Day
of drama at Zwartkops
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South Africa’s National Sportscar Championship once again showed why it has become one of the major attractions of the Vodacom Power Tour. As has been the case throughout the season, the Nissan V6 powered Vodacom Sports Prototype series produced two thrilling races with enough off track drama to turn Hollywood’s best green with envy. Centre of the attention was reigning champion George Ferreira in the PAK 2000 car. After missing Friday’s qualifying session due to his car not being ready, the former Formula Ford racer was in a class of his own as he won each race from the back of the grid, only to be excluded from the results after a post race strip revealed technical irregularities. Rising star, Melvill Priest set tongues wagging by placing the Havoline backed car on pole position for both races and led both races. A huge accident brought out the red flags and decimated the field on the opening lap of race 1 when championship leader Bernard Tilanus spun at the fast right-hand sweep opposite the pits as he attempted to wrest the lead from Priest. Out on the spot were Tilanus, Damien Frost (Strocam) and Francois Gerber (The Tool Shop) while Priest, Donovan Roscoe (Optimum Racing Developments) and Alan Eve (Odes Autobody) pitted to check for damage after bouncing across the gravel trap. Priest led from the restart, but all eyes were on Ferreira as he scythed through the field to complete the opening lap in 7th place. On lap eight he moved up to second and began closing the gap to Priest. With two laps to go Priest wilted from the pressure and locked up his brakes which allowed Ferreira through to win by two seconds. Eve won the battle for third after Roscoe delayed himself by spinning at the Table Top on lap 9 while Neil Lobb (DK Woodcraft) overcame gear selection problems to take fourth ahead of Roscoe. Dave Beattie kept out of trouble to complete the top six. As the leaders hogged the limelight, spectators were on their feet as seasoned veterans Harry Roscoe (Protea Playing Cards) and Richard Wood fought hammer and tongs to avoid last place. In a generous display of sportsmanship, Paul Keates offered Tilanus the use of the Tepco car for the second race and he duly lined up alongside Ferreira at the back of the grid. This time there were no first lap dramas as Priest quickly built up what looked like an unassailable lead while Ferreira charged through the pack again but Priest was denied a maiden win after an oil line came adrift and he spun off on his own oil on lap ten. That left Ferreira to take the flag ahead of Gerber who put in a good drive considering his car wasn’t handling very well after the first race accident. Eve was third again, despite a clash with Roscoe which put an end to the latter’s race Beattie came home fourth with Tony Cooke winning the points for fifth from first race retiree, Clive Kennerley (DK Privacy). Lobb’s hopes of a good points haul were dashed when he spun off at half distance. “My foot slipped of the brake pedal at the hairpin and I lost a lap trying to get out of the ‘kitty litter’. Subject to an appeal by Ferreira, Tilanus has kept his lead, but as drivers have to drop their two worst results of the season the order at the top could change dramatically in the two remaining events. Championship Positions (provisional only) 1. Bernard Tilanus
231 points |