Fine start for inaugural GTC
New entrants needed to up next year’s Sasol Global Touring Car series competition
THE first Sasol Global Touring Car series is done and dusted and it is time to look forward to the new year. It is going to be an exciting time, with new entrants expected to join the lineup.
And that is going to the secret to success for the GTC series.
More marques and drivers are needed to provide a competitive field.
This year Terry Moss’s Audi and Volkswagen motorsport teams have dominated the series, but more competition is needed to keep, and increase, spectators attendances.
The last race of the season was held at the East London Grand Prix circuit at the weekend.
Once again the action was frenetic around the dauntingly fast 3.9km track next to the Indian Ocean.
The day proved a fitting end to the inaugural GTC series with action throughout the field in both 10-lap races.
Champion-elect Michael Stephen drove his Engen Audi A3 GTC to a troubled fifth and ninth place respectively in the day’s two races, earning the points required to claim the overall title, and was rewarded with a record R200 000 cheque as this year’s Sasol GTC Championship winner.
The weekend did not get off to a good start for Stephen, suffering a blown engine in free practice one on Friday morning.
A loan unit from their sister company Volkswagen was secured for the Audi, and he went out and claimed a dominant pole position ahead of teammate Simon Moss.
The Sasol GTC Racing Team locked out row two with Gennaro Bonafede shading Hennie Groenewald, followed by the two Volkswagen Jetta GTCs of Mathew Hodges and Graeme Nathan.
Under clear but windy conditions, Race 1 provided the first surprise when Simon Moss stormed into the lead, increasing his margin lap after lap.
Stephen appeared to be helping Moss attain third in the overall championship standings by holding back Moss’s rivals.
By the end of Lap 2, Groenewald passed Stephen followed by Hodges a lap later.
Stephen spun trying to avoid ramming the VW ahead, allowing Bonafede and Nathan to race past the spinning Audi.
Hodges out-braked Groenewald at the final corner while further up the road Moss’s engine broke with four corners remaining.
Hodges fended off Groenewald to claim his and Volkswagen’s first GTC championship victory.
Nathan crossed the line in third followed by Bonafede and the recovered Stephen.
Race 2, minus Moss who was sidelined for the rest of the day, saw Stephen bolt into the lead while the field settled in behind him.
Going into Potter’s Pass, Nathan nudged Hodges, who spun to the back of the field. Bonafede and Groenewald followed through, with Nathan and the GTC-Production car field in tow.
By Lap 7 the only Audi in the race was missing, with Bonafede now leading Groenewald and Nathan.
Stephen had an electrical issue and he quickly dropped to the tail of the field. Nathan brought his Jetta home in third place again, followed by Hodges.
Groenewald and Bonafede earned another one-two on the day’s overall standings, followed by Hodges, Nathan and Stephen.
In the GTC Production Class, Charl Smalberger was first in his VW Golf GTi, ahead of this year’s class champion Daniel Rowe.
They were followed by Devon Piazza Musso (Kalex VW Golf GTi) and Mandla Mdakane in the second factory Golf. Rowe reasserted his authority in this class by taking his 11th victory of the season in race two. Smalberger and Piazza Musso completed the GTC-P podium.