Unbeatable Priest
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Priest showed his cards during Friday afternoon’s official qualifying session when the black Revlon 24-seven car bagged pole with over half a second to spare from the Micro Imaging car driven by reigning champion Bernard Tilanus. Championship leader, Neil Lobb (DK Woodcraft) headed row two from Dave Beattie (Steiner Services) while George Ferreira (Pak 2000) and Francois Gerber (Autohaus/Spies-Hecker) occupied the third row. Despite looking more like a fishing boat captain than a racing driver, Durbanite, Ben Havenga was all smiles after posting the 11th fastest time for his first ever big circuit race. Priest was quickly out of the starting blocks and unchallenged as he romped to a decisive five-second win. In the battle for second, Lobb got the better of Tilanus and Ferreira as Gerber was over four seconds adrift in fifth. Alan Eve (Odes Autobody) was slightly off the pace all weekend and rounded off the top six after a lonely race. Behind him there was a mother and father battle as Richard Wood got the better of Colin Frost (Strocam) and Neville Jordan (Vodacom). Completing the top-ten was Daan Nortje while Capetonian Johan Engelbrecht (Alcatel) was all smiles after beating Gary Green (Brad Green Cars) in the battle for the minor placings in his first race. Beattie and Havenga were the retirees. Race two was another Priest demonstration, but this time it was Tilanus who claimed second after a close race with Lobb and Ferreira. Gerber was fifth again, followed by Eve and Beattie. Eighth went to Jordan with Clive Kennerley (Standox) making it to ninth after a ‘vrot’ fuel pump left him stranded in the pre-race paddock for race one. Havenga’s smile was even bigger after taking tenth ahead of Wood, Nortje and Engelbecht, who was also more than happy with his debut. Round four of the championship for these rapid Nissan V6 powered sports cars takes place at East London’s picturesque Mercedes Grand Prix circuit on 24 May. |
