This weekend’s Production Car Championship was as action-packed as ever and included a sensational crash between two VW Golfs in Class C that must have bruised more than just limbs.
This weekend’s Production Car Championship was as action-packed as ever and included a sensational crash between two VW Golfs in Class C that must have bruised more than just limbs.
The weekend got off to a surprise start when Steve Wyndham set the quickest time in his Ford Falcon XR8 to ensure pole position.
Wyndham’s joy was short-lived, though – his Ford struggled off the line on race day and was soon passed by those behind him. In the shuffle, the Ford and Alfa Romeo 147 GTA of Martin Steyn become entangled and passed into retirement.
Works BMW 330i drivers Etienne van der Linde and Anthony Taylor eventually took up first and second places in the race. They were followed by Wesbank V8 champion Johan Fourie, who enjoyed a once-off outing in a Kaye-Eddie BMW 330i, and Steven Morris. Leeroy Poulter and the remaining 147 GTAs of Morne Jurgens and Marco da Cunha completed race one’s standings.
In race two, the factory BMWs collided, sending van der Linde into the sand trap – and retirement – while Taylor’s assault was seriously hindered. This time, Johan Fourie and Steven Morris took the first two places while Anthony Taylor’s BMW, Martin Steyn’s Alfa Romeo, Leeroy Poulter’s Mercedes-Benz and Richard Sorensen’s BMW completed the list.
Shaun van der Linde took his Castrol MINI Cooper S to victory in Class B’s opening Race. He was followed by Clinton Weston and his Ford Focus ST170, while Craig Nicholson’s MINI Cooper S and Bert Grogor in his German Workshop Toyota Corolla RSi finished in the top five.
Strong contenders Phillip Kekana (Sasol Toyota RunX RSi) and Brian Martin (Havoline Toyota RunX RSi) had to retire three laps into the race after colliding.
Race two saw van der Linde’s MINI retiring with mechanical problems. That left Clint Weston to win in his Ford, ahead of Craig Nicholson’s MINI, Brian Martin’s Toyota RunX, Bert Grogor’s Toyota Corolla and Phillip Kekana’s RunX.
Class C was the centre of the action as both races were fraught with incidents. In the opening race, Fanie de Bruin (Makita Ford Ikon 1600i) and Carlos Nobre (VW CitGolf 1,6i) were dismissed in separate incidents.
That left Miguel Pasqualli to win in his Ford Ikon 1,6i, ahead of James Menin (Goldco Midas Opel Corsa 160 GSi), Robi Beninca (Tech Services VW CitiGolf), Eckhart Schoenknecht (Gilo VW Polo 1,4 TDi) and Darren Murphy (Genuine Parts VW CitiGolf 1,6i).
The most harrowing accident of the day occurred in race two when Darren Murphy tagged Roby Beninca sideways as he came into the pit straight. Beninca’s car slammed into the tyre wall next to the road and flipped over it, narrowly missing seated spectators and a bakkie travelling along a service road.
Meanwhile the Ford Ikon of Miguel Pasqualli blew up while chasing for a second victory on the day. Carlos Nobre took victory with his Golf, followed by Fanie de Bruin’s Ford Ikon, Darren Murphy’s Golf and the BumperTech Toyota Tazz 1600 of Dave Compton.