Gerber takes runner-up
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While Garth Waberski romped to two easy wins in his Dache
Imports backed car there was thrilling racing behind him in what was undoubtedly the best race of the season. In the end, third place in race two was enough to give Francois Gerber (Autohaus) second place in this Nissan V6 powered sports car series ahead of 2003 champion Neil Lobb (DK Woodcraft). Waberski qualified on pole position with Gerber just over half a second slower. Alan Green (Boltt/Carrera/DK) got the bit between his teeth and headed row two just three hundredths of a second faster than Lobb. The ever steady Alan Eve lined up fifth in the Autoseal Gaskets car with Donovan Roscoe (Protea laying Cards) completing the top six. Green was quick off the mark at the start of race one and slotted into second behind waberski, but the latter went wide into Wesbank corner and Green quickly seized the opportunity to take the lead. On lap three Clive Kennerley (Standox) and Ruan Pretorius (John Abbot Motorsport) got into a tangle at Wesbank which put paid to Kennerley’s day. While this was happening Waberski reclaimed the lead and headed for the flag. Almost unnoticed due to the on track action, Lobb pulled off before the chicane and Gerber retired with a broken rear wheel hub on the same lap. That left a delighted Roscoe in third with Eve next followed by Darryn Lobb and Jonathan Finch (S21), the latter having started from the back of the field after missing qualifying due to business commitments. Two laps from the end Roscoe squeezed around the outside of Green at Goodyear Sweep and the race ended with Green in third just over a second clear of Eve with Darryn Lobb holding off Finch for fifth place. Race two started dramatically as Richard Wood spun at Nashua and put paid to Finch’s race. Neil Lobb survived a late race spin to take second, helped by the fact that third placed Gerber managed two spins thanks to cv joint grease getting onto his rear tyres. 250 Superkart champion Veron Pappas backed up a solid seventh place in the first race with a very creditable fourth in race two while Pretorius claimed fifth ahead of Eve after the young Lobb retired on lap six. |