VODACOM POWER TOUR’S DOUBLE SERVING AT AA KYALAMI
|
|
Gauteng
based motor sport fans
are in for a great surprise with a bumper-packed month of circuit racing
at the AA Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit. Most
race fans were expecting the Vodacom Power Tour to only feature in Gauteng
as its season ending 23rd November race. But, with resurfacing
at the Phakisa Freeway in the Free State well under way for next years
MotoGP, the 2nd November race, (due to take place at Phakisa)
will now also be held at AA Kyalami. “November
has traditionally been a highlight for circuit racing at AA Kyalami with
the old 9 hour race and more recently the World Sports Car events closing
off the season on a high note” said Anthony Lauter, Project Director of
the Vodacom Power Tour. “This year with a double round of the Vodacom
Power Tour local race fans will again be in for a feast of racing”
And
racing will be something to behold, with all the premier racing categories
taking part. These include the WesBank SAMCAR V8’s, Production Cars, SA
Superbikes, VSP Sports Cars, Formula Ford and the Engen VW Cup
series. As
race fans have become accustomed to, there will be the usual fanfare
attached to the racing, including exciting track parades, the gorgeous
Vodacom Power Tour Brolly Babes, as well as other entertainment for the
whole family. But
what is really exciting in the sport at the moment is the current
championship standings in all the respective racing formula. With only two
race meetings left, the championships are set to go down to the wire. In
the Engen VW Cup series young Terry Moss protégé Tschops Sipuka leads
the series by a narrow 21 points from fellow Eastern Cape racer Silvio
Scribante who beat Sipuka to the line in the first heat at their home
track Aldo Srcibante two weeks ago. But the second heat saw Sipuka fight
back to a nail biting finish that ultimately saw him hold onto his lead in
the Championship. But with four races left anything could happen,
especially with the dark horse Graeme Nathan still clutching onto his
third place overall. In
the Formula Ford series things seem to be somewhat decided with Morne
Jugens having a commanding lead of 47 points over second place man and
arch rival Brett Mayberry. Englishman Stephen Morris holds a strong third
place in the championship in only his first season in South Africa. Having
just returned from the international Formula Ford festival in the UK we
hope that young Stephen has convinced some of his British counterparts to
come and compete in SA next year. The
Le Mans Prototype style VSP Sports Cars will also be driven in anger at
the 2nd November race meeting. Veteran driver Bernard Tilanus has managed
to hold onto his lead just about all season long and now narrowly leads
from Neil Lobb and Donovan Roscoe in second and third respectively. Some
of the most exciting racing in 2002 has undoubtedly come from the SA
Superbike brigade. Former multiple champion Russell Wood narrowly leads
the series on his Vodacom Nashua Yamaha from arch rival Trevor Crookes on
the UUNET Ducati. In
the Port Elizabeth races, Crookes seemed to have found a few extra horses
allowing him to run away with the second race at the coastal track. If
this continues at Kyalami it will ensure that Wood will have a serious
headache in Gauteng and it will really threaten his championship lead.
But, there are no such worries in the privateer class of the Superbikes.
Noel Haarhof has powered his DeWalt Suzuki to a massive 316 points, with
Gavin Ramsay and third placed Rob Cragg trailing on 241 and 206 points
respectively. Shaun
van der Linde leads the Production Car series in his Class A Castrol BMW
330i, in a very closely fought battle with Class B leader and second place
in the overall championship Charl Wilken in his works Toyota Corolla RSi.
The other real fight lies for the coveted third place in the championship.
With Ian Long and Laurence Boshoff both lying on 87 points in their Honda
Ballades, the pressure will seriously be on for someone to break the tie.
This will be a battle certainly worth watching. In
the premier racing category in South Africa, the WesBank SAMCAR V8’s,
young Capetonian Johan Fourie now leads the championship after a late
start to the season. Fourie, piloting the Supervan Racing entered Sasol
DualFuel Astra V8, has literally run away with the series since he entered
the third round of the Vodacom Power Tour at East London. Trailing Fourie
are veteran Ben Morgenrood in his Auto Trader Mustang and fellow West
Rander Roelf du Plessis in third in his super fast Camaro. Whatever
your favourite formula may be, the 2nd of November will be a
race meeting not to be missed. For
more information on the race meeting and the Vodacom Power Tour, visit our
website on www.powertour.co.za. |