Vodacom Sports Prototype - Kyalami
- 15 November 2002
Three horse race
 
With just 16 laps remaining of this season's spectacular Vodacom Sports Prototype championship anyone of three drivers could walk away with the crown.
 
Obvious favourite must be championship leader Bernard Tilanus, who has been at the top almost all year. However, he was soundly trounced in the double points scoring 100 minute race at AA Kyalami earlier this month and will have to work hard for the trophy. The loss of his major sponsor halfway through the season has added a bit of pressure, but the crafty veteran has overcome pressure before and should cope.
 
Not far adrift is DK Woodcraft driver, Neil Lobb.  Affectionately referred to as Mr Consistency, the quietly spoken former motorcycle racer is in a good position to snatch the title. While Lobb, hasn't been winning, he has seldom failed to finish in the top three or four, but he needs to beat Tilanus soundly to leave as King.
 
The other driver in with a good shout is young Donovan Roscoe. Son of off-road racing legend Harry. Some sterling performances during the year have enabled him to overcome a somewhat troubled season. But with former Porsche race engineer, Martin Linge's Optimum Racing Developments concern lending much needed support, he has found reliabilty and pace. In a nutshell, he needs to win outright. 
 
But the likes of George Ferreira (PAK 2000), Francois Gerber (Tool Shop), Alan Eve (Odes Autobody) and Clive Kennerley (DK Privacy) have all won races before and will be determined to repeat the feat. 
 
Then we have the hard charging new kid on the block, Melvill Priest. Youthful enthusiasm and the lack of fear have gradually faded and the Havoline backed driver has proved to be every bit as quick as the established order. Damien Frost (Strocam) and Dave Beattie are two more drivers who could upset the applecart.
 
Close squabbles throughout the field have ensured that the VSP races are action packed and Dave Beattie, Terry Voller, Tony Troskie, Tony Cooke, Alan Green, Harry Roscoe, Mark Attie, Richard Wood and Neville Jordan often produce racing of the highest order.
 
With 20 of these colourfull Nissan V6 powered sportscars howling around the circuit, you can bet your bottom dollar that the two 8 lap races will be hard fought and predicting a winner ain't gonna be easy.