Ultra close racing and unpredictable results should typify Rounds 9 and 10 of the 2004 South African Production Car Championship at Zwartkops next Saturday (June 26). –
– The discipline for near-standard passenger vehicles should field some 40 competitors on the 2,4 km circuit, with its tight and twisty nature ensuring full-scale car wars throughout the field. –
– At the front, Class A should produce fender-bending confrontations between the factory teams of BMW, Alfa Romeo and Ford. Team Castrol BMW 330i drivers Etienne van der Linde and Anthony Taylor currently top the class points log, to make them the theoretical victory favourites. That theory will be severely challenged by people like Martin Steyn, Morne Jurgens and Marco da Cunha, in the Alfissimo LG team’s Alfa Romeo 147 GTA models. Also in the hunt will be Steve Wyndham’s five-litre Ford Credit Falcon V8, plus the Kaye-Eddie BMW 330i entries of Johan Fourie and Steven Morris. Finally, the Champion Ferodo Mercedes-Benz C320 of Leeroy Poulter and Richard Sorensen’s Titan Aviation BMW 330i should not be left out of the equation. –
– Current overall 2004 Production Car Championship leader Shaun van der Linde will be the man to beat in Class B, with his Castrol MINI Cooper S. Taking him on with hostile intent will be Clint Weston (Furman Glass Ford Focus ST170) and Craig Nicholson (Sabat MINI Cooper S), with little to choose between the three drivers. Phillip Kekena (Sasol Toyota RunX RSi) and Brian Martin, with his similar car in Havoline colours, should be close enough to benefit from any mistakes by the front-runners. Thus far not competitive and hoping for a change of fortune will be the turbodiesel Mercedes-Benz C270 CDI entries of Mark Allison and Hector North, under the respective banners of VaalMac and Motion Business Systems. Youngster Bert Grogor and his venerable German Workshop Toyota Corolla RXi will round out the class, capable of podium placings. –
– Class C, that comprises this year’s South African Junior Production Car Championship, will be contested by at least 20 drivers, representing seven car manufacturers. Defending titleholder Dave Compton tops the entry list in his BumperTech Toyota Tazz 1600, with his closest rivals Miguel Pasqualli (M&R Ford Ikon 1600i) and Cor Kraamwinkel (Daihatsu Sirion 1300). Also able to win should be Fanie de Bruin (Makita Ford Ikon 1600i), Carlos Nobre (VW CitiGolf 1,6i), Darren Murphy (VW Parts CitiGolf 1,6i), Eckhart Schoenknecht (Caltex VW Polo TDi) and Robi Beninca (Tech Services CitiGolf). The midfield pack should see tight battles between people like James Menin (Goldco Midas Opel Corsa 160 GSi), Irshad Jaffer (Daihatsu Sirion 1300), plus Fiat Bluetooth Palio drivers Theunis Eloff, Brad Anassis and Mike O’Sullivan. –
– Joining the fray, but not able to score official championship points will be Honda Cup competitors Doug Reekie (ConfigOnline Ballade 180i) and Lawrence Boshoff (Net IQ Ballade 180i).