A1 Race 1 - Durban
 - 25 February 2008
 


Photo: Steve Wicks

Rui Campos had his biggest moment of glory when he put in an impressive lap to claim the all important pole position for the first of two Execuline Shelby Can-Am races taking place over Durban’s A1GP weekend. The 3.5 litre V6 Nissan powered cars were impressive as they recorded top speeds of almost 210 km/h to lap narrow bumpy streets at less than 15 seconds slower than the pace setting A1GP machinery.   

Driving the Hugo Boss backed car Campos was only 3/100ths of a second faster than reigning champion Darryn Lobb (DK Woodcraft). Lined up on the second row were Craig Shorter (Execuline) and Alan Eve (Hugo Boss) as Jennifer Murray (Execuline) and Peter Bailey (TDF) completed the top six.  

There was drama on the warm-up lap of the opening race when poor Donovan Roscoe (Spanjaard) was squeezed into the wall and the race was postponed until after the A1GP qualifying. 

It turned out to be worth the wait. Campos held onto the lead from the start but halfway round the lap the order had changed and Lobb was ahead with Eve keeping them honest.  

At the sharp end of the field the lead changed many times a lap with the most popular passing places being the hairpin after the start and the tight right-hander at the swimming pool complex. On lap three Eve took advantage of the infighting and enjoyed half a lap at the front. 

Neil Lobb (Vulcania Reinforcing) spun at the corner coming onto the main straight after a moment with Colin Frost (Strocam) and only just managed to keep it away from the wall and was able to rejoin. 

Out front the lead was still changing a couple of times a lap with Eve a few lengths back and waiting for either of the leading pair to make a mistake. It was a tactic that almost paid dividends. 

On lap eight Campos suffered a suspension breakage at turn three and Hanno Pengilly met with a rather solid piece of concrete and the red flags came out to end proceedings.  

With results being taken at the end of the last full lap completed Lobb was declared the winner from Campos and the consistent Eve. A great battle for the next positions was resolved in favour of Shorter, who grabbed fourth ahead of Brian Algar (Firedart) and Frost as Murray claimed seventh.
Brynn

All the activity has left me broken!

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