Castrol BMW 330i team-mates Etienne van der Linde and Anthony Taylor are set for a decisive battle for this year’s Class A Production Car series title at Kyalami on Saturday.
Castrol BMW 330i team-mates Etienne van der Linde and Anthony Taylor are set for a decisive battle for this year’s Class A Production Car series title at Kyalami on Saturday.
And with both capable of taking the championship on Saturday and with no team orders in place, things should definitely be tight around the former Grand Prix circuit.
Taylor will need to win both of the day’s races, and set both the quickest lap times, to snatch the title, while Van der Linde could capture the top spot with a victory and quickest lap in the first race.
Behind the two title contenders, Shaun van der Linde in the Castrol BMW 330i will be battling it out with the Kaye-Eddie BMW 330i driver, Reghardt Roets. Both drivers are hoping to occupy a space on the podium as just two points separate them on the official title log.
Three drivers who are hoping to cause some upsets for BMW this weekend are Steve Wyndham (Ford Credit Falcon XR8), Leeroy Poulter (Champion EON Mercedes-Benz C320) and Martin Steyn (LG Flatron Alfa Romeo 156 GTA ) who have all won races this season.
Also determined to end the season on a high note will be already crowned Class B Champion Dawie Brough (Prominent Paints Honda Ballade V-TEC). His closest contestants should be talented youngster Bert Grogor (McCarthy Toyota Corolla RSi), Brian Martin, who has recently found winning pace in his Havoline Toyota RunX RSi, and Zack da Silva, coming to grips with his Imperial Toyota Corolla RSi.
Able to mix it with the Class B runners will be various drivers in Class C, led by 2003 Champion elect Lawrence Boshoff in his Orbit Coach Works Honda Ballade 180i.
Out to beat Boshoff will be Doug Reekie (Ray-Ban Honda Ballade 180i) plus OKI Honda Ballade 180i pilots Molefe Lebethe and veteran Mike O’Sullivan.
Other drivers who could spring surprises will be Craig Nicholson (Sabat Honda), Gary Gordon (Honda Spares Ballade), Jesse Adams (Ray-Ban Honda) and Hector North (East Rand Honda Ballade 180i).
With Dave Compton having already clinched the Class D trophy in his Bumpertech Toyota Tazz 1600, the day’s racing could see some of the day’s closest racing as Clint Weston (Furman Glass Ford Ikon 1,6i), Miguel Pasqualli (Ford Racing Ikon 1,6i) and Angus Thompson (Garonga Safari VW Golf 1,6i) go head-to-head for the vacant second spot in the championship.
Other possible winners include John Kruger (Ford Fiesta 1,6i), Fanie de Bruin (M&R Ford Ikon 1,6i), Robi Beninca (Born to Send VW Golf 1,6i) and James Menin in his Le Grange Opel Corsa 160 GSi.
Newly-crowned Junior Production Car title holder Darren Murphy (Genuine Parts VW CitiGolf) will start as Saturday’s Class E favourite.
Hot on his heels, Francois van Zyl (Opel Corsa 140i), Deon Crous (VW CitiGolf), Eckhart Schoenknecht (Caltex VW CitiGolf) and Rob Preuss (Opel Corsa 1400) will be going to war for the remaining championship spots.
Saturday’s two races see the announcement of this season’s CAR Magazine Rookie of the Year contest winner, who will walk off with R25 000 in prize money.
