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Phakisa Freeway in Welkom plays host to the third round of the Shelby
Can-Am championship. As the fastest national single seater series in
Southern Africa the Goodyear sponsored Shelby Can-Am brigade are sure to
put on a spectacular show in front of the Free state crowd.
Heading the pack following a faultless performance at the previous round
will be reigning champ Neil Lobb (Caltex Havoline). Lobb was recently
announced as the Goodyear SA Driver of the Year 2005 by the prestigious
tyre company – Lobb will be going all out to live up to this honour.
The ‘Faster Pastor’, as he is affectionately known, has a host of up and
coming youngsters hounding him on the points log. Foremost among those
challengers is Ruan Pretorius (Castrol) who will be looking to make
amends for a difficult weekend in Killarney.
Pretorius lost valuable championship points to Lobb at Killarney and
will want to rectify the situation come Phakisa. Having won both heats
at last year’s Phakisa round Pretorius should be feeling confident about
his chances.
Waiting in the wings will be Darryn Lobb (DK Woodcraft). "Phakisa is a
special event for me," comments Lobb. "I had my first competitive Shelby
Can-Am event at Phakisa in 2004. I qualified 4th, went on to retire from
race one with an electrical fault, but finished 6th in race two despite
a spin two laps from the end."
Lobb will be looking to challenge the frontrunners at Phakisa following
a competitive performance at Killarney.
Talent spotters should keep their eyes open for Christ Hart (Hi-Q
Plettenberg Bay). Hart made his Shelby debut at Kyalami earlier in the
year and was on the pace from the out set. Unfortunately his race was
cut short when he crashed while trying to avoid a spinning Alan Eve. The
prang resulted in Hart having to miss the Killarney round. He will
however be back in action, with a fully re-built car, at Phakisa. If his
debut performance is anything to go by then expect exciting things from
the newcomer, provided he can stay out of trouble!
Donavan Roscoe (Stanley Tools) and Harry Roscoe (Protea Playing Cards)
are just one of three father and son combinations competing in the
Shelby Can-Am series. Donavan is currently third in the championship and
will be determined to improve his position at this technical track that
suits his driving skills.
"We had no major problems at Killarney but I’m still battling to get a
set-up that I am happy with," explains Donavan leading up to the Phakisa
event. "Other than that I’ve had no problems with the car, I learnt a
few things at the last race and I hope to use them to good effect at
Phakisa."
The Goodyear tyre draw, in which Goodyear donates a set of race tyres
after each round of the championship, was won by Rui Campos (Boltt) at
Killarney. It would however have been small consolation for the Boltt
driver who had a rather bent car after a sizeable collision with, his
team mate Alan Eve (Kelizia Group) in the second heat at Killarney.
For Eve it was two big crashes in just two race meetings. However Eve’s
crew has once again managed to reassemble his car in record time – both
Campos and Eve will take to the grid at Phakisa with newly rebuilt cars.
Clive Kennerley (GP Windscreens) will be back in action, he can expect
to be challenged by the likes of Franz Pretorius (Castrol), Colin Frost
(Strocam), Karl Zachau (Driveline Technologies). Also hoping to score
points will be Richard Wood (Almar Packaging), Clare Vale (The Truck
Man), and JP Bredenhann (Panel-Rite).
Emotions are running high in the class as there have been a number of
incidents that have sharpened the competition and the desire to beat
other competitors to prove a point is at fever pitch. Expect high grade
racing as the knives are out!
SHELBY CAN-AM CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS AFTER ROUND 2 OF 10
Pos Driver Sponsor Points
1 Neil Lobb Caltex Havoline 73
2 Darryn Lobb DK Woodcraft 68
3 Ruan Pretorius Castrol 66
3 Donavan Roscoe Stanley Tools 64
5 Franz Pretorius Castrol 49
6 Jean Paul Bredenhann Panel Rite 49
ENDS
Should you require further information or high res images for
publication please contact Nathalie Jeanmonod on 083 799 6802 or e-mail
nathalie@spannerworx.co.za
For detailed information on Shelby Can-Am racing please visit
www.shelbycanam.co.za
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