Powerboat legend Peter Lindenberg, who made a miraculous recovery after a horrific Formula 1 crash, is to make a triumphant return to the high-risk world of racing only 13 days after coming out of hospital and 15 days since he was in intensive care at Cape Town’s Vincent Pallotti Hospital. Lindenberg has chosen the race track and not the water for his comeback at the 8th and penultimate round of the V8 SASCAR series which takes place at Killarney race circuit in Cape Town on Saturday 19 October. –
– “I am leading the series by a mere five points with four hungry guys snapping behind me, and if they want to beat me, they are going to have to fight for it”, said Lindenberg, the 15 times SA Powerboat champion who is regarded as arguably the fastest man on both land and water in South Africa. –
– The Killarney SASCAR race is likely to be a make or break race for Lindenberg and the other top four contenders, none of whom can afford to make a mistake in this late stage of the championship. If Lindenberg does take the 2002 SASCAR title, it will be the first time he or any other person has at the same time held both the title of SA Powerboat champion and champion of a motorsport series. –
– Cape Town drivers Jean-Jacques Maree (#10 – Valvoline), who is ranked 2nd in the series with 1258 championship points, and Kosie Swanepoel (# 3 KZN Oils – Ford) who is in 5th place on 1223 points, both feel they may have a definite home ground advantage over the Johannesburg based drivers on their local circuit. These two drivers will be looking for a Cape Town whitewash. “You need a combination of speed, cornering and breaking to master this circuit. I know how it drive it and I’ll be going for an all out win,” says a confident Maree. –
– Fresh after his first season win in round 7 in East London, Kuilsriver resident Kosie Swanepoel is confident that he can take the chequered flag. Swanepoel who won the Killarney race last year will have a definite home ground advantage. Not only that he also proved that he had the makings of a champion when he consistently diced with Rob Beaumont (# 69 Tyco Trucking International – Chev) for first place in round 7. –
– For 3rd ranked Rob Beaumont – who is on 1249 points – the Killarney race track is not one of his favourites, he’s had few problems there which he puts down to “secretive lines” which he isn’t familiar with. Last year he had a massive accident with his team-mate Deon Auby. Beaumont, who was crowned overall race winner of the day at the last race in East London, believes he will be under a fair amount of pressure, “Jean-Jacques and Kosie are going to be really fast and I’m going to be a marked man. There are going to be lots of fun and games on the track.” –
– Beaumont’s team mate and deadly rival, 4th placed Deon Auby (#96 Tyco Trucking International – Ford), will be looking to make up some ground and his targets will firmly be set on Beaumont, Swanepoel, Maree and of course Lindenberg. “I do not really mind where I finish – as long as I beat Deon,” said Beaumont. –
– For Queenstown driver Patrick Seddon (#24 Contact Refrigeration and Air Conditioning – Ford) who is ranked 7th on 804 points and getting better with each race, the Killarney event is another opportunity to harass the top five contenders. And with him will be 6th placed driver Chris de Klerk (# 33 Bosal/Sabat – Chev) who is just as keen to move into “the golden five”. –
– The V8 SASCAR class will thunder around the track in two 15-lap heats at 13h10 and 15h55. –
– Two lucky Cape Town residents will also get the opportunity to feel the adrenaline rush of being driven in a V8 SASCAR around the track at awesome speeds by the driver of their choice. Adrenaline addicts can drop their business cards into the entry box with the race secretary in the pits area. –
– Besides SASCAR action racing fans can look forward to the SUZUKI SOUTH Motorcycles regional championship, the Formula Gti/ F. Ford National / Club Challenge and the FAST PARTS Gti Challenge, the Formula Vee National Championship. The race programme will also feature the PHC VALEO Clubman Cars All Classes Championship and the FINANZPLAN Supercars Regional Championship –
– Racing gets underway at 11 am on Saturday 19 October. Admission is R 30 for adults and R10 for children over the age of 12. –
– THE CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS AFTER SEVEN ROUNDS IS AS FOLLOWS: –
– 1. Peter Lindenberg (#2 Premier Paints – Ford) 1263 pts –
– 2. Jean-Jacques Maree (#10 Valvoline – Ford) 1258-
– 3. Rob Beaumont (#69 Tyco Trucking International – Ford) 1249-
– 4. Deon Auby (# 96 Tyco Trucking International) 1239-
– 5. Kosie Swanepoel (#3 KZN Oils – Ford) 1223-
– 6. Chris de Klerk (#33 Bosal/Sabat – Chev) 835-
– 7. Patrick Seddon (#24 Contact Refrigeration) 804-
– 8. Kerwin Rampono (# 7 Bondiblu – Ford) 510-
– VISIT THE SASCAR WEB SITE: WWW.SASCAR.CO.ZA
