VSP Sports Car Racing Championship – Final Round
- 13 November 2003

South Africa’s national sportscar championship will be decided and either George Ferreira or Neil Lobb will walk away wearing the VSP Sports Car Racing crown.

 

With 21 drivers in identical cars powered by high-revving 3.5 litre Nissan V6 motors transmitting the 300 plus horses via Goodyear’s finest gumballs, the VSP series has become one of the highlights of the increasingly popular Vodacom Power Tour.

 

With 20 points available for a win and a bonus point each for fastest lap and pole position the racing between top two protagonists the racing is bound to be hard and fast, especially as only five points separate the pair.

 

Having led the championship race all year, DK Woodcraft driver Neil Lobb lost the advantage at the last round and heads to AA Kyalami with nothing to lose and everything to gain. A pre-race accident forced him to borrow a car for the race and an opening lap spin after a first heat skirmish saw former George Ferreira (PAK 2000) take the advantage. Both drivers have fought hard all year and it is bound to be an intriguing fight and the permutations are endless.

 

A late season deserved run of consistency has moved Melvill up to third place, but the Revlon 24-Seven driver hasn’t any hope of catching the leaders and with Randburg dentist Francois Gerber (Autohaus) 47-points behind him has assured himself of third place.

 

Things are a lot closer for the other three drivers in the top six. Dave Beattie (FedEx/Steiner Hygiene) lies fourth with a nine point advantage over Alan Eve (Shell/Odes Autobody) who had a torrid time in Port Elizabeth earlier this month. After missing a few races, reigning champion Bernard Tilanus has slipped back to seventh place in the Micro Imaging car.

 

All these drivers could play a role in the championship outcome as could last year’s runner-up Donovan Roscoe (Optimum Racing Developments) and former Formula GTI champion Marco da Cunha (Middleburg Nissan/Witbank Auto). 

 

An interesting battle for the other points on offer to keep an eye on will be fought between brothers Colin and Trevor Frost in the Strocam Projects and Strocam Mining entries. Add the likes of Clive Kennerley (Standox), Richard Wood, Steve Desilla (Greyhound), Richard Benningfield (Central Energy), Neville Jordan (Vodacom), Harry Roscoe (Protea Playing Cards) and Mark Attieh (Smartcall) and we have a recipe for non-stop action. Gary Green (Brad Green Cars) and Ben Havenga (Panel-Rite) have also got quicker recently and could be chasing points.

 

A newcomer to the series is Ruan Pretorius. The youngster from Pretoria is usually seen racing a Porsche 996 GT3 RS in the Porsche Challenge event and could surprise a few of the established drivers if he manages to get enough seat time in the car before the big day arrives.

 

As always, both heats are bound to produce heart-stopping action and at the end of the day one driver will celebrate proudly while another will quietly weep.