The 2008 Execuline Shelby Can-Am season is developing into a fascinating contest between veteran Rui Campos and the youthful Chris Hart. 

The previous round at East London saw Campos (Hugo Boss) take the advantage from Hart in the Hi-Q Plettenberg Bay entry but there’s only a solitary point separating them. 

Overshadowing the championship battle at the last round was Jennifer Murray’s performance. Driving the Execuline backed entry she scored her maiden national championship win. What’s more she did it in style by leading the second heat from beginning to end and setting fastest lap in the process.  

The win has moved her to third place, but only one point clear of the ever consistent and always smiling Brian Algar (Firedart).  

Rounding up the top six are Alan Eve (Hugo Boss) and Durban’s Guy Botterill (Fragram Tools), the latter having won in Cape Town. Both are hungry and Eve has a score to settle with Campos who denied him an almost certain win at Zwartkops.  

Hovering just outside the top six is Dave Beattie (Dura Soletanche Bachy). Beattie enjoys the Kyalami circuit and was runner-up in both races at the season opener there in January. 

Sean Greve (Vulcania Reinforcing) had a good run in East London to put a bit of breathing space between himself and KZN driver Bryant van der Merwe (Chemspec) who has impressed in his first season of racing. Colin Frost (Strocam) completes the top ten and is capable of mixing it in the top ten thanks to a decade in the series. He’s one of the few who’ve been around since the 2-litre Opel powered Sports 2000 days. Another driver who’s been there from the early days is Richard Wood.

Craig Shorter (Execuline) has been fast, but unlucky and could creep into the top six if Lady Luck takes a fancy to him for a change. 

Former Porsche racer Thomas Reib (Intertrans) has looked threatening and enjoys the Kyalami layout. Another driver to keep an eye on is Bertil Hofmann in the IOU Music entry who joined the series for the last Kyalami round in March. 

Sun Moodley (Bigfoot Express) and Hanno Pengilly are enjoying their first season of racing and both are looking forward to racing on a track they are familiar with.   

Former champion Ruan Pretorius returns to the fray at Kyalami and it will be interesting to see where he slots in. He’s quietly determined and could upset the plans of the championship contenders.