|
The
Auby family’s attempt to finish 1, 2 and 3 in the WesBank V8
Championship this year, fell apart in two dramatic races at
Killarney last Saturday (26th September). All three
members – father Deon and sons Marc and Brandon - failed to score
points in one or the other of the two races held. This allowed
three-times WesBank Champion, Hennie Groenewald (Team Timken
Holden), who started the day’s racing 29 points behind the
championship leader without any real hope of retaining his title
for a fourth time to go second and a chance to win at the final
meeting at Kyalami. A win and a 3rd place in the second
race has moved Groenewald to within five points of Marc Auby (ELT
International Jaguar), who has led the championship throughout the
year with just two races to go at Kyalami.
Race
1 over 8 laps saw the two Auby’s, Marc and father Deon (ELT
International Holden) lead off the line with an on form Jaco Correia
(LiquiMoly Corvette) and Groenewald giving chase. Lapping at one
minute ten seconds on the tight 3.2 km circuit Marc looked
uncatchable for five laps until he and his brother, Brandon, both
pitted with their gearboxes stuck in 4th gear and out of
the points.
Deon
Auby took over the lead until Hennie Groenewald pushed past to take
the win. Terry Wilford (Fuchs Titan Jaguar) made rapid progress as
well from 6th on the grid to 4th, with Franco
di Matteo (Varta Batteries Jaguar), Richard Pinard (Team Timken
Jaguar) and local star, Neil Hawkins (Cars Unlimited Opel) tied
together in that order at the flag.
After the race the points score sheet read:
M.
Auby 140, Groenewald 126, B. Auby 126, D. Auby 126.
Race
2 used the reversed grid which provides the crowd with lots of
action. Jaco Correia (LiquiMoly Corvette) and former champion Ben
Morgenrood (The Stig Lumina) led off the line. Jaco with great
pressure on his tail throughout hung on for ten laps whilst
Morgenrood tangled with one of the Auby’s at the Engen Corner on lap
2 and ruined his chances.
This
allowed Hawkins to show all the Gauteng and Free State drivers what
a local man could do. He started in 2nd spot where he
remained to the end, except for one lap when Groenewald pushed
past. Once again Wilford showed his class with di Matteo at his
door at the finish. Clare Vale (Gatorback/RAM Jaguar) finished 7th
with Marc Auby and Brandon scoring a few points for 8th
and 10th spots.
RESULTS
RACE 1
1. Groenewald 2. Deon Auby; 3. J. Correia;
4. T. Wilford; 5. F. di Matteo; 6. R. Pinard
Fastest lap – M. Auby 1.10.7 Average speed 166 kmh.
RACE 2
J.
Correia, N. Hawkins, Groenewald, Wilford, di Matteo, Danie
Correia
Fastest lap – B. Auby 1.11.7 Average speed 164 kmh.
POINTS – with 2 Races to go
M.
Auby 141, Groenewald 136, B. Auby 131, D. Auby 126, Jaco Correia
118,
Franco di Matteo 101, Danie Correia 93, Richard Pinard 80. |
