Phakisa is enjoyed by all competitors for its high speeds and one of the trickiest corners in South African motorsport at the end of the back straight.   Here racers go through the right-hander at full stretch (+ 250 kmh) before braking and changing down through two tightening right-handers and a hairpin that follow.   It is a place where drivers can make up seconds per lap. 

That is where 2^nd placed man, veteran Willie Hepburn (Project Orange Corvette) in his final year of National racing, and champion in waiting, Robert Briggs, (Team Timken Jaguar), shine as they will just not lift off through these corners. 

Hepburn and Briggs tie on points just ahead of another young man going places.   He is Mark Auby (Jonnesway Tools Jaguar), one of three drivers who could take the championship if Groenewald slips in the next 8 races. 

After a disastrous start to the season, Jaco Correia (Omega Motor Spares Corvette) from Welkom in one of those big American muscle cars is on a roll.   He started scoring four races into the season.   Meanwhile younger boetie, Danie, keeps scoring in each event and in fact is one of only three drivers in the series to post points in every race so far.   On home ground the Free Staters should be in the top four finishers. 

Larry Wilford (Fuchs Lubricants Mustang) had a bad day at the last meeting at Kyalami.   He failed to score any points despite his efforts.   But Phakisa could see all this change on a track that suits him and his car.   His son, Terry, a GT2 Champion two years ago in his Fuchs Titan Jaguar, can also be a top placeman in this event. 

An amazing show has been put on by Deon Auby, (Meta Forge Jaguar) – father of three racing sons.  Deon finished 2^nd and 3^rd in the last two races at East London and Kyalami.   He is amazing all-comers with his performances.   

Auby’s youngest boy in WesBank V8 racing, 16 year old Brandon is the find of the year.   If only he could depend on his car, which has suffered transmission trouble for 6 of the 12 races when he was brilliantly fighting it out with the leaders. 

Franco di Matteo (Optima Batteries Jaguar) despite two DNFs, is still in the picture and fighting it out with Mr. Consistency, Richard Pinard (Team Timken Jaguar) who put a win in Port Elizabeth under his belt. 

Also in the 18-car line-up at Welkom are two of East London’s finest.   21-year-old Wade van Zummeren, who has won overall in the past and the returning Darron Gudmanz (Crazy J’s Corvette).   In just two meetings since his comeback Darron has 11 points on the board already.

Now a veteran of WesBank V8 racing, 2002 V8 Champion is Roelf du Plessis (Venter Motors Lumina) and Des Gutzeit (Dezzi / Trysome Mustang) who with little experience is always picking up good points. 

Clare Vale (The Truckman Mustang) has been a revelation in her first season of racing in a 300 kmh, 450 kW V8 racing car.   She has shown great talent.   Ian Young (Independent Products Jaguar) could be in the line-up on Saturday. 

A likely newcomer is 1996 South African Karting Champion, Bjorn Roos from Vereeniging, hoping to kick-start his racing career in the Free State.