WesBank V8 Supercar Championship taking shape along familiar lines
4 April 2011
     
Cape Town Killarney circuit reverberated with the sound of thunder last weekend when the mighty WesBank V8 Supercars hit town for round two of the 2011 WesBank Super Series.  The season has just started and already the fight is on between the Auby clan from Johannesburg and the Correia clan from Welkom in the Free State.  In an almost repeat performance of Round 1 at Kyalami in March, the Auby Boyz Racing squad and the Free State Cheetahs (aka Jaco and Danie Correia) stamped their authority on proceedings in Cape Town.  Jimmy Auby (Q8Oils/SKF Ford Falcon) claimed pole position in the Super GT class in Saturday morning's qualifying session, with his brother Brandon alongside him, and their father Deon (Q8 Oils/SKF Chev Lumina) right behind them. The trio makes an impressive sight as they hurtle around in unison both in practice and race trim. At the start of Heat 1, Jimmy jumped into an immediate lead followed by Brandon and Deon. Behind them, Ben Morgenrood (BM Auto Ford Falcon), Jaco Correia (Corvette) and Terry Wilford (Fuchs Ford Falcon) gave chase, with Larry Wilford (Mustang) in inspired form, getting the better of Franco di Matteo (Varta Batteries). Jaco though was soon out of the reckoning with loose bodywork, while Terry Wilford ran off the circuit at Cape Town corner with "brain fade" as he commented. Di Matteo too was in the wars, with damaged front bodywork. At the front there was no contest, with Jimmy taking the win ahead of Brandon and Deon. Larry Wilford dominated GT Class, with Roelf du Plessis (RJ Panelbeaters Mustang) holding off Des Gutzeit (Dezzi/Cummins Mustang).

The inverted grid for Heat 2 saw Jaco and Danie Correia lead the field away, but Brandon Auby soon split the pair, with Danie then falling into the clutches of the chasing pack. Jimmy Auby then passed him too, while Deon, Franco and Ben Morgenrood hung on to the Free State Cheetah Corvette. Terry Wilford was an early casualty retiring with a broken gearbox before he'd made the lights. His father Larry on the other hand was in superb form, and after passing Des Gutzeit from the inverted grid position,was soon upon Roelf du Plessis, to take the lead in the GT Class. Brandon Auby then retired his car with engine trouble, which allowed Jaco a little breathing space at the front. He kept his lead to the flag and won from Jimmy, with Danie third and Deon Auby fourth.

Larry Wilford worked hard for the GT Class win again, and was followed over the line by Roelf du Plessis and Des Gutzeit. 
 
The WesBank V8 Supercars now head to Aldo Scribante at the end of April, where the tight and short circuit should again ensure plenty action for the fans.  

Results Heat 1 1st J.Auby, 2nd B.Auby 3rd D.Auby 4th L.Wilford 5th F. di Matteo 

Results Heat 2 1st J.Correia 2nd J.Auby 3rd D.Correia 4th D.Auby 5th B.Morgenrood

Full results on zatiming.co.za