As the production car wars move into another round, will Steve Wyndham’s Ford Falcon or an Alfa Romeo pose a threat to Etienne van der Linde and Anthony Taylor in their BMW 330is this weekend?
As the production car wars move into another round, will Steve Wyndham’s Ford Falcon or an Alfa Romeo pose a threat to Etienne van der Linde and Anthony Taylor in their BMW 330is this weekend?
Around 40 competitors will take to the field on Saturday for rounds nine and 10 of the national production car championship at Zwartkops. And while the Castrol BMW team of Van der Linde and Taylor, currently topping the points, is the favourite to win, some resistance from the rest of the field should not surprise them.
Martin Steyn, Morné Jurgens and Marco da Cunha with their Alfissimo LG Alfa Romeo 147 GTAs, and Steve Wyndham’s 5,0-litre Ford Credit Falcon V8 will probably be hot on the leaders heels. The Kaye-Eddie BMW330i entries of Johan Fourie and Steven Morris, Richard Sorensen’s Titan Aviation BMW 330i and Leeroy Poulter’s Champion Ferodo Mercedes-Benz C320 should not be too far off the pace either.
The current leader on the points table, Shaun van der Linde, will set the pace in Class B with his Castrol Mini Cooper S. In hot pursuit will be Craig Nicholson in his Sabat Cooper S and Clint Weston in his Furman Glass Ford Focus ST170.
With not much between the front-runners, Philip Kekana (Sasol Toyota RunX RSi) and Brian Martin (Havoline Toyota RunX RSi) should be able to benefit from any mistakes they make.
Not too competitive this season are the Mercedes-Benz C270 CDI entries of Mark Allison and Hector North who, under the respective banners of VaalMac and Motion Business Systems, will be looking for a change in fortune. Bert Grogor in his German Workshop Toyota Corolla RXi, also capable of a podium placing, will complete the class’ lineup.
In Class C, contested by at least 20 drivers representing seven car manufacturers, defending title holder Dave Compton heads the entry list. Behind Compton’s BumperTech Toyota Tazz 1600 closest rivals Miguel Pasqualli (M&R Ford Ikon 1600i) and Cor Kraamwinkel (Daihatsu Sirion 1300) should be planning to upset his lead.
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 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).
