East London -VSP Race 28^th April 2001  
- April 2001

Sports car racing is alive and well in South Africa, as spectators at East London this weekend will experience when the Vodacom Sport Prototypes, South Africa's premier sports car class, come to town with a 25-car field - the biggest in VSP history.

There are exciting challengers to the more established drivers such as Alan Eve (SA Motorsport magazine- no.3) and Bernard Tilanus (no.2).  Clive Kennerley (no.7) won the first round of the season at Phakisa in Welkom.  George Ferreira from Kempton Park, a Formula Ford stalwart, had a spectacular entry into the class in the second round in Cape Town.  Having bought Ettiene van der Linde's car just prior to the event, he proceeded to take the pole position for both heats, win both heats, and set the fastest lap of the day.  He admitted afterwards the he had felt enormous pressure to perform well, as he believed he had acquired the best-prepared car in the class. This performance catapulted him into fifth position in the points table.  He was bitten by the VSP bug when he co-drove with Damian Frost (Strocam - no.10) at Phakisa and came 3^rd overall.   Donovan Roscoe (Seeff Sandton  - no. 4), Neil Lobb (DK Woodcraft - no. 8) and Mark Attieh (Smartcall - no. 072) are also drivers to watch for, as they seem to have got to grips with their cars. 

New-comers Dave Beattie (no. 30) a former Formula Ford racer in the seventies having his first ever VSP Race, Melvill Priest (Macromed - no. 28) and Tony Troskie (Shell-Tepco - no. 18) could also cause upsets.

The championship position is wide open, and we can only wait and see who will come away with the spoils at the Border Motorsport Track.

Thanks to class sponsor Smart Call, VSP's unique Dash for Cash draw will also take place.  Five lucky spectators will be drawn and matched with five VSP drivers.  The top finisher of these five drivers as well as his paired spectator will each walk away with R10 000 - a good return for the outlay of a ticket!

The top six in the Vodacom Sport Prototype points table are:

                             
Issued on behalf of the Vodacom Sport Prototype Racing Association by Jannet Wood. For further information please contact Jannet on 082 490 7314 or visit our web site on:  www.vsp.co.za