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Reigning champion Hennie Groenewald took
a tighter hold on the WesBank V8 Supercar championship
yesterday, with two more thoroughly professional victories
at round four of the WesBank Super Series at the WesBank
Raceway.
It was first time out ever at the WesBank raceway for the
thundering V8s, and it was no surprise to see overtaking
was more than tricky on a circuit made up of a long main
straight, a couple of wiggly woggly infield sections and a
short section of banked oval. It did, however, provide for
plenty of action.
It was inevitable there would be casualties and the second
heat ended under the safety car after Jaco Correia (Omega
Chev Corvette) crashed in a big way, with Zane Pearce
(Hi-Q Jaguar) also a casualty. Groenewald managed to stay
out of trouble in both heats, and after four wins on the
trot now looks an odds on favourite to win back to back
championships.
Heat one saw Groenewald come in a head of former champion
Grant van Schalkwyk, in the Hi-Q Jaguar, and Mackie Adlem
in the Fuchs Ford Mustang. Correia was fourth with
reigning Engen VW Cup champion Robert Briggs (Timken
Jaguar) scoring his best result since joining the WesBank
brigade.
Race two saw a partially inverted grid, based on lap
times, which affected only the first five cars in heat
one. Groenewald started fourth and within four laps was
ahead of young Jimmy Auby, in the Tyco/Jonnesway Jaguar,
and pulling away.
Auby was caught by Adlem halfway through the race, but van
Schalkwyk’s race two woes continued. A spin dropped him
down the pecking order – he eventually finished sixth -
with Adlem closing the gap on the former champion on the
points ladder.
When Correia went off the race finished under the safety
car with Adlem classified second and Auby third with 14 of
the scheduled 15 laps completed. Briggs and Gordon
ConnellyDezzi/Cowan Signs Jaguar, rounded out the top
five.
Results:
Heat 1 – 1 H Groenewald (Jaguar); 2 G van Schalkwyk
(Jaguar); 3 M Adlem (Ford Mustang); 4 J Correia (Chev
Corvette); 5 R Briggs (Jaguar). Heat 2 – 1 H Groenewald
(Jaguar); 2 M Adlem (Ford Mustang); 3 J Auby (Jaguar); 4 R
Briggs (Jaguar); 5 G Connelly (Jaguar). |