Sasol’s Top Gun circuit racers, Gary Formato and Phillip Kekana, both understand and appreciate that they have some catching up to do in their respective WesBank Samcar and Production Car title chases at this Saturday’s (1 May) round 3 (of ten) of the Vodacom Power Tour at A.A. Kyalami. –
– Last time out at Killarney early this month, the wheels (metaphorically-speaking) fell off for Formato Racing and the Sasol Ford Mustang, when excess paint on new wheels loosened the Mustang’s wheels early in qualifying, resulting in a 10th place starting position for Formato. –
– Being slightly off-line at the first corner of race one resulted in the Mustang’s nose digging in (to the dirt) destroying it on the spot and sidelining the 1998 and 1999 WesBank champion for the remainder of the race meeting. –
– Formato thus goes to Kyalami with the 26 points he earned for his 3rd and 4th-place finishes at the same circuit at the end of February, fifty four points behind championship leader and 2003 defender, Johan Fourie (MD Transport Opel Omega), who has won all four races on the trot this year. –
– “What has gone before is just not good enough if we’re going to make a serious bid to take the 2004 laurels,” says Formato. –
– “Accordingly, we’ve made the necessary repairs and re-aligned our strategy to again be winners. Although there are still 320 points up for grabs this season, we’ve got to get the Sasol Ford Mustang right up there on every racing lap between now and end-November. The commitment is sure there, the proof will be in the pudding (it there),” he added. –
– For S.A. Production Cars Sasol Toyota RunX RSi racer, Phillip Kekana, the season has been comparatively more successful, 6 points to his name in Class B and 11th overall in the Driver’s Championship. –
– A late (preparation) start and the non-arrival of the proper shock absorbers and ECU, has meant that Kekana and Race Prep have not yet had the necessary equipment to challenge class leader, Shaun van der Linde (Castrol Mini Cooper S), Clint Weston’s Furman Glass Ford Focus ST170, nor Brian Martin’s similar (Havoline) RunX, the three generally regarded as the Sowetan’s main challengers for the class honours. –
– The recent installation of the new shocks and ECU, positive testing at Zwartkops Raceway last week and valued technical support from Toyota Motorsport will hopefully see the tide turn this weekend. –
– Follow the progress of and read all about Sasol’s Top Gun racers at www.sasolracing.co.za.