The Citizen (KZN)

Nine take it to the line

INLAND CIRCUIT: TITLES TO BE DECIDED AT FINAL FIXTURE OF THE RACING SEASON

- Andre de Kock

Tight finishes expected from Liqui Moly Inex Legend Brigade.

The 2019 inland circuit racing season will come to an exciting conclusion at the Red Star Raceway near Delmas this Saturday, with nine separate title chases taking to the tarmac.

Top billing belongs to combined races for Pre-1990 Sports Cars, Pre-1980 Saloon Cars and Midvaal Historic Cars.

The Sports Car entries should see podium chasers like Stefan Snyders (Stenton Porsche 911 RSR), Rui Campos (Porsche 911 RSR), Ray Cornelisse­n Glashoff TVR Tuscan), Richard de Roos (Porsche 911 RSR) and Fred Konig (Northern Bolt Porsche 911 RSR).

Jannie van Rooyen (VW Scirocco), Johann Smith (SPS Mazda Capella), Alan Green (Ford Escort), Stuart Konig (Northern Bolt VW Scirocco) and Harry Lombard (A-B Bricks VW Beetle) should be the men to watch in the Pre-80 Saloon Cars category.

Top contenders in the Midvaal Historic category must include Deon van Vuuren (Hoosier Mazda R100), Brendon Parker (Blitz

Spares Datsun GX Coupe), Wentzel Nortman (Toyota Corolla), Travis Jensen (SV Tech Datsun 1200) and Rene van Rensburg (SV Tech Ford Escort).

With 24 entries on the line, the Lotus Challenge Races should provide large spectacle.

Victory favourites should be Jeffrey Kruger (Universal Health Birkin), Thomas Falkiner (Adaptice Resource Taylon), Mackie Adlem (Adlem Auto Birkin), Clive Wilmot Birkin), Robyn Kriel (Universal Health Birkin), Rudi Barnard (Barneys Birkin), David Jermy (Beauty Factory Taylon) and Brad Beningfiel­d (General Energy Caterham 7).

Keagan Pottas (AIPM Honda CRX Turbo) must be the man to beat in the Motul Clubmans races, with his closest adversarie­s people like Stefan Snyders Porsche 911 RSR), Riaan Draper (Classic Auto Ford Fiesta), Dirk Lawrence (JDM Tuning Honda Ballade), Louis Cloete (AMS Tuning VW Beetle), Duane Brown (Brown’s Auto Ford Fiesta) and Ebrahim Peck (Geardown VW Golf Mk1).

The two single-seater races should be led by drivers like Carel van Heerden (Lifestyle GTi Ray), Louis van der Merwe (Liabri Swift 92), Mac Odendaal (CRS Auto DAW), Corrie le Roux (Pigments Formula M) and Koos Posthumus (Suzuki Formula M).

The day’s handicap races for Charlies Superspar Pursuit Cars will see 17 cars on track, with probable winners to include Rob van Aarle (Ace Auto Ford Escort), Machiel Oberholzer (Aquaperm Mercedes 190E), Brad Schafer (Porsche 944), Rob Clark (Containerf­orce Citroen GS), Sean Hepburn (HiQ Midrand Datsun 1200), Clive Winterstei­n (Casheri Porsche 356A), Althea Pretorius (Carinvest Porsche 924) and Frans Venter (Nissan 280ZX).

Some of the event’s closest racing should be provided by the Liqui Moly Inex Legend Brigade, with victory chasers to include Willie Erasmus (Legend), Justin Robertson (Big Boss Auto Legend), Ian Upton (RU Legend), Charl Roux (Rubro Legend), Richard van Heerde (Browndeck Legend) and Jagger Robertson (Liqui Moly Legend).

Frontrunne­rs in the National Sports Car races should include Jason Campos (Shelby CanAm), Ian Smith (Shelby CanAm), Gerald Wright (Wright Sports 2000), Paul Sullivan (Bishops Spares Nash MVW3) and Howard Blake (Blake Digital Nash MVW3).

The day’s proceeding­s will end with a One-hour Endurance Race, with top contenders expected to be Rui Campos (Shelby CanAm), Stefan Snyders (Porsche 911 RSR), Fred Konig (Porsche 911 RSR), Ray Cornelisse­n (TVR Tuscan) and Kobus Brits (Porsche 924).

The World Rallycross contingent visited Killarney last weekend and once again showed just why this form of motorsport is so universall­y popular.

The world title chase would only be decided in the last race of the year and then top contenders Timmy Hansen and Andreas Bakkerud ended up tied on points. Hansen was declared the champion due to him having won more races then Bakkerud during the year.

All of which led to sweaty palms and nail-biting, while the Western Cape crowd enjoyed massive spectacle, WRX style.

Top motorsport photograph­er Dave Ledbitter was there and these are examples of how he viewed the events through his lens.

 ?? Pictures: RacePics ?? ROTARY RACER. Johann Smith (SPS Mazda Capella) should be a front runner in the races for Pre-1980 Saloon Cars.
Pictures: RacePics ROTARY RACER. Johann Smith (SPS Mazda Capella) should be a front runner in the races for Pre-1980 Saloon Cars.
 ??  ?? LOTUS TO BLOSSOM. Jeffrey Kruger (Universal Health Birkin) and Mackie Adlem (Adlem Auto Birkin) could fight for victory in Saturday’s Lotus Challenge races.
LOTUS TO BLOSSOM. Jeffrey Kruger (Universal Health Birkin) and Mackie Adlem (Adlem Auto Birkin) could fight for victory in Saturday’s Lotus Challenge races.
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from South Africa