Five-time SA motor racing champion Johan Fourie is the favourite to win this weekend’s two rounds of the Wesbank V8 series, but no less than six drivers are capable of winning either race.
Five-time SA motor racing champion Johan Fourie is the favourite to win this weekend’s two rounds of the Wesbank V8 series, but no less than six drivers are capable of winning either race.
Fourie is the reigning Wesbank champion and the Capetonian has already taken his MD Transport Opel Omega to two runaway wins in the opening pair of races at Kyalami in February.
That said, Fourie’s opposition in the Ford-engined Mustangs and Jaguars will have an advantage at Killarney because their cars’ flexible power delivery and road holding are well suited to the tight corners of the track. A change of the aerodynamic rules pertaining to downforce should also make the cars spectacular to watch.
Grant Van Schalkwyk (Hi-Q Mustang) from Gauteng was runner up in last year’s championship and will be determined to turn the tables on Fourie and his crew.
Veteran Larry Wilford (Fuch Titan), also in a new Mustang, thrives on the twists and turns of Killarney could be in line for a win. His performance at Kyalami showed he can compete with any of the youngsters in the Wesbank V8 GT class.
Making his return to Wesbank V8 racing at Killarney will be Hennie Groenewald in the Caltex Havoline Jaguar, which was previously raced by Riaan Botma.
Gary Formato has swapped his New Zealand- built Jaguar for a new Sasol Ford Mustang and is back on form. Formato is keen to add to the two Wesbank titles he won in 1998 and 1999 and his team is desperately trying to get rid his car of understeer.
Also in the leading pack is the West Rand’s Mackie Adlem (Sabat Mustang), Melvill Priest (Mad Buzz Omega), who is hoping to get to the finish line in one piece after crashing out of the last two race meetings and Zane Pearce (Hi-Q Mustang), who wants to improve on his regular third places.
A second class has just been introduced into Wesbank V8 racing. This is the GTC class for cars using the renowned Ford or Chev V8 engines with Holley carburettors. Here the frontrunners are expected to be Jaco Correia (Omega Spares Chev Corvette), the winner of both races at Kyalami and former Wesbank champion Roelf Du Plessis in the Devco Africa Gardener Ross Corvette.
Johnny Eekhout (John Speed Camaro) now competing in the GTC class for the first time and others like Andrea Toreno (Dischem Mustang), Paul Rechberger (New Call Camaro), Frans Bakker (Sasol Mustang) are expected to give chase.
Driving one of the Astras that took Fourie to Wesbank V8 honours is Ian Young, making his debut in this car at Killarney.