Xtreme team secure strong GTC position
IT WAS another good day at the office for the Engen Xtreme team in the Sasol GTC Africa at Killarney last Saturday, with the Bay’s Michael Stephen and Simon Moss powering their Audi A3s to first and third place respectively in round seven of this year’s championship.
Championship leader Stephen finished second in race one behind Gennaro Bonafede but turned the table on the Sasol GTC Racing driver in race two.
Moss was a model of consistency with a pair of third place finishes.
“The weekend went well but could always go better,” said Stephen, who qualified second behind Bonafede.
“I experienced a bit of an issue in qualifying with my left-rear tyre, but we sorted that out for the race and I was driving a completely different car. In race one I chased Gennaro down – a few more laps and I believe that I would have passed him.
“In race two, starting from the back in seventh place, and getting to the front and winning the race was a great outcome.
“We didn’t get the fastest lap, but the important thing was to finish at the front.”
Moss qualified in fourth place just 0.195 of a second off pole position and just 0.001 of a second behind third-placed qualifier, Robert Wolk of Sasol GTC Racing.
Stephen and Moss will now head into the penultimate round of this year’s Sasol GTC Africa in first and third place in the race for overall championship honours.
Defending champion Stephen leads Bonafede by 43 points. Moss lies third overall but within striking distance of Bonafede, with 89 points separating the two drivers.
Round eight takes place at Kyalami in Johannesburg on November 4.