Trio in battle to be top of pile
GLOBAL TOURING CARS: ANY ONE OF THE THREE COULD TAKE POINTS LEAD AT ZWARTKOPS
At the two-thirds point of the series, most of the nine title chases are wide open.
With this year’s premier South African Motorsport Championship series set to reach its two-thirds mark at the Zwartkops Raceway in three weeks’ time, most of the nine contested title chases are still wide open.
Round eight of the 2018 Extreme Festival, the Sasol Raceday on August 18, will feature all of the series’ national title categories, plus three regional championship disciplines.
Officially heading up the day’s activities will be two races for Sasol Global Touring Cars, where three drivers are locked in a fight at the top of the points ladder.
Reigning champion Michael Stephen (Engen Audi), Gennaro Bonafede (Sasol BMW) and Simon Moss (Engen Audi) could all take the title points lead at Zwartkops.
Close behind them is Michael Rowe (VW Motorsport Jetta), with the top privateers Michael Van Rooyen RSC BMW) and Johan Fourie (EPS Couriers BMW) filling the next two spots.
Keagan Masters (VW Motorsport Golf Gti) holds a slender points lead in the Sasol GTC2 category, with Brad Liebenberg (Ferodo Mini JCW) and Devin Robertson (Champion Mini JCW) close on his heels.
Others close enough to cause problems for the leaders will be Trevor Bland (Universal Health Golf Gti) and Charl Smalberger (Sabertek Golf Gti).
Charl Arangies (Stradale Lamborghini Gallardo) leads the series for G&H Transport Extreme Supercars, with his closest adversaries people like Franco Scribante (Porsche 997T), Marcel Angel (Angel Autohaus Ferrari 458 GT3), Dawie Olivier (G&H Transport BMW M3), Dawie Joubert (Lotus Honda Turbo), Jonathan du Toit (TAR Ferrari F430) and Ricky Giannoccaro (G&H Transport BMW M3).
The day’s closest competition could well be provided by the Engen Polo Cup contingent, where Jeffrey Kruger (Universal Health Polo) leads the title chase, marginally ahead of Tasmin Pepper (Electric Life Polo), Jonathan Mogotsi (VW Motorsport Polo), Shaun La Reservee (Alpine Motors Polo) and Clinton Bezuidenhout (Glyco Engine Polo).
The Investchem Formula 1 600 series is tight, with Nicholas van Weely (Magnificent Paints Van Diemen) and Stuart White (Fantastic Mygale) fighting for the lead, with Alex Gillespie (ERP Trucking Mygale) in close proximity.
Jaco Schriks (Bean Child Rhema) leads the Hankook Formula Vee title chase, narrowly ahead of Lushen Ramchander (TRA Forza) and Gert van den Berg (BP Nantes Rhema).
Three motorcycle categories on the day will be topped by the Red Square Kawasaki ZX10 Masters Cup events, where Sven Grune (Kawasaki ZX10R) and Graeme Van Breda (Stefanutti ZX10R) will continue a season-long fight for supremacy.
Threatening to upset their pattern at the front will be Jade Gutzeit (Kawasaki ZX10R) and Jaco Gous (Avidan ZX10R).
Veteran Lance Isaacs (Supabets BMW) leads the Bridgestone Thunderbike championship by a wide margin, but on the day he could be challenged by Nicolas Grobler, (Adrenalin Powersport Yamaha R1 ), Hendrik de Bruin (Kawasaki ZX10R ) and Gavin Upton (Kawasaki ZX10R).
Rounding out the day’s activities will be two races for the Bridgestone Sub 10 Superbikes, with the front runners probably Wayne Spicer, (Wellness Group Kawasaki), Johan Nortje (Ultimate Kawasaki) and Harry Potgieter (T-Squared Kawasaki).
The racing will be backed by a broad selection of off track family entertainment, with a flea market, live music, fun on the venue’s skidpan and a kiddie’s corner.
All spectators will be invited to visit the pits on foot at any time, with the circuit’s Mini Moke road trains to run between the spectator areas and the pit gate throughout the day. www.zwartkops.co.za.