Really fast extreme racing
SPECTACLE: SEVEN CATEGORIES IN EAST LONDON’S EXTREME FESTIVAL
The man to beat is likely to be Gennaro Bonafede in his Sasol BMW.
The country’s largest motorsport travelling show will perform at the country’s fastest racetrack this Saturday. The occasion is round five of the 2017 Extreme Festival at the East London Grand Prix circuit, with seven racing categories scheduled to face the starter.
The East London circuit is officially South Africa’s fastest motorsport venue, with the pit straight incorporating the Potters Pass and Rifle Range sweeps, the fastest two corners in local circuit racing.
Heading up Saturday’s events will be two races for Sasol Global Touring Cars, bringing 17 cars to the event.
The man to beat should be current championship points leader Gannaro Bonafede in his Sasol BMW.
His closest adversaries should include defending champion Michael Stephen (Engen Xtreme Audi), Johan Fourie (EPS Couriers BMW), Simon Moss (Engen Xtreme Audi) and Mathew Hodges (Volkswagen Passat).
Rounding out the top class will be Robert Wolk (Sasol BMW), Daniel Rowe (Volkswagen Passat) and Michael van Rooyen (RSC BMW).
Keagan Masters (Volkswagen Golf GTI) will be the victory favourite in the GTC2 category, challenged by people like Mandla Mdakane (Volkswagen Golf GTI), Trevor Bland (VW Golf GTI), Christopher Shorter (Champion MINI), Charl Smalberger (Indy Oil Golf GTI), Trevor Bland (TB Racing Golf GTI) and Bradley Liebenberg (Ferodo MINI).
The day’s quickest lap times should be produced by the B&H Transport Extreme Supercar brigade. Top contenders will include people like Craig Jarvis (Panacea Dodge Viper V10), Dino Scribante (Porsche 997), Jimmy Gainnoccaro (G&H Transport Ferrari 430), Oliver Dalais (Porsche 997), Dawie Olivier (G&H Transport BMW M3), Jonathan du Toit (TAR Ferrari 430), Ricky Giannoccaro (G&H Transport BMW GT3) and Mark du Toit (TAR Ferrari 360).
The front-running cars are expected to reach speeds of over 280 km/h through the Rifle Range sweep.
Devin Robertson (VW Polo) will be the man to beat in the Engen Volkswaqgen Cup races, facing off against the likes of Tasmin Pepper (Alpine Motors Polo), Shaun la Reservee (Alpine Motors Polo), Matt Shorter (VW Polo), Jeffrey Kruger (Universal Health Polo), Clinton Bezuidenhout (Glyco Polo), Benjamin Habig (Nural Engine Polo) and Daniel Duminy (Pepper Racing Polo).
The Investchem Formula 1600 races should see a confrontation between drivers like Julian van der Watt (Mygale), Ian Schofield
(Investchem Mygale), Donny Lamola (First Race Mygale), Cameron O’Çonnor (Formula Ford) and Paige Lindenberg (Investchem Mygale).
The East London circuit’s long straights inevitably lead to close slip-streaming fights during single-seater races, and this Saturday’s events should be no exception.
The Red Square Kawasaki Masters category should produce
equally close spectacle. Reigning champion Sven Grune (Kawasaki ZX10R) will be up against Graeme van Breda (Reef Supplies ZX10R), Teddy Brooke (Brooke Refrigeration ZX10R), Pieter de Vos (Jongingozi ZX10R), Johan le Roux (Avidan ZX10R), Sanjiv Singh (Double Apex ZX10R) and Jaco Gous (Central Propshaft ZX10R).
Taking on the Supercars for setting the event’s quickest lap times will be the Thunderbike category. Top contenders also exceeding 280 km/h at East London will be Gavin Upton (Yamaha R1), Dean Vos (Kawasaki ZX10R), Gareth Bezuidenhout (Kawasaki ZX10R), Shaun Vermaak (Kawasaki ZX10R) and Rick Carmody (Honda Fireblade).
The day’s biggest entry is the Comsol VW Challenge category, with 27 competitors. Top contenders include Stiaan Kriel (Sponsor Needed Polo), Iain Pepper (Campos Polo), Gavin Ross (VW Polo), Waldie Meintjies (VW Polo), Wayne Crous (VW Polo), Leon Odendaal (Iesarvert Golden era Polo) and Rory Atkinson (Pozidrive Polo). – Circuit racing correspondent