Extreme fest in East London
REIGNING SA CHAMP MICHAEL STEPHEN SHOULD BE THE MAN TO BEAT IN HIS ENGEN AUDI GTC2 races should see a continuation of season-long victory fight between drivers.
The 2018 Extreme Festival will visit South Africa’s fastest racetrack this weekend, with six racing disciplines taking to the East London Grand Prix circuit.
Top billing will belong to the Sasol Global Touring Car (GTC) brigade, with little to choose between the front contestants in terms of sheer pace.
Reigning South African champion Michael Stephen should be the man to beat in his Engen Audi, with his closest adversaries Gennaro Bonafede (Sasol BMW), Simon Moss (Engen Audi), Robert Wolk (Sasol BMW) and Daniel Rowe (Volkswagen Jetta).
Rounding out the class will be Johan Fourie (EPS Courier BMW), Mathew Hodges (Volkswagen Jetta), and Michael van Rooyen (RCS BMW).
The GTC2 races should see a continuation of the season-long victory fight between Keagan Masters (Volkswagen Golf GTI), Brad Liebenberg (Ferodo Mini JCW), Trevor Bland (Compcare Golf GTI), and Devin Robertson (Champion Mini JCW).
Others to watch should include Charl Smalberger (Sabertek Golf Gti), Adrian Wood (Kyocera Golf GTI), Dayne Angel (Autohaus Angel Honda), and Johan Pretorius (Universal Health Golf).
The day’s closest racing should be provided by the Engen Polo Cup contingent, with the formula’s new two-litre turbocharged cars visiting the East London venue for the first time.
The two top contenders should be Jeffrey Kruger (Universal Health Polo) and Tasmin Pepper (Electric Life Polo), with the two drivers having clinched all of the season’s race victories between them thus far.
People who could upset their applecart would include Keegan Campos (Campos Transport Polo), Jonathan Mogotsi (Volkswagen Motorsport Polo), Clinton Bezuidenhout (Volkswagen Polo), Delon Thompson (Volkswagen Polo), Charl Wilken (Cronje’s Autobody Polo), Jason Campos (Campos Transport Polo), and Darren Oates (Volkswagen Polo).
Stuart White (Fantastic Mygale) must be the man to beat in the Formula 1600 races, with his closest competition to come from guys like Nicolas van Weely (Formula Ford), AndrewSchofield (Investchem Mygale), Josh Dolinschek (Investchem Mygale), Siyabonga Mankonkwane (Investchem Mygale), Alex Gillespie (Investchem Mygale) and Scott Temple (Investchem Mygale).
Sven Grune (Kawasaki ZX10R) and Graeme van Breda (Stefanutti ZX10R) should continue their fight for superiority in the Red Square Kawasaki Masters category.
Chasing them should be the likes of Appanna Ganapathy (Kawasaki ZX10R), Brian Bontekoning (Kawasaki ZX10R), Jaco Gous (Kawasaki ZX10R), Johan le Roux (Kawasaki ZX10R), Pieter de Vos (Kawasaki ZX10R), Jonty Collard (Kawasaki ZX10R) and Wayne Spicer (Kawasaki ZX10R).
The day’s quickest lap times 010-492-5281
Edited by André de Kock andrédk@citizen.co.za
should be set during the V8 Super Car races, with front runners to include Mackie Adlem (Naqvak Jaguar), Johan van der Westhuizen (Chev Camaro), Bevan Schwarz (Alco Trucks Chev Corvette), Steve Herbst (Prei Instrumentation Corvette), Schalk Compaan (Ford Falcon), and Auke Compaan (Jaguar).
Adding much spice to proceedings will be two races for 111 Sports and Saloon Cars.
Victory favourites should include Wouter Roos (Volkswagen Golf), Paul Saayman (Volkswagen Caddy), Danie Deysel (Honda Civic), George Bezuidenhout (Nissan Almera), Melanie Spurr (G&H Transport Volkswagen Polo), Veritue-Ann Joubert (Honda Civic), Mark Ellis (Auto Trucks Porsche), Mark Harvey (Porsche 944), Louis Schultz (Honda Civic) and Roy Obery (Haval Mitsubishi).
Rounding out the programme and boasting the largest entry list will be two races for BMSC Modified cars.
Top contenders should include Bevan Swarz in the Alco Trucks Corvette, Shannon Barun (Alco Trucks Mazda RX8), Francwa Coetzer (Opel Tigra), Keagan Pottas (EV Dynamics Honda), Johan van der Westhuizen (Chev Camaro), Bruce Butler (GB Fitment Nardini), Mike Forsyth (Cobra) and Kean Barnard (BMW).
Racing apart, the event will offer a flea market, food stalls, a kiddies’ entertainment area and a big screen TV opposite the pits. – Circuit Racing Correspondent