Extreme Festival at Killarney delivers the thrills

THE CROWD that gathered at Killarney last Saturday for the final Cape-based round of the national Extreme Festival, was treated to a display of incredibly close racing.

One of the best scraps at the event took place in the Investchem Formula 1600 category where victory went to Scott Temple despite him having to trail marginally behind Stuart White in the opening heat. Inexperienced local teenager Joshua Dolinschek did incredibly well to claim an overall third behind them, with pre-race favourite White having to settle for fourth.

In the Engen Polo Cup category, it was a case of ladies first, where Tasmin Pepper started in pole position, dropped down to second after the lights changed and then fought her way back again to win the first race. Although Pepper was then beaten by Jeffrey Kruger in the second race, she still fared well enough to claim a marginal overall victory on the day.

It was one-way traffic, however, in the chart-topping Sasol Global Touring Car (GTC) event. Simply put, GTC races were dominated by the Engen Audi A3s piloted by double champion Michael Stephen and a fast-improving Simon Moss. And, although Gennaro Bonafede began the day in second position in the title chase, in his BMW 2 Series, his final seventh and third placings dropped him even further behind the leaders. Third spot then went to Michael van Rooyen’s BMW 2 Series entry. Overall victory in the secondary GTC2 category was claimed by Keagan Masters (VW Golf Gti).

A rare trouble-free run in the Pirelli Sports and GT events allowed Dawie Joubert to emphasise the potential of his sleek Lotus Exige (Honda-powered) as he went on to win both races with comparative ease.

Other class winners were: B - Steve Humble (Opel Mallock Mk.14), C - Maartin Prins (Porsche GT3 Cup), D - Hennie Trollip (Lotus 7 replica).

With the largest entry of the day crowding the track in the Mike’s Place Clubman Saloon category, the leading class A trio in the first race, Danie van Niekerk (BMW 325), Jesse Huggett (VW Jetta) and Shane du Toit (VW Golf 1), had to thread their way through the field at times.

Other class results in this one were: B - Johan Pretorius (VW Polo Vivo), C - Ernest Roos (BMW E36), D - Cedric Burger (Honda Ballade), E - Ruan van der Walt (VW Golf 1). F - Jaco Lambert (VW Beetle).

The next main circuit event at Killarney is round eight of the Wingfield Motors sponsored Power Series (dubbed the PinSk Drive meeting), on October 20.