SA circuit racers deliver celebratory international performances
A number of South African circuit racers made their mark in the international arena last weekend.
Topping the list was Kelvin van der Linde, who, alongside Swiss team-mate Patric Niederhauser, drove the HCB-Rutronik team’s Audi R8 LMS to victory in the ADAC GT Masters race at the Hockenheimring.
In the process, the pairing clinched this year’s ADAC GT Masters championship, with a lead of 55 points, and 50 remaining at the final round of the season on the Sachsenring next month. Van der Linde was elated.
“Incredible, the day started off well with the pole position – my first in the ADAC GT.
“We knew we had a chance at the championship, but we did not want to think too much about it, and just tried to do our own race.
“Now I am celebrating at full throttle, “he added.
In India, local Volkswagen Motorsport drivers starred in a round of the VW Ameo Cup at the Madras circuit.
The series takes in 10 rounds across India’s three race tracks, utilising an Indian-developed booted Polo with a 1.8l turbo-petrol engine and six-speed sequential gearbox.
Jeffrey Kruger won the opening race from Tasmin Pepper while in the second race with an inverted starting grid, they took the third and fourth places respectively.
Race three was another successful one for the SA teams.
Pepper took the chequered flag in first place, just 0.31 seconds ahead of Kruger.
Volkswagen India runs a three-car Vento team in the Indian Touring Car title chase, India’s premier racing category. and South Africa’s Daniel Rowe was invited to drive one at Chennai.
He duly won the first race after beating the championship leader and VW team mate Dhruv Mohite. The second race required team tactics to be brought in to play, so Rowe did what he was asked and ended fifth, ensuring Mohite took the ITC title.
As part of the Volkswagen Motorsport driver exchange programme, last year’s Ameo Cup champion will compete in the next round of the South African Falken Polo Cup.