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South African’s fastest racer and reigning
WesBank V8 Champ, Hennie Groenewald (Havoline Jaguar), scored two
hard-fought wins at Phakisa in the Free State on Saturday to grow
his lead in the WesBank Supercar Championship to 25 points over
2005 champion, Grant van Schalkwyk (Hi-Q Jag).
From pole position in the first race,
Groenewald was never headed for 10 laps. Behind him, 21 year old
ex-karter, Jimmy Auby, (Masana Oil Jaguar) kept van Schalkwyk at
bay with some inspired driving. His brother, Marc Auby (Tycon
Jaguar) was within reach throughout with Mackie Adlem (Fuchs Titan
Mustang), VW Polo Champion, Robert Briggs (Timken Jaguar) and
veteran V8 man, Willie Hepburn (Motorsport Logistics Corvette)
constantly swapping places.
Race 2 over 12 laps saw the start grid reversed
with Jade Gutzeit (Dezzi/Trysome Musang), Gordon Connelly (Dezzi/Cowan
Signs Jaguar) and Hepburn leading the way from the rolling start.
Gutzeit, a Roof of Africa Motorcycle winner of
note, led for 3 laps until Hepburn slid past. Groenewald, from
10th on lap 1, made good progress through the field,
and passed these two into the lead on lap 6. From then on he led
to the end. The furious race for 2nd place continued
for half the race with Hepburn, Gutzeit and Adlem almost abreast
of each other at the flag with local man, Jaco Correia (Omega
Motor Spares Corvette), waiting to pounce, 5th.
Drama aplenty saw Connelly pushed up the boot
on lap 1, which caused his bodywork to rub against a tyre. Van
Schalkwyk from 11th spot on the starting grid, anxious
to make up places as quickly as possible, hit Briggs on the 5th
corner of the circuit on lap 1 and spun his car, which Marc Auby
was unable to avoid. All three retired with damaged cars.
RESULTS
RACE 1
1. Hennie Groenewald (Havoline
Jaguar)
2. Jimmy Auby (Masana
Jaguar)
3. van Schalkwyk (Hi-Q
Jaguar)
4. Marc Auby (Tycon
Jaguar)
5. Mackie Adlem (Fuchs
Titan Mustang)
RACE 2
1.
Hennie Groenewald
2.
Willie Hepburn
3.
Jade Gutzeit
4.
Mackie Adlem
Pics of the WesBank V8 Supercar Championship
are available to media at
www.tracksidepics.co.za/media. |