SHELBY CAN-AM CHAMPIONSHIP GEARS UP
FOR ZWARTKOPS
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Shelby Can-Am Racing will host its biggest field to date this season when they arrive at Zwartkops Raceway on 19 August. The field has been boosted by a number of new entries and with everything still to play for in the championship fight there is sure to be plenty of action throughout the field. If current form is anything to go by Darryn Lobb (DK Woodcraft) will serve as Ruan Pretorius’ (Castrol EDGE) main rival. Pretorius currently leads the championship by a comfortable margin, however any slip-up will see Lobb breathing down his neck. Also looking to upset the apple cart will be reigning Shelby Can-Am champ Neil Lobb (Caltex Havoline). Neil has been hampered in recent outings with a broken wrist but should be back on form in time for the Zwartkops outing.
All three have extensive knowledge of the Zwartkops circuit through their exploits in historic and regional racing, though few can boast the lap count of Pretorius who has raced a number of different formulae at this his home circuit. This event could prove the key event in the championship as a good result for Pretorius could put him out of reach in the title race while one DNF could see the tables turned in favour of the Lobb family.
A consistent Donavan Roscoe (Stanley Tools) currently holds fourth place in the championship standings he will no doubt have his hands full challenging the likes of Rui Campos (Boltt), teammate Alan Eve (Keliza Group) and JP Bredenhann (Chem Spec). Also capable of challenging this pack will be Chris Hart (Hi-Q Plettenburg Bay). Hart has struggled throughout the year with mechanical difficulties but certainly has the pace to challenge near the front when his car is on form. Similarly Karl Zachau (Driveline Technologies) will be looking for a strong finish following his third place in heat 2 at East London. Franz Pretorius (Castrol EDGE) boasts a similar advantage having done many laps at the circuit in various regional championships. Hoping to stand in his way will be the likes of Colin Frost (Strocam), Peter Bailey (Bailey Edwards), Harry Roscoe (Protea Playing Cards), and Richard Wood (Almar Packaging). Clare Vale (The Truck Man) will be going all out to show her male counterparts how it’s done. After missing the previous round of the championship due to engine problems she will be eager to get back in the hot seat. A number of new competitors will join the Shelby Can-Am ranks at Zwartkops. Debuting in the series will be Craig Shorter (Hollard Insurance), Pierre Brydges (Firzt Realty), Sam Hammond (Samlin Constructions), Sean Greve (Vulcania Reinforcing) and Brain Algar (Hemisphere Risk Solutions). “I’m looking forward to my first National race in Shelby Can-Ams, I haven’t had too much seat time in the car so Zwartkops will be a big learning curve for me,” explains newcomer Sean Greve who previously competed in the Porsche 924 Challenge. ”I decided to join the Shelby Championship as I feel it has the most evenly matched cars. The engines, shocks, etcetera are all the same so it is the driver and the set up of the car, which determines the outcome of the race and not necessarily the size of the competitor’s budgets. Rui Campos organised me a drive at Phakisa in an enduro earlier this year and after experiencing the car around that track I was hooked. The rest is now history.” Fellow Porsche 924 Challenge racer Sam Hammond is equally excited about his first appearance in the Shelby Can-Am series. “I have been an active Porsche driver for the past 5 years – I started out by participating in the Porsche time trials and fun days and progressed to the Porsche Challenge. Along the way I have also raced in various different Porsches such as the 928GT, 911 RSR, and currently the GT3 Cup. Although I enjoy my Porsche racing extremely, I do believe that the Shelby is the next level in my development as a racing driver. At this stage I will be satisfied with an enjoyable and incident free race.” While a number of the new entrants hail from the Porsche Challenge Pierre Brydges is still relatively new on the racing scene. “I have done two races so far in the Shelby - the two hour at Phakisa and the recent one hour at Zwartkops. Prior to that I had never ridden a race car before as such my aim for the rest of the year will be to learn the ropes as much as possible ahead of my first full season in 2006.” With the championship fight now reaching fever pitch the Zwartkop’s crowd can expect to see thrilling action from the Shelby Can-Am racers right through the 21-car field.
|