EAST LONDON ROUND OF THE VODACOM POWER TOUR PROMISES LOTS OF ACTION

The 27^th of April 2002 will see the third round of the Vodacom Power Tour at the Mercedes Benz Grand Prix Circuit in East London. Incorporating the six major National formulas consisting of the WesBank V8 Challenge, Midas Production Cars, SA Superbike Challenge, Vodacom Sports Prototypes, Formula Fords and Engen Polo Cup the racing promises to be of world class standard.  

The first two rounds of the Vodacom Power Tour have been nothing short of spectacular, with the racing in all categories as close as anybody could wish for. In addition to the great racing, there was also plenty of entertainment to keep the big crowds busy. These included track parades, aeroplane fly-pasts and displays, VIP hospitality as well as driver and rider autograph sessions and the Vodacom Power Tour Brolly Babes adding some glamour to the occasion. 

The East London races are set to be no different. The Vodacom Power Tour has arranged for a spectacular air display along with many other attractions for the motorsport loving crowds to enjoy. Once again the Vodacom Power Tour Brolly Babes will be on the grid at the start of each race. Apart from the racing on the track there will also be a lunchtime parade, which will see some great stunts being pulled off around the track. 

The race weekend will kick-off with a ‘big-rig’ parade through the centre of East London on Thursday afternoon, as the Power Tour makes its way to the track to set-up for Friday the 26^th of April. Practise and qualifying will take place on the Friday and spectators can come to the track and see some great action free of charge. The race programme on Saturday kicks off at 10h00, with some of the qualifying being finished off before the race programme starts. 

And, the 27^th will see some awesome racing kicking off with South Africa’s premier formula the Wesbank V8 Challenge. So far this season the V8’s have been the formula to watch, the field of 22 cars has provided for some great and close racing. Victory has come to Gary Formato at Kyalami and once Roelf du Plessis bought that car after that event, he romped to victory at Killarney in the first race, but was beaten by veteran Ben Morgenrood in the second. These two stalwarts of this formula will nonetheless see some heavy competition from their fellow competitors in East London. Hopefully, with their teething problems behind them the Sasol Dual Fuel V8 Astra’s of Sarel van der Merwe and Gugu Zulu will shine at this formidably fast race circuit. And, don’t discount the likes of Riaan Botma, Larry Wilford and Willie Hepburn. And the crowds can expect a few surprises in this class too… 

The Midas Production car series too, will provide fireworks at East London. With Steve Wyndhams Ford Falcon XR8 having come on song, and the new Mercedes Benz C Class of Leeroy Poulter over its teething problems, is it possible that the supreme reign of the Class A BMW’s may be under threat? There may be a few surprises in this class too, as some of the promised never-seen-before contenders may make an East London debut. 

Classes B, D and E will as usual provide the close racing these classes have become famous for. With near standard production cars vying for contention, they provide fans with an ideal opportunity to see the cars they perhaps own and drive everyday, battling it out on the racetrack, and give the crowds something to cheer about. 

The SA Superbike Challenge is another action packed formula. South Africa’s premier motorcycle series sees some of the most competent riders in the world, providing the crowds with an unbelievable spectacle. 2001 Champion Greg Dreyer will be trying to catch current leaders Stuart Macleod and Trevor Crookes, while further competition will come from a recovering Russell Wood, after his horrendous crash at Killarney.  

The remaining formula will also provide crowds with unparalleled sporting action. The Vodacom Sports Prototypes stunning performance via their new Nissan power has lifted this formula into a new dimension, while the young guns proving ground formula - Formula Ford – sees amazingly close racing thanks to all the cars power being so close, the drivers have to rely on their skill rather than power to win races, a component vital in bigger formulas. The Engen Polo Cup series is another formula where skill plays the major part of winning. The cars power output is limited and therefore winners are those who outdrive their fellow competitors on the day. In all, East London will see a days racing not to be forgotten, and will be well worth the effort to be there.