One of the never to be forgotten sights of South African motor racing is a full field of South Africa’s fastest, thundering V8’s arriving at the awesome Potters Pass Corner at 260 kmh and then accelerating up to 300 kmh through Rifle Bend.  The driver then throws out all anchors on the steep down hill approach to the slow Cocabana Hairpin.  A mistake here could see a driver go through the bushes and into the sea.   Then it is along the Beach straight to the Esses and sweeps that follow before climbing up the hill at 240 kmh to the blind rise at Beacon Hairpin and getting onto the long main straight back to Potters. 

Only the brave live at the front of this field at these speeds where a Wesbank V8 car can really stretch its legs thanks to the power from its 6 litre Nascar V8 engine. 

Championship leader Hennie Groenewald (Team Timken Holden Commodore) one of South Africa’s finest all rounders is heading for his third title in a row.   He has now won six of the eight races held so far this year.  He revels in this sort of racing and is going to be hard to beat.  At the last meeting at Zwartkops he passed seventeen other competitors in ten laps in an epic drive from the back of the grid to win.  His teammate Robert Briggs in his Jaguar, twice a Polo Cup Champion also has a V8 win under his belt.  He is another tough competitor to stay with who can handle all 450 kW of power on offer. 

Veteran Willy Hepburn (Project-Orange Corvette) at 65 years old in his last year of National racing, lives with the young or old and has enjoyed great successes in East London.  

Young drivers who have proved South Africans can handle big capacity racing cars with great skill are giving the more experienced stars lots of heat.  Drivers like brothers Mark Auby (Jonnesway Tools Lumina SS) and sixteen year old Brandon (Masana Petroleum Jaguar) sat quite comfortably on Groenewald’s tail at Zwartkops. 

Terry Willford (Fuchs Lubricants Jaguar), Gordon Connelly (Cowan Signs/Dezzi Jaguar) who like Danie Correia (Omega Motor Spares Corvette) are two of four drivers to have scored in every race.  They are certainly champions of the future who can set up cars and race door to door with the best in the country.  Wade Van Zummeren (Border Towing Mustang) from East London has won on his home track and could repeat it on Saturday.   

One of the fliers every time at East London is experienced Larry Willford (Fuchs Lubricant Mustang) who has a car with the right aerodynamics and extra speed at this circuit.  Mr. Consistency himself is Richard Pinard (Team Timken Jaguar) who after his win in Cape Town has now got fire in his belly for a repeat.  

Jaco Correia (Omega Motor Spares Corvette) from Welkom after hauling in lots of points from the last five races including a fine second at Zwartkops is on a roll for a win, particularly in the second race with its inverted starting grid.  So too is another long time Wesbank V8 man Franco di Matteo (Optima Batteries Jaguar) who pranged for the first time at Zwartkops after a string of strong finishes.

Newcomer Rob Wall (P2P Squared Holdings Mustang) after leading at Zwartkops before finishing a strong sixth has learnt quickly in his first year of V8 racing and will add to his experience at East London in a big way. 

Back into Wesbank V8 racing comes Darron Gudmanz from East London in a brand new Crazy J’s sponsored Corvette.  He will have local knowledge to add to aid his come back.  Two dads who race with their sons and can give them a full go are Deon Auby (Meta Forge Jaguar) and Des Gutzeit (Dezzi/Trysome Mustang). 

Clare Vale (The Truck Man Mustang) is the only lady who has even attempted to race a V8.  She has come on in leaps and bounds, handling all the power, heat and sideways motoring far better than anyone expected.  She is in the line up as is Ian Young (Independent Projects Mustang) getting back into Wesbank V8 racing.