It’s often said that once a driver scores a win, more follow quite easily. Jennifer Murray confirmed the theory when she backed up her win in East London by winning the opening Execuline Shelby Can-Am race at Kyalami on Saturday. Not only did she win, but she also started from pole and went on to take the overall prize for the day. 

Driving the Execuline supported car she lined up on the grid with Rui Campos (Hugo Boss) sharing the front row with her. Alan Eve in the other Hugo Boss entry was third ahead of South Africa’s A1GP Team Rookie driver in the Execuline backed car normally driven by Craig Shorter. Completing the top six qualifiers were Guy Botterill (Fragram Tools) and Chris Hart (Hi-Q Plettenberg Bay). 

As at the last round, Murray judged the start to perfection and was never headed until the chequered flag was waved. Campos followed, but was over four seconds adrift and had nothing but praise for her driving. “I was waiting for one little mistake, but she drove perfectly. I tried hard, but eventually decided not to risk anything and settle for the second place points. I still extended my championship lead so I’m happy,” he said. 

Sean Greve (Vulcania Reinforcing) has put in some fine performances of late and he backed them up by passing Hart for third a lap from the end after the pair had squabbled over track space for most of the race. Orr was lying fourth in the early stages but a gearbox problem forced him out after two laps. Then Eve lost fourth with a last lap incident which gave Botterill fifth as Dave Beatie (Dura) completed the top six after a good tussle with Bryant van der Merwe (Chemspec) and Thomas Reib (Intertrans). 

As is the norm at the longer circuits, race two was combined with the Altech Unlimited field so spectators were treated to the treat of Can-Am cars mixing it with Porsches of all shapes and sizes including a genuine Le Mans racer and a horde of Ferraris and other exotica in the 43 car field. With the grid based on a reverse order of fastest laps in the first race it had all the makings of a thrilling race.  

As Toby Venter and Franz Pretorius had things their own way at the front, Eve won the Execuline Shelby Can-Am race from Murray with a superb third place.  Eve got the advantage in the opening laps when Murray was held up behind the indecently fast Lotus Exige turbo of Charl Joubert. Once past she set about hunting down Eve, but he’s been around for a long time and wasn’t about to let this win slip from his grasp. “I made every corner and every lap count, it’s been a long time since I won.”

Lap three saw a nasty accident at the fast turn two between Botterill and Greve with both cars out on the spot but neither driver hurt. Murray closed up a bit as they threaded their way between the slower cars, but in the end she was just over three seconds behind Eve. It was enough to give her the overall win for the day.  

Another sensible drive from Campos saw him claim third with Hart in his turbulence. Reib put in his best performance yet as he claimed fifth ahead of the flu ridden Brian Algar (Firedart). Next home were Bryant van der Merwe and Bertil Hofmann (IOU Music).

Campos extended his narrow championship lead over Hart and with only three rounds remaining, the 2008 Execuline Shelby Can-Am is set for a thrilling end.