Vodacom Sports Prototypes set to do battle at Killarney
  - 8 March 2002

The second round of the Vodacom Power Tour will see the Vodacom Sports Prototypes racing for the first time this year. Having changed engines from former Dodge power to all-new Nissan engines, the VSP’s as they are commonly know are set for a titanic battle. 

Supplier problems due to the new engines dogged the formula, preventing the field from taking to the Kyalami Grand Prix circuit on the 23^rd of February 2002. Now, with those glitches behind them, the VSP competitors are chomping at the bit to get going.   

The reining champion, George Ferreira will start as one of the early favorites, but he will not have it all his own way, as there were a number of drivers who were showing good form in early testing, and all have a burning desire to be the first champion of the new formula. 

Ranging from the ever wily, Bernard Tilanus, himself an ex-SA Champion, now being sponsored by Platinum Asset Management and as fast and cunning as ever, to the young gun, fresh out of the Jim Russell Racing school in the UK and his first ever WesBank V8 Challenge race, Melvill Priest, racing in the Macromed coloured VSP. 

Melvill is only in his second year of racing and there are many drivers who want to teach this young upstart a lesson, none more so than Donovan Roscoe, whose father Harry is of Off-Road Racing fame. He is more than fired up to set the record straight over his somewhat poor showings last year. He has returned leaner and fitter than ever and having become a Jim Russell graduate himself, wants to thrash Melvill, even if it is just to impress his new sponsor!

Also hot in the running are the two “furniture kings”. Neil Lobb, the owner of DK Woodcraft and Alan Eve, managing director of Eve & Suns, are going to be having a ding dong battle in order to decide who is the best driver/manufacturer in the country. Ex-VSP champion and dentist, Dr François Gerber is going to roll out his challenge to get to pole position, and word has it not to become his patient if he’s beaten, he knows how to inflict pain in what is most peoples worse nightmare! 

One should also not forget the battle that will happen between the “green numbers” - the racing drivers over 50 years old. Here the action is no less hectic and certainly fought with the same skill and aggression. These geriatrics, do however have the ability to out fox a lot of the “younger guns,” who tend to overdo it in the heat of battle and end up in the weeds. Nevertheless, Daan Nortjie sporting another new sponsor Caltex will be the man to beat. His consistent finishing stood him in good stead last year, but this year it seems that he is going to be up against it, with a heap of competition coming his way.  

There are many other “dark horses” including Marco da Chunia, well know in many categories of racing, and new boy Allan Green, fresh from campaigning in the Gold Cup series. But, whatever way you look at it, the Vodacom Sports Prototypes will put on a display that will keep the crowds on the edge of their seats. 

PLEASE NOTE: The VSP’s will be testing at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit on Monday the 11^th March 2002, in a run up to Killarney. All motoring media are invited to come along and see the all-new Nissan powered VSP’s in action for the first time, and speak to the drivers and teams about the new developments. 

Issued by Pole Position Promotions