EXCITING YEAR AHEAD FOR THE HOLLARD SHELBY CAN-AM SERIES
- 24 January 2007
 

The 18^th of February marks the start of the Pro Tour National Motorsport season, and similarly the first round of the Hollard Shelby Can-Am Championship. The action takes place at the WesBank Raceway circuit in Germiston and is the first of 8 scheduled events for 2007. The Hollard Shelby’s will be seen this year in the new Pro Tour with Zetec Formula Ford, Formula Vee, Altech Porsche Challenge, Goldwagen GTI, and Kawasaki Cup Bikes.  

The 2007 season is an exciting and challenging one for the Shelby Can-Am Association.  Firstly, we are proud to confirm Hollard Insurance as our new Naming Rights Sponsor for the next three years; secondly, significant changes to the looks and performance of the Shelby cars mean that we are eagerly waiting to see what this great class will do on the new Pro Tour for 2007.  

A new body design project is fairly far advanced with the mould already completed. Based on the current Le Mans-type sports car designs, this stunning new body shape is expected to be seen on the track by the end of March.

Technically there are also exciting changes coming.  The new body shape requires a new exhaust system which is being designed by experts to give more power and a better engine note. Early in the season all cars will also be fitted with lightweight racing clutches which will improve acceleration and speed. Currently being tested is a sequential gear-change mechanism which will be fitted to all cars when testing is complete.

This season will also see Shelbys pitted against the Porches in some races, either in longer sprint races, or in endurance-style races with pit stops for driver and tyre changes. 

We are confidently expecting that the changes to the looks and performance of the cars together with the exciting new racing format will attract full fields at each race and will also draw big crowds of racing enthusiasts.  Adding further interest to the season, the veteran drivers will be competing for the in-house Masters’ Championship as before, and we will now also be introducing an in-house Enduro Championship to cater for the longer events.

Last season saw Ruan Pretorius dominate the series to become the 2006 Shelby Can-Am Champion while Neil Lobb, Donavan Roscoe and Darryn Lobb battled it out for the minor positions.  Unfortunately for us, Ruan has left us and will be seen in the WesBank Super Series in the Polo class, and we all wish him well in his new venture. 

However Neil Lobb (DK Woodcraft), the reigning series second overall, will be going all out in 2007 to defend his title against the likes of Donavan Roscoe (Stanley Tools) and Darryn Lobb (DK Woodcraft) (3^rd and 4^th respectively last year). Hard on their heels will be the find of last season, Jean-Paul Bredenhann (Chemspec), and the likes of Chris Hart (Hi-Q Plettenberg) Allan Eve and Rui Campos (Boltt) all of whom are quite capable of taking podium positions.  

Other drivers to watch for are Craig Shorter (Hollard) and Franz Pretorius the Masters Champion 2006 and Richard Wood (Almar Packing), veteran Harry Roscoe ( Protea Playing Cards) and Peter Bailey (Bailey Edwards) will all battle it out to get the best position to start the season.

Come to the opening round of the Pro Tour season at WesBank Raceway on the 17^th and 18^th February 2007 and see the Hollard Shelby Can-Am Racing series in action!

Top 5 Drivers of the 2006 Championship.

Ruan Pretorius – Shelby Can-Am Racing Champion 2006 – Ruan will race in the Polo class this year in the WesBank Super Series.

Neil Lobb (DK Woodcraft) – Shelby Can-Am Racing 2^nd Overall for 2006 – Neil is the only driver in Shelby Can-Am history that had the honor of wining the Championship twice, and has never been lower than third overall – this year he will run with the number 2, but also will take part in the in-house “Master Championship” for over 50’s and he will go all out to win all the Championships that Shelby Can-Am offers.

Donavan Roscoe (Stanley Tools) Shelby Can-AM Racing 3^rd overall for 2006 – Donavan has been third overall for two years in a row and would love nothing more then to win the 2007 Overall Championship. This 33-year old is determined to give his all this year and show the rest of his mates how it is done!

Darryn Lobb (DK Woodcraft) Shelby Can-Am Racing 4^th Overall for the season – This 23-year old youngster last year lost 3^rd place by 9 points in only his third year of racing Shelby’s, and will no doubt like to have a better racing year – with lots of racing talent and skill we surely will see some exiting racing from him.

Jean-Paul Bredenhann (Chemspec) - Last year’s find of the season – 5^th overall in only his second season - this very talented driver from Pinetown will no doubt give his all for 2007.