Port Elizabeth’s Aldo Scribante Raceway provided the setting for a national production car campaign peppered with dramatic crashes that left most of the Class A favourites watching the race as spectators.
Port Elizabeth’s Aldo Scribante Raceway provided the setting for a national production car campaign peppered with dramatic crashes that left most of the Class A favourites watching the race as spectators.
The short, tight nature of the Scribante racetrack meant that the production car field was split, with Classes A and T running separately from Classes B and C.
The race action in the Class A and T encounter was intense, with more than half of the Class A entrants trapped in a multi-car pile-up, leaving the track strewn with bumpers, door handles and stricken cars.
Reghardt Roets (Nissan 350Z) cleared the carnage and was victorious after fending off a strong attack from Anthony Taylor (BMW 330i) towards the end of the race. Robert Wolk finished third in his BMW 330i.
The start of the second race was delayed to allow teams more time to prepare their cars damaged in the first-race scuffle. The factory-backed Nissan 350Zs led the reduced Class A field from the start, though Etienne van der Linde and his BMW 330i soon charged into the lead.
Nissan’s Leeroy Poulter was first across the chequered line though, followed by the BMWs of Anthony Taylor and Robert Wolk.
Taylor maintained the overall Class A lead, with Wolk in second position. Craig Nicholson (Nissan 350Z) was third overall with fourth-place finishes in both races.
While the Class A resembled a battle field, the Class T field remained remarkably unscathed. Clint Weston kept his Mini at the lead to take victory in the first race, with Grant Waberski and Eckhardt Schoenknecht in third.
Schoenknecht was first to cross the line in the second race though, with Ettienne Prinsloo in second and Weston in third.
The B and C Class races where no less eventful and two starts were needed before the race was decided. The VW Citi of Robi Beninca became the day’s first casualty when his tumble through the Continental Esses prompted the appearance of the red flag.
Carlos Nobre’s Mercedes-Benz 270 CDI was next to go when he ran wide out of Firehawk Sweep, hit the grassy verge and was flung across the track before being battered by Deon Crous’ VW Golf.
Phillip Kekana crossed the line ahead of his Class B competitors in his Toyota RunX with Marco da Cunha finishing second. Dave Compton was victorious in race two with Kekana this time finishing second and Wyndham finishing third.
In Class C, John Kruger was followed across the line by Rob Preuss and Wayne Masters. Masters was triumphant in the second race, with Heinz Bose in second and Mark Silverwood finishing third.