Advantage Lobb
Preview – VPT Round 6 – Mercedes Benz Grand Prix Circuit – East London – 30 July
 - 22 July 2005

South Africa’s national sports car championship, featuring the Nissan V6 powered Vodacom Shelby Can-Am cars heads to East London’s historical Grand Prix circuit for two races that could set the scene for a nail-biting fight for the championship. 

Sitting pretty at the top of the table is former champion Neil Lobb, now in the colours of Caltex Havoline. It hasn’t been the easiest season so far, but he’s kept a cool head and bagged some important wins to go into the second half of the season with a 21 point advantage over Pretoria student Ruan Pretorius in the John Abbot Motorsport prepared Biogen car. 

Things are much closer in the fight for third place where Rui Campos (Boltt/Carrera) is a single point clear of Darryn Lobb, son of Neil, in the DK Woodcraft entry. Both have only been racing for a very short period of time yet both have impressed greatly and risen to the top very quickly, so much so that both have won races this year. 

Donovan Roscoe (Stanley Tools) must rank among one of the unluckiest drivers in the country. He had pole in Port Elizabeth, but didn’t get far after being the innocent victim in a first race, first corner shunt. He ran steadily at Kyalami and is determined to get to the front at East London. “I think they’re all scared of me and will give me room,” he laughed. 

Multiple 250 Superkart champion Veron Pappas (Castrol Extreme Motor Show) is another driver hoping for a change of fortune. His season started well, but has gone downhill since he won at Phakisa in April. “I don’t like being sixth!” was all he’d say. 

Further back, the likes of Alan Eve (Direct Couriers/Odes), Colin Frost (Strocam), Richard Wood (Almar Packaging), Peter Bailey (Fuchs), Trevor Frost (Strocam Mining), Harry Roscoe (Protea Playing Cards), Gary Green (Autozone) and Franz Pretorius (John Abbot Motorsport) will be fighting for the remaining point scoring positions along with newcomer Karl Zachau (Ital Guinti) who is another driver from the 250 Superkart ranks.  

Clare Vale’s pace and racecraft has improved immensely this year and the TruckMan backed driver could give the boys a hard time. She recently attended the famous Jim Russell Racing School in England and on her return led the recent Phakisa 2-hour until an electrical problem robbed her of a good position so she’s confident of a good result. 

Two more wins would almost seal the title for Lobb senior, but two bad scores and a good result for Pretorius could turn the championship around. 

 Championship Points

  1. Neil Lobb              183

  2. Ruan Pretorius      162

  3. Rui Campos          150

  4. Darryn Lobb         149

  5. Donovan Roscoe  143

  6. Veron Pappas       134
entry to the starting list for this round is Toby Scheckter(TrionZ), who drove for the first time in the Shelby Can Am championship at Zwartkops last  month, where he finished 6th in heat 1 and retired from heat 2 with gearbox problems. The family name is intrinsically linked to East London, so his presence will add a certain excitement to proceedings, and he will be keenly watched by a partisan crowd.