This weekend’s rounds of the SA Production Car series will see more than 40 cars pitted against each other at Killarney, including Leeroy Poulter’s Mercedes C32 AMG versus a squadron of BMW 330is.
This weekend’s rounds of the SA Production Car series will see more than 40 cars pitted against each other at Killarney, including Leeroy Poulter’s Mercedes C32 AMG versus a squadron of BMW 330is.
Making its first appearance at Killarney will be the Class A Champion C32 of Poulter. The supercharged vehicle’s power has been restricted to equal that of other vehicles in the class, but it should provide a stern challenge to the BMW camp, led by the factory Castrol BMW 330i entries of Etienne van der Linde and Anthony Taylor.
Van der Linde and Taylor scored a win apiece at AA Kyalami a month ago, but fellow BMW drivers Reghardt Roets and Steve Morris (Kaye-Eddie Racing) and privateer Richard Sorensen (Titan Aviation) will certainly be in close contention.
The LG Squadra Corse Alfa Romeo also makes its début in the Western Cape. Martin Steyn and Morne Jurgens will race Alfa 147 GTA models and Marco da Cunha will do duty in an Alfa 156 GTA.
Cape Town’s enthusiasts will recall how Martin Steyn scored the Alfa 156 GTA’s first race victory at Killarney last year, and the three scarlet cars will certainly enjoy a lot of spectator support.
So should Capetonian veteran Steve Wyndham, racing the works Ford Credit Falcon XR8 in front of his home crowd.
Topping the Class B contingent will be the works Castrol MINI Cooper S of Shaun van der Linde and Clint Weston’s factory entered Furman Glass Ford Focus ST170. However, Brian Martin (Havoline Toyota RunX RSi), Craig Nicholson (Sabat MINI Cooper S) and Phillip Kekana in his Sasol Toyota RunX RSi will also be in contention.
Following mechanical maladies during its first outing, Mercedes-Benz will be back with their two turbodiesel C270 CDi models, to be driven by Mark Allison and local ace Dave Kopke.
As many as 20 cars, representing six marques and nine model variants, will line up on the Class C the grid. Kyalami winners Angus Thompson (Bredren Autobody VW CitiGolf) and Cor Kraamwinkel (Daihatsu Sirion) should be the men to beat, with class champion Dave Compton (BumperTech Toyota Tazz 1600) their closest rival.
Darren Murphy (Genuine Parts VW CitiGolf 1,6i) and factory Ford drivers Fanie de Bruin (Makita Ikon 1,6i) and Muguel Pasqualli (M&R Ikon 1,6i should be on the pace too.
Also in works cars will be Irshad Jaffer, in the Daihatsu team’s second Sirion. The entry list for Class C will be completed by James Menin (Goldco Midas Opel Corsa 160 GSi), John Kruger (Ford Fiesta 1,6 RSi), Robi Beninca (BTS VW Citi Life), Francois van Zyl (Roodt Motors VW CitiGolf 1,6i) and Shane Williams (Ford Ikon 1,6i).
