars in Action and Motorsport Africa magazines and Motoring Editor of www.iafrica.com. –
– Lupini, a production racing veteran and rally regular, will drive his first track race on Saturday since his huge accident at Kyalami late in 2001. His Subaru was involved in an incident with Neville Jordan’s VSP,with the cars crashing off and bursting into flames to start a fire that needed the race to be stopped for the flames to finally be extinguished an hour later… Lupini has, however kept his hand in via his rallying in the past year and is relishing his return to the track in the SA-made Continental slick-shod Polo. –
– “I’m relishing the thought of racing the Polo at Kyalami,” Lupini admitted. “The new car is now a real little racer compared to the outgoing model and I found it fun and rewarding to drive in a test in Port Elizabeth last week. “It’s also cool to have the honour of driving the car in the first race of the new series – I hope I can hold my profession’s name up high and would love to try to qualify and run within the top ten.” –
– Asked whether he had any reservations after the accident in his last Kyalami outing, Lupini was unflustered: “The only reason I never raced last year was due to my rally commitments coming first” he said. “Yes, it was a big crash, but that’s racing and there’s always the next race – it’s just taken me a little time for me to get round to it…” –
– Kyalami’s Vodacom Power Tour action should prove to be a brilliant day’s racing with a full programme of Production Cars, V8s, Superbikes and much more. See you at Kyalami! –
– For further info, call Michele Lupini on 011 465 4532 or via return mail Publication quality images available on www.motorpics.co.za
