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20 WesBank V8 300 kmh
Supercars are headed for the second round of the WesBank Championship
at the high speed Killarney circuit in Cape Town on Saturday (31st
March).
Two of the best races of the day at the first
meeting of the year at Kyalami saw 2005 WesBankV8 Champion, Grant van
Schalkwyk (Hi-Q Jaguar) take a pair of wins. He won the first
8-lapper by two seconds from reigning champ, Hennie Groenewald (Havoline
Jaguar). In the second race after one of his best drives ever, he won
by two second despite being vocal to anybody who would listen, about
the danger of having to pass 12 cars ahead of Franco di Matteo (Deltec
Batteries Jaguar).
“For the sake of the fans“ says Brian Cook Chairman
of the WesBank V8 Formula, “the new single 450 kw class has brought
new racing talent to light. This, plus the partly inverted starting
grid for the second race of the day – the first time it has been used
in national circuit racing, gives everyone a better chance of crossing
the finishing line first with the faster drivers coming from behind,
having to slice through the field.”
Groenewald will not be happy to be 8 points behind
van Schalkwyk in the championship. A no-holds battle between the two
of them will be a highlight of the Killarney meeting.
At speeds approaching 260 km/h down the Killarney
back straight, others will be right there with them.
Young stars of 2006, brothers Jimmy and Marc Auby (Bosal
Jaguars), are quite capable of handling these powerful cars and
getting to the front. So is all-rounder on tar and dirt, Zane Pearce
(Hi-Q Jaguar), veteran Larry Wilford (Fuchs Titan Mustang), in his old
car he has taken over from his son, Terry, for a few races, young
single-seater champion, Gordon Connelly (Dezzi/Cowan Signs Jaguar) and
Jade Gutzeit (Dezzi/Cowan Signs Jaguar) the Roof of Africa winner and
motorcycle Enduro Champion. A champion in the wings and still holder
of the fastest ever lap at a National Race is Mackie Adlem (Fuchs
Titan Mustang).
Mackie spun Jaco Correia (Omega Spares Corvette) at
Kyalami, doing damage to both cars when they were well-placed. The
younger Correia, Danie (Omega Spares Corvette) after swapping for
production cars, is learning his craft well in these unforgiving cars,
and is already posting quick times.
A couple of other veterans are right there as well,
using all the skills they have learned over many successful years of
racing. Porsche racer of note, Vernon Bricknell (Nationwide Airlines
Jaguar), 2000 WesBank Champion, Roelf du Plessis (Venter Motors Chev
Lumina) and Willie Hepburn (Project Orange Corvette) back in his
favourite Chevrolets, give nothing away to anyone else in the field.
Twice VW Polo Saloon Car Champion, Robert Briggs
(Team Timken Jaguar), will have his car in tip-top condition for
Killarney after having an unusual mechanical breakdown at the first
meeting, which saw him remain in the pits. His ability will shine in
the not too distant future.
Out to do the national circuit this year is Richard
Pinard (Team Permatex Jaguar) and Steve Smith (Cool Cat Jaguar), who
starts his 2007 campaign at Killarney. Deon Auby (Jonnesway Lumina),
father of a trio of successful racing brothers, can cause a few
surprises, as can Des Gutzeit (Dezzi/Cowan Signs Jaguar), in his
second WesBank race, and already showing good pace. Johnny Eekhout (Astra),
could be returning to V8 racing at the coast.
Twenty formula 450 kW (600 hp) racing cars, short
races, in a partly inverted grid for the second one, American V8 Chev
and Ford engined cars continuing their fight for dominance, all points
to spectacular racing at Killarney.
For top pics of the WesBank V8 Supercars, link into
www.tracksidepics.co.za/media |
