BIG
VODACOM POWER TOUR ACTION FOR THE BIG Z
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The
ninth round of the Vodacom Power Tour
will be held at the Zwartkops International Raceway on the 14th
September 2002. The race day presented by Midas will include the
Production Cars, SA Superbike Championship, Vodacom Sports Racing Cars,
Formula Fords and the Vodacom Isondo Sports 2000’s, with the WesBank V8
SAMCAR challenge taking a well earned break for this round of the Vodacom
Power Tour. After
a season of spectacular racing and closely fought championships, there
seems to be no repent for any of the title contenders in any of the
categories. If the competitors have any energy left for the remainder of
the season, they will need it for the tight and technical Zwartkops
racetrack. Racing at this short circuit always seems to be frenetic, with
closely fought battles and even closer lap times predominating in the
various categories. Zwartkops
Raceway is one of the most spectator friendly racetracks in South Africa
with crowds being able to see most of the track from any of the available
grandstands. In addition to the race action, there will be the usual
Vodacom Power Tour entertainment including a lunchtime track parade and
air display by the Mazda Aerobatics Team. As usual the Vodacom Power Tour
brolly babes will also be in the pit lane and on the starting grid, giving
the crowds more than just the racecars to ogle at. Being
a short racetrack, Zwartkops never allows the fields to become too spread
out, making for tight race action all day. This will make the job of
current Production Cars championship leader Shaun van der Linde difficult
indeed, as he tries to fend off the closely powered BMW 330i’s of team
mates Ettienne van der Linde and Micheal Briggs, and fellow BMW
competitors Reghard Roets, Hennie Groenewald and Richard Sorenson. A
maiden win with the mightily powered V8 Ford Falcon XR8, Steve Wyndham is
also not to be counted out in this class. But, ironically Shaun’s
competition will not come from the bumper-to-bumper action within his
class, but from Class B leader and Toyota Corolla RSi works driver Charl
Wilken, who currently lies second in the championship. Closely followed by
LG Flatron Honda Ballade driver Martin Steyn, Class C driver Ian Long,
Micheal Briggs and Laurence Boshoff the title is by no means cut and
dried, and may not even be won by one of the mighty Class A cars. As
usual, race fans can expect fireworks from the SA Superbike Challenge. The
surprise of the last round of the Vodacom Power Tour at Killarney was
young Dino de Wet, who on his Vodacom Nashua Yamaha showed some of the
best and most experienced riders in the country what he is made of. Having
spent the season towards the back of the field while getting used to the
manic momentum of this formula, he stormed to fourth place overall in the
Killarney races, even having the ordacity to overtake current Superbike
champion Greg Dreyer on his Cell C Suzuki and smashing the lap record in
the process. But Dino’s fine form doesn’t alter the current
championship standings, with teammate Russell Wood leading the
championship with 214 points. Closely followed by Trevor Crookes on the
UUNET Ducati with 210 points, Stewart MacLeod and Greg Dreyer are (in that
order) all within striking distance. After
sitting the Killarney race out for a deserved rest, the Vodacom Sports
Prototypes make a welcome return to the Vodacom Power Tour. Veteran racing
driver Bernard Tilanus leads Niel Lobb, Donovan Roscoe and reigning
champion George Ferreira in that order. This formula has become one of the
highlights of race days, with the screaming Nissan powered engines adding
to the hammer and tong battles that can be seen throughout the field. Having
also sat the Killarney race out, the Formula Fords will be back in action
at Zwartkops. Current championship leader Morne Jurgens now leads the
series head and shoulders above second placed Brett Mayberry with a
sizable 33 points advantage. But Brett in turn leads third placed Mark du
Toit by no less than 25 points, ensuring that the top two places in the
championship are pretty well secured. However, these young guns will
certainly not be letting up, fighting tooth and nail for every possible
point that is still to be had between now and the end of the year. Rounding
off the formula for the day will be South Africa’s official development
formula the Vodacom Isondo Sports 2000’s. Leading the championship is
Kearn Francis followed closely by Devan Moonsamy and Morne Edas. But this
formula will go down in history for producing the first ever black lady
racing drivers. Both Lindi Dlamini and Joy Monareng are having a ball
learning the ropes of this highly competitive sport and are starting to
give the men in the formula a serious run for their money.
In all, race fans will have a feast of motor racing to digest on the 14th of September, with the carnival atmosphere at Zwartkops that has become its trademark, it will make a great spring outing for the whole family. Entrance to the track will be R 30.00 for adults and children under 14 go free. |