Pukka racing on at Kyalami
WESBANK FESTIVAL: FIGHT AT TOP OF LADDER TO CONTINUE IN TOURING CAR RACES
National championships for Sasol Global Touring Cars and Investchem Formula 1600 single seaters.
The weekend’s Kyalami WesBank Festival of Motoring will, among its wide-ranging attractions, offer visitors some pukka motorsport action. Stretched over Saturday and Sunday, there will be national championship races for both Sasol Global Touring Cars and Investchem Formula 1600 single seaters.
The premier Touring Car races should see the continuation of a tough fight at the top of the championship ladder. Leading the title chase is defending South African champion Michael Stephen (Engen Audi), marginally ahead of Gennaro Bonafede (Sasol BMW) and Simon Moss (Engen Audi).
Challenging them for podium places will be Daniel Rowe (VW Motorsport Jetta), Johan Fourie (EPS Couriers BMW), Michael van Rooyen (RCS BMW), Mathew Hodges (VW Motorsport Jetta) and Robert Wolk (Sasol BMW).
Keagan Masters (VW Motorsport Golf GTI) will be the man to beat in the GTC2 class, with his closest adversaries Brad Liebenberg (Ferodo Mini JCW), Devin Robertson (Champion Mini JCW) and Adrian Wood (Kyocera Golf GTI).
Others to watch include Charl Smalberger (Sabertek Golf GTI), Trevor Bland (Universal Health Golf GTI), Paul Hill (Kalex Golf GTI), Dayne Angel (Autohaus Angel Honda Civic) and Bob Neil (Delmon Mining Ford Focus ST).
The Sasol GTC show will get going with practice sessions through Friday, Official Qualifying is first thing on Saturday and races start at 11.55am on Saturday and 12.15pm on Sunday.
The Investchem Formula 1600 category will see Stuart White (Fantastic Mygale) and veteran Nicholas van Weely (Magnificent Paints Van Diemen) fight for the year’s title lead. Looking to in- terfere with their fight will be drivers like Scott Temple (Road to Race Mygale), Alex Gillespie (ERP Trucking Components Mygale), Cameron O’Connor (Universal Health Mygale), Andrew Schofield (Investchem Mygale), Tiago Rebello (TRMS Ford), Andrew Rackstraw (Investchem/RDSA Mygale), Siyabonga Mankonkwana (Cervinia Mygale) and Chassen Bright (Fantastic Mygale).
The Investchem Formula 1600 weekend will start with practice sessions tomorrow before qualifying at 9.40am and the first race at 12.35pm on Friday.
Race Two will be at 3.05pm on Saturday.
Highlights for racing fans will be a number of track outings for racing legend Willie Hepburn in his monster Opel Rekord V8. The car will be on display in the pits throughout the proceedings.
Other track action includes Professional Performance, Family and Supercar Drive Sessions where show-goers can experience a flip around the track, starting on Friday morning and through the weekend and alternating with other on-track activities a few times a day through to Sunday. There will also be a Pablo Clark Ferrari Challenge, Historic Racing, GT Race Car and Tata Race Truck Demonstrations, and Puma Flying Lions Air Displays plus dices between a Nitro Air helicopter and a car on both days. – Circuit Racing Correspondent