The WesBank V8’s have provided some of the fastest and closest racing seen on our circuits as fans will see on the high speed Phakisa Raceway this Saturday, 5^th May, when 22 cars entered, line up for a short 8-lapper to start with, followed by a second event over 12 laps later in the day. 

On top of all this, two drivers on 72 points each are tied at the top of the points standings.   Reigning WesBank V8 Champion, Hennie Groenewald (Havoline Jaguar), has two wins, a 2^nd and a 3^rd in the four races held so far.   2005 Champion, Grant van Schalkwyk, in his Hi-Q Jaguar, won the two opening races of the season, and then got 3rd and  2^nd place finishes at Killarney.    

When one class was racing was mooted, the intention was to give up and coming youngsters, who have proved they can handle the most powerful cars in South Africa, the chance to mix it with the current leaders. 

So it has turned out.   Gordon Connelly (Dezzi / Cowan Signs Jag), a GTi single seater champion, is right up there in 3^rd spot overall, ahead of one of the flying Auby brothers, Jimmy (Bosal Jonnesway Jaguar).   Marc Auby (Masana Petroleum Solutions Jaguar) is always in the picture as well.   Then comes Larry Wilford (Fuchs Lubricants Mustang), in his comeback year, who led for five glorious laps in Cape Town, and Zane Pearce (Hi-Q Jag) starting to haul in the high places this year after a disappointing 2006. 

Welkom’s racing Correia brothers, Danie (Omega Spares Corvette) with good finishes, is ahead of his older boet, Jaco, in a similar Chev.    Jaco had a prang in Cape Town, and has yet to come up to his normal speed and strength. 

Back from Japan, Franco di Matteo (Deltec Batteries Jaguar) after a sterling 2^nd position at Kyalami is raring to go and make up for lost time. 

Seven drivers have scored points in all four races.   Richard Pinard, (Team Permatex Jaguar), is one of them.   He is just one point ahead of two fliers who have had bad luck.   One is former Roof of Africa winner on a motorcycle, Jade Gutzeit (Dezzi / Trysome Mustang), who had fallen off an off-road a two-wheeler just before Cape Town and injured his arm.    The other is Mackie Adlem (Fuchs Oil Mustang), who slotted in 2^nd in Cape Town but has had two DNF’s.    

Roelf  du Plessis, the WesBank V8 Champion in 2001, is waiting for his new Venter Motors Lumina, to make his charge.   He is just keeping the points ticking along at the moment.   Des Gutzeit (Dezzi /Trysome Mustang), Jade’s father, is having his first year in WesBank V8 Racing, and is doing a fine job with four finishes in the points.      

VW Polo Champion for two years, Robert Briggs (Team Timken Jaguar), is now showing what he can do with a big 6.0 litre American V8, after mechanical problems on his debut in Round 1 at Kyalami.   Steve Smith (Cool Cat Jaguar) arrived in Cape Town and promptly got into the action, which he hopes to improve on in Welkom. 

Nationwide Airlines boss-man, Vernon Bricknell (Nationwide Jaguar)– and a Porsche racer of note – started the season well, but was tagged by another car in Cape Town and retired.   Willie Hepburn (Project-Orange Chev) is hoping to end his run of blown engines so he can start getting into the action and scoring points.   Deon Auby (Jonnesway Tools Lumina), father of the racing Auby brothers, can also provide a couple of surprises.