In a tale of two halves, run over
Saturday and Sunday at Kyalami on the weekend, Des Gutzeit (Dezzi/Trysome
Mustang) edged out good friend Darron Gudmanz (Indigo Boats
Corvette) for the the GT Class title, after a season long battle
which also involved Larry Wilford (Mustang). Gutzeit finished
second to Darron in Saturday's first heat, but the latter suffered
a puncture in Heat 2 on Sunday and finished well down the order.
Gutzeit finished runner up to Roelf du Plessis (RJ
Panelbeaters Mustang) in Heat 2 and took the title by 7 points.
Third in the overall classification was Larry Wilford with Du
Plessis fourth.
In the Super GT Class, Brandon Auby
(ELT International/SKF Jaguar) had won the title at the penultimate
round, but the runner up spot was still up for grabs going into the
last round Kyalami. Jaco Correia (Liqui Moly Corvette) and
Deon Auby (ELT International / SKF Jaguar) were the two
protagonists in with a chance. After Heat 1 on Saturday, Deon looked
the better placed man to do it, after winning the race on the line,
courtesy of son Jimmy Auby's gesture in slowing on the finish
straight, to let his father pass him. After that Auby one-two, Jaco
had it all to do on Sunday, but 6th place was enough to assure him
second place overall in the title chase. Heat 2 was won by Mark
Auby who stood in for Brandon, doing duty in the International
Superstars race. In the championship table, Deon then finished
third, just 3 points behind Jaco, with Danie Correia (Liqui
Moly Corvette) fourth and Franco di Matteo (Varta Batteries
Jaguar) in 5th place.
The annual Mechanic of the Year Awards
were made on Saturday night and the winner of the Gedore Tool Kit
was Shane Webb, of Auby Boyz Racing, second place went to
Steve Herbst, with Rudolph du Plessis, son of Roelf, in
third spot.
Heat 1
Super GT
1st Deon Auby
2nd Jimmy Auby 3rd Ben Morgenrood
GT
1st Darron Gudmanz 2nd
Des Gutzeit 3rd Larry Wilford
Heat 2
Super GT
1st Mark Auby
2nd Danie Correia 3rd Deon Auby
GT
1st Roelf du Plessis
2nd Des Gutzeit 3rd Romano Sartori
Final Championship Standings
Super GT Class
1st Brandon Auby 96 points 2nd Jaco
Correia 75 points 3rd Deon Auby 72 points
GT Class
1st Des Gutzeit 94 points 2nd Darron
Gudmanz 87 points 3rd Larry Wilford 74 points