The 2008 Bridgestone South African Production Car championship wars will visit the Zwartkops Raceway near Pretoria for the second time next Saturday (September 6).
In May this year, the passenger vehicle brigade’s previous visit to the tight and challenging 2,4 kilometre circuit produced full scale car wars. With the title chases in three of the season’s contested four classes still open, similar scenarios could play out at Zwartkops next weekend.
In Class A, six drivers are still in the running for this year’s championship, led by Johan Fourie, in his Indy Oil Audi A4 3,2 quattro. He is one meager championship point ahead of Anthony Taylor (Afrox BMW 330i).
Meanwhile, just three points separate Michael Stephen (Engen Xtreme Audi), Etienne van der Linde (Afrox BMW), Leeroy Poulter (Sasol Nissan 350Z) in the next three places, with the sixth contestant being defending overall SA Production Car champion Shaun Watson-Smith (Engen Xtreme Audi).
All of the above drivers have won races this year, and all of them should be able to do so again next weekend. Last time out at Zwartkops, BMW and Audi shared the day’s two Class A victories, but only after a number of top contenders had gone missing in the tough action.
Other drivers could also win, especially in the second race, to be started from a partially inverted grid. They will include Tschops Sipuka (Sasol Nissan 350Z), Melvill Priest (MiKar Lenovo Audi), plus Tubular Tech Nissan 350Z pilots Marco da Cunha and Darryn Lobb. Finally, Dawie Olivier will be hoping for a podium result in his all-wheel drive, turbocharged Subaru Impreza STi.
Racing separately from the rest of the field, Class T for cars with force inducted petrol engines should boast at least 20 entries at Zwartkops. Leading the championship chase is Graeme Nathan in the factory SEAT Leon Cupra, with his closest points challenger Iain Pepper (PG Glass VW Golf GTI).
The two veteran tin-top racers have emerged as the year’s top title fighters, but that will not make them next Saturday’s victory favourites.Topping the field in terms of sheer pace should be Reghard Roets (Webcom Opel Astra OPC) and Gary Formato (Ford Racing Focus ST).
Others at the front end of the pack should include Graham Donker (Mini Maxi Golf GTI), Lee Thompson (Azoic Panelbeaters VW Polo GTI), Heinz Bose (MFC Mazda3 MPS), and Curt Alchin (Real Africa Estates Golf GTI). Drivers who could score if the front pack stumble will be the likes of Shaun Duminy (Ford Racing Focus ST), Gary van Heerden (Webcom Opel Astra OPC), Michael van Rooyen (RSC Golf GTI), Etienne Prinsloo (Bizhub Mazda3 MPS), Peet Visagie (Time Mining Golf GTI) and Phillip Kekana (SEAT Leon Cupra).
Ben Morgenrood (Agip Mazda RX8) should wrap up this year’s Class B title at Zwartkops, with his only opposition in the class Danie van Niekerk (Stanger Ford Fiesta ST) and Kosie Swanepoel (Barnett’s Toyota RunX RSi).
The Bridgestone Production Cars will qualify for their races next Friday afternoon, and tackle two 12 lap races on the Saturday.