VSP Season Turning Into A Thriller
- 24 July 2002

Having won the 1974 South African Formula Ford championship, then the 1981 South African Drivers championship for Formula Atlantic cars, Bernard Tilanus virtually retired from racing when the Formula SA (Atlantic) series came to an end at the end of 1986.

When the Vodacom Sports Racing series was launched almost four-years ago, he at last found a car that excited him. These raucous Nissan 3500cc V6 powered sports cars are all identical and, according to drivers, it is a series where talent plays a much more important role than in other categories.

The veteran racer immediately proved that he’d lost none of the skill that first came to light almost three decades ago. Today, with half the season behind him, Tilanus, backed by Platinum Asset Management, is at the head of the points log.

Saturday’s two ten-lap heats will be make or break for some contenders and there could be a new championship leader at the end of the day. Consistency is Tilanus’ forte, and after scoring points in each round, he enjoys a 27-point lead over Donovan Roscoe in the neatly turned out Optimum  version, which he prepares himself. At 28-years old, Roscoe is around half Tilanus’ age, which adds a bit of needle to the title race.

Just six-points adrift is former motorcycle racer, Neil Lobb (DK Woodcraft), with reigning champion, George Ferreira, in the Pak 2000 liveried car, is a further eight points back. However, with a maximum of 42 points on offer at each race meeting, the order could change completely at the next round.

Another driver in the hunt is Randburg dentist, Francois Gerber (Tool Shop) who won the title in 1999 and 2000.  He is 33-points clear of sixth placed Dave Beattie who has last year’s runner-up, Alan Eve breathing heavily down his neck after a bad start to the season.

With no fewer than 22 drivers having scored points so far this season, the Vodacom Sports Racing championship has had spectators on the edge of their seats, and judging by the last race at Zwartkops, the racing seems closer at each race.  The likes of Terry Voller, Clive Kennerly and Alan Green in their DK Group backed cars are more than capable of finishing in the top ten as are Paul Keates, Strocam’s Colin and Damien Frost, who is the youngest driver in the series, and fiery newcomer, Melvill Priest (Caltex). Add Paul Keates, Tony Cooke and Tony Troskie to the battle and the top-ten battle often becomes quite explosive.