Kyalami 2017 off to fine start
UNEXPECTED RESULTS, GREAT SPECTACLE
The Kyalami Grand Prix circuit kicked off its 2017 motorsport programme in style on Saturday. The venue’s Motorsport Festival saw a large crowd entertained with great spectacle, ultra-close competition and varied race results.
Officially, top billing belonged to the Sasol Global Touring Car brigade.
Early leader Michael Stephen (Engen Xtreme Audi) slowed with mechanical trouble halfway through the opening race.
Gennaro Bonafede (Sasol BMW) went on to win, ahead of Simon Moss (Engen Xtreme Audi), Johan Fourie (EPS Couriers BMW) and Mathew Hodges (VW Jetta).
Keagen Masters (VW Golf GTI) won the GTC2 class, leading home Mandla Mdakane (VW Golf GTI) and Trevor Bland (VW Golf GTI).
Race two, started from a reverse-order grid, produced various leaders and lurid action.
Near the end, Johan Fourie lost his BMW and hit the wall halfway up the Mineshaft, while the VW Jetta of Daniel Rowe stopped with electronic problems.
Then Robert Wolk’s BMW blew its engine, with his car and the Audi of Simon Moss spinning wildly on the resultant oil spill.
All of which left Michael Stephen to win, ahead of Matthew Hodges, a recovered Moss, Bonafede and Michael van Rooyen (RSC BMW).
Mdakane took the GTC2 honours from Charl Smallberger (VW Golf GTI) and Masters.
The day's biggest crowd drawcard – two races for G&H Transport Extreme Supercars – produced spirited action.
Toby Venter blasted his works Porsche 911 GTR to the opening race victory.
He led home Johan Engelbrecht (JogaJoga Porsche), Charl Arangies (Stradale Ferrari 430), Franco Scribante (Ferrari 430) and Dawie Olivier (G&H Transport BMW M3).
Venter won the next race too, followed by Engelbrecht, Scribante, Arangies and Marcel Angel (Angel Autohaus Ferrari 458).
Poleman Ben Morgenrood (Morgenrood Ford Mustang) dropped out on the warm-up lap for the first V8 Supercar race.
That left Mackie Adlem (Mapogo Jaguar) to win in front of lady racer Lonika Maartens (Hoosier Chev Lumina) and Franco di Matteo (Delco Batteries Jaguar).
Adlem repeated the victory in race two, this time followed by youngster Benjamin Morgenrood (Morgenrood Ford Mustang) and Terry Wilford (Fuchs Jaguar).
Fabio Tafani (APF Mustang), took both the V8 Masters wins, followed by Carl Nel and Charles Arton, in similar cars.
Lee Thompson (Alpine Motors Polo) won the opening Engen Volkswagen Cup race, leading home Devin Robertson (Payen Polo) and Clinton Bezuidenhout (Glyco Polo).
Race two also went to Thompson, this time ahead of Dewald Brummer (Alpine Motors Polo) and Juan Gerber (Glasfit Polo).
Julian van der Watt (Investchem Mygale) took both races for Investchem Formula 1600 single seater cars, finishing ahead of Stuart White (Fantastic Mygale) on both occasions.
Alex Gillespie (ERP Truck Mygale) and youngster Cameron O’Conner (Mygale) took turns in the third places, respectively.
Jason Campos (Shelby V8) won the first National Sports Car Championship race, followed by Brian Algar (Shelby CanAm) and Michael Jensen (Shelby CanAm).
Campos won the second race as well, while setting a new overall Kyalami lap record of 1 minute 45,309 seconds.
Again, he led home Algar and Jensen.
Jonathan du Toit (Chevron B9) narrowly beat Keegan Campos (Porsche RSR) to the flag in the opening race for SKF Legend Cars. Ben Morgenrood finished third in his Ford Mustang.
Race two saw the cars of Morgenrood and Campos touch at the end of the main straight, sending the Porsche into the sand trap..
Du Toit took his second victory of the day, leading home Morgenrood and Mark du Toit (Lola T70).