New stars for a new look
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With a new name for 2005, the racing also produced new stars, but at the end of the day both wins went to an old hand.
Although the name has changed and management specialist S21has joined as a co-sponsor, the cars are still the same with potent, yet reliable Nissan V6 engines and fat Goodyear tyres ensuring the cars grip the tarmac.
Qualifying was quite eventful. Having already claimed pole position, Neil Lobb (DK Woodcraft) made little mistake entering the Esses and ended up off the line and on the gravel for part two of the corner. The result was a solid meeting with the barrier. He was very cross, and took the matter up with officials, but the damage was already done. By burning the midnight oil the car looked in tip-top condition and ready for business by Saturday morning. “My team worked hard getting everything back together and deserve a pat on the back,” he said on race morning. |
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Donovan Roscoe (Protea Playing Cards) lined up second with 250 Superkart champ Veron Pappas an impressive third ahead of Ruan Pretorius (John Abbot Motorsport) as Alan Eve (Odes Autobody) and Darryn Lobb (DK Woodcraft) completed the top six.
Lobb slotted into the lead at the start and went on to take a comfortable win. The start was quite orderly although Gary Green retired the Autozone entry on the opening tour and then Darren Nathan spun the ill-handling ex Richard Wood device on lap four. Pretorius was running strongly and passed Roscoe on lap five and on the same lap Pappas passed Rui Campos (Boltt) in Goodyear Sweep. Pappas then lost the advantage with a spin at Nashua three quarters of a lap later.
At the end it was Pretorius taking second with Roscoe and Campos keeping him honest. Francois Gerber (Autohaus) was disappointed with fifth while Darryn Lobb was sixth and well clear of Pappas.
Race two took place on a very wet track and there was chaos shortly after the start. Pappas was quickly away at the start and grabbed the lead. At Goodyear there were cars spinning everywhere and by the time the mud had settled Pappas and Nathan were parked for the day.
At the of the lap it was Campos leading from newcomer Peter Bailey (Fuchs) and Roscoe. Lobb was a bit further back and soon started climbing up the order. By lap two he was third, a lap later second and closing on Campos. Bailey was coming under pressure from everyone and losing ground and position as he battled to find a balance between adhesion and pace.
With three laps to go Lobb eased through on the inside at Wesbank and took the lead. Campos never gave up and at the end the Boltt car was less than half a second behind. Pretorius had another good run and took third ahead of Roscoe as Gerber claimed fifth again while Bailey impressed many with his drive to sixth ahead of Alan Eve.
Round two of the series takes place at Cape Town’s picturesque Killarney circuit on 02 April. |
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