WESBANK SUPER SERIES BATTLES HEAD FOR KILLARNEY
30 July 2007
     
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Hennie Groenewald


Mackie Adlem


Grant van Schalkwyk
 
The WesBank Super Series heads for the picturesque Killarney circuit in Cape Town for the second time this year on August 4, and recent developments in the world of motorsport have contrived to give the meeting added interest.


WESBANK V8 SUPERCAR CHAMPIONSHIP

Reigning champion Hennie Groenewald (SP Racing Jaguar) saw a six race winning streak come to an end at Kyalami on July 7, but still retains a healthy 30 point lead over former champion Grant van Schalkwyk in the Hi-Q Jaguar.

Van Schalkwyk took both wins at Kyalami and his confidence will have soared. The race two win in particular, with its inverted grid system, will have pleased van Schalkwyk who prior to Kyalami did not have a good race two record.

Consistency has kept young Jimmy Auby (Tyco/Jonnesway Jaguar) in third place in the championship although he is more than 50 points adrift of van Schalkwyk. Auby, however, is being chased by Gordon Connolly (Dezzi/Cowan Signs Jaguar) and Mackie Adlem (Fuchs Titan Ford Mustang) with only eight points separating the trio.

But the real danger to Groenewald and van Schalkwyk is likely to be Robert Briggs (Timken Jaguar) who looks to have finally found his feet in the big banger category. The former Engen VW Cup champion was impressive at Kyalami and has a look about him that suggests the Pretoria driver is ready to start winning.

The likes of Jade Gutzeit (Dezzi/Trysome Ford Mustang), Zane Pearce (Hi-Q Jaguar), Franco di Matteo (Deltec Jaguar) and veteran Larry Wilford, who will be back in a second Fuchs Mustang, all have the ability to cause an upset. The now customary second race inverted grid, given the tight nature of Killarney, will give the second heat a boost and some interesting overtaking moves are on the cards.

There is not a lot of love lost between the Groenewald/van Schalkwyk camps and the needle simply adds to the interest. Both drivers will, however, be well aware of the fact that young drivers like Briggs are starting to pose a threat.