“DUAL” REASON TO BE AT VODACOM POWER TOUR DAY AT
ZWARTKOPS RACEWAY (29 JUNE)
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The
Vodacom Power Tour presents the Sasol DualFuel-backed Zwartkops race day
on Saturday (29 June) and is a must for race fans and families for a
“Dual” reason – the on track and fanfare attractions. With over
20 000 spectators attending the mid-June race in Port Elizabeth, the
challenge is on for Gauteng “petrol heads” to outdo the fans from the
Friendly City. With four
national championship categories and a host of crowd-pleasers lined up by
Zwartkops, Vodacom Power Tour and Sasol, there is no better place to take
the family this weekend. Friday sees practice and qualifying
at Zwartkops, with free entry to the Pretoria West circuit. On Saturday
the race action will run in conjunction with numerous activities in and
around the circuit. At the
“Sasol DualFuel Fun Zone”, in shed 5 next to the pits, you can see an
historic Formula One
car (92 Sasol Jordan), a Sasol Volkswagen Rally car and learn more about
Sasol’s unique DualFuel and TurboDiesel. Spectators
can also buy their favourite race paraphernalia at the Zone’s
merchandising stall and at 13h30 greet and obtain their favourite
drivers’, and ride’s’ autographs in Shed 5. For the
glamour “gurus” the Vodacom Power Tour “Brolly Babes” will light
up the grid. There will be a
track parade of MINI cars, as well as the Sasol-sponsored race and rally
cars and an air display, adding spice to the day’s entertainment. On track
there will be the welcome return of the SA Superbike Championship who sat
out the Port Elizabeth round of the Vodacom Power Tour.
Championship leader and 2001 Champion Greg Dreyer (Cell C Suzuki)
narrowly leads from Trevor Crookes on his UUNET Ducati and Cell C Suzuki
stalwart Stewart MacLeod. Not
far behind are the ultra quick Noel Haarhof (DeWalt Suzuki) and veteran
Russell Wood (Vodacom Nashua Yamaha), both itching to have a bite at the
top of the championship log. In the
4-wheel categories the WesBank Samcar Series tops the programme. These
mighty 500+ bhp V8-powered cars unleashing their fury on this short, tight
track could be equated to trying to fly a helicopter around your bedroom!
But that won’t bother new championship leader Larry Wilford
(Fuch’s Titan Mustang), who’s two second places at Aldo Scribante
ensured that he racked up enough points to move ahead of previous leader
Roelf du Plessis (Cool Cat Carriers Camaro). What will
be worrying the crafty Mr Wilford, though will be now full-time Sasol
DualFuel Astra V8 driver Johan Fourie, who is lying fifth in the
Championship after his two wins in (the former) Sarel van der Merwe V8
Astra at Port Elizabeth. Driving
duties in the second Astra will be shared by team boss Van der Merwe and
Shaun Watson-Smith, after the viral infection that has, hopefully
temporarily, sidelined Sarel for two race meetings, meaning it is almost
impossible for him to win the Drivers’ Championship in his swan-song
season. The WesBank
V8 season has, nevertheless, been a humdinger, with no clear leader
emerging at the halfway point. In fact almost every race has produced a
new winner, thereby ensuring that the championship log remains the
collective ownership of about six drivers so far. Third on
this weekend’s prestige list, but certainly not in excitement are the
men from Vodacom Sports Prototypes. Exciting
and dramatic racing at Port Elizabeth produced reigning champion George
Ferreira as the double winner, and in so doing he slots into second behind
the flying Bernard Tilanus, relegating Neil Lobb into third place. These
mighty 3.5 litre V6 Nissan-powered Le Mans-type racers have certainly
lifted their game this year and have become spectacular to watch.
Their “noise-level” is like being at an F1 event…”sweet”. The single
seater Formula Fords will also be back in action after skipping the Aldo
Scribante round of the Vodacom Power Tour. Morne Jurgens (Truck Den
Mygale) leads the championship on 71 points with second-placed man Brett
Mayberry (Investment Cars Mygale) on 52. Third is Mark du Toit on 23
points in his Big Z Racing Van Damien, but don’t count the youngster
out. Last, but
certainly not least in the national championship stakes, sees the Engen
Volkswagen Cup series in action. This one-make formula ensures close
racing through equally powered and handling cars. The Polo’s are often
driven way past the limit by some of SA’s top driving talents. Championship leader Tschops Sipuka (Engen 97 Dynamic Unleaded) made it two in a row at his home circuit, Aldo Scribante on 15 June, but he will have his work cut out with the likes of Graeme Nathan (Nathan Autobody) and Silvio Scribante (Bell Equipment) snapping at his heels. This series seems to be all the more popular this year with Gladiators Giant and Granite, who have proven beyond doubt that they are not only good at being strong in the arena but on the track too. Issued
by Pole Position Promotions |