The championship battle is still alive in all five classes of the SA Production Car series as the contenders prepare for battle in Rounds 15 and 16 at the Phakisa Raceway on Saturday.
The championship battle is still alive in all five classes of the SA Production Car series as the contenders prepare for battle in Rounds 15 and 16 at the Phakisa Raceway on Saturday.
With six of the season’s 20 races left to run, a single point separates current leader Lawrence Boshoff (Class C Orbit Coach Honda Ballade 180i) and Dawie Brough (Class B Prominent Paints Honda Ballade V-TEC) in the overall championship.
In Class A, works-assisted Castrol BMW 330i drivers Anthony Taylor and Etienne van der Linde top the title standings, backed by the identical car of Castrol BMW team mate Shaun van der Linde.
They will not start the Phakisa races as outright victory favourites, though…Various other Class A competitors have shown winning pace in the recent past, led by Kaye-Eddie BMW 330i drivers Steven Morris and Reghardt Roets. Both of them could score maximum points on Saturday, as could Leeroy Poulter in the Champion EON team’s Mercedes-Benz C320.
Another strong challenge can be expected from Martin Steyn in the LG Flatron Alfa Romeo 156 GTA, with the Phakisa circuit’s long sweeps expected to suit the ultra-fast front wheel drive car.
In Class B, overall title contestant Dawie Brough can afford nothing less than two race victories in his Honda V-TEC. But the current Class B pace-setter is youngster Bert Grogor in his
German Workshop Toyota Corolla RSi, with veteran Mike O’Sullivan (OKI Honda Ballade V-TEC) always in contention.
Others to watch in the class will include Jesse Adams (Ray-Ban Honda Ballade V-TEC), Brian Martin (Havoline Toyota RunX RSi) and Zack da Silva in his Toyota Corolla RSi.
Like his overall title rival, Lawrence Boshoff needs to win both of the Class C races, but Doug Reekie (Ray-Ban Honda Ballade 180i) has emerged as a major victory challenger in recent events, with Craig Nicholson (Sabat Honda Ballade), Hector North (Eastgate Honda) and Molefe Lebethe (OKI Honda) quick enough to benefit from any mistakes by the favourites.
Dave Compton (BumperTech Toyota Tazz 1600) is the current Class D points leader, but factory Ford Ikon 160i drivers Clinton
Weston, Fanie de Bruin and Miguel Pasqualli, under the respective banners of Furman Glass, Murray & Roberts and Ford Racing, are also in the frame. Angus Thompson (Garonga Safari VW Golf
1600), James Menin (Le Grange Opel Corsa 1,6 GSi), Carlos Nobre (Motorhouse VW Golf), John Williams (Bacardi Ford Ikon) and Robbie Beninca (VW Golf 1600), will also contest Class D.
Darren Murphy (VW Parts CitiGolf) currently leads the year’s Junior Production Car championship overall, with his quest nothing less than two race wins. To achieve that, he will have to beat Deon Crous (VW CitiGolf), Francois van Zyl (Opel Corsa 140i), Shane Williams (Ford Fiesta 130i) and Eckhart Schoenknecht (Caltex VW CitiGolf).