Once again Shelby Can-Am will provide support action at South Africa’s A1GP event. As at previous events, these colourful Nissan V6 powered sports cars are bound to impress fans and provide two action packed races. A feather in Shelby Can-Am’s cap is that the Sunday race takes place between the two A1GP races. 

This year the event is known as A1GP Gauteng and will take place at Kyalami, a track which drivers are familiar with. Last year fans at the Durban event were more than impressed with the Shelby Can-Am cars, which, despite being a handful around the hairpin, were fast and spectacular over the bumpy surface.  

Reigning Champion Rui Campos (Hugo Boss), a thoughtful and determined driver if ever there was one, won’t be having everything his own way. 

Last year he worked hard to fend off repeated challenges from Chris Hart and Alan Eve and was a model of consistency as he eventually took the title by 40-points. After a strong second half of the season Jennifer Murray came on strong and snatched the runner-up spot at the last race to end the year one point ahead of Chris Hart.   

Sadly neither Murray nor Hart will be on the grids this year. Murray’s sponsor elected not to continue, while Plettenberg Bay based Hart is concentrating on a new business venture. But the entry for the two races at Kyalami is impressive and only the foolish would try predicting a winner. 

2007 champion Darryn Lobb (DK Woodcraft) will be on the grid as will 2006 champion Ruan Pretorius, both of whom are determined to make the most of the event. “Twice we supported the A1GP in Durban and it’s a wonderful opportunity to race in front of a big crowd. The exposure will be great for the series as well as the drivers and I’m looking super forward to it again!” explained Lobb who raced and won the first two Shelby Can-am events of last year before switching to a Nissan 350Z in Production Cars. 

Having completed university studies Ruan Pretorius made a comeback late last year and scored a fine second place at the final round to show he hasn’t lost any of his competitiveness or determination. 

Former Formula GTI racer Alan Eve (Phakisa) was a contender last season, but slipped out of contention as the season entered the final stages. Eve has been competing at national championship level for almost two decades and is still hungry for a win. 

Kwa-Zulu Natal driver Guy Botterill joined the championship battle late and scored a sensational win on his way to sixth in the points log. He’s a tough competitor and determined to score a good result at Kyalami.  

Brian Algar (Thuthuka Welding)can be described as a ‘sensible’ driver. He rarely puts a wheel out of line, but when he does you can bet it’ll be spectacular and although he’s been a regular visitor to the podium, the top step has always eluded him. 

Sean Greve (Vulcania Reinforcing) is one of those quietly determined racers who is often knocking on the door for a win. When he does finally score his overdue maiden win, it will not come as a surprise  

Dave Beattie (DURA)has heaps of racing experience behind him. He’s always a threat, especially as he enjoys the technical nature of Kyalami so it won’t be a surprise to see the Dura sponsored car up amongst the leaders.  

In his first season of Shelby can-Am racing, former Porsche racer Thomas Reib (Intertrans Oil) put in a huge effort to get on pace and was rewarded with a well-judged and popular victory at Zwartkops. 

Dutch racer Bertil Hofmann had some good outings in the IOU Music backed car last season. Being based in Cape Town has its disadvantages in that most races require an away trip, but with a season under his belt you can expect to see him fighting for top six placings this year.   

Colin Frost has done just about everything possible for sports car racing in South Africa. His company Strocam Engineering made gearbox parts as well as drive shafts and even complete chassis. He’s also been on the committee for longer than most competitors have been racing and although he’s a hard competitor, he races for pleasure. 

From Durban Sun Moodley (Big Foot Express) made his racing debut at Kyalami last year and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Without fuss, he simply got on with the job of going faster each time he drove the car and he ended the year 12^th in the championship with only a solitary non-finish behind his name. Hanno Pengilly is another driver who only started racing last year, but a heavy workload ensured he had little time for testing and often his Friday practice sessions were disrupted by urgent office matters.  

Craig Shorter’s (Execuline) 2008 season was interrupted by corporate matters, but when he did race, it was with great enthusiasm. 

Richard Wood is one of the old men of sports car racing in South Africa. After racing karts he joined the Sports 2000 series some 15 years ago. His mechanical mind saw him play an important role in the technical development of the series in its formation years. Trevor Frost is a part time racer who is on the grid to, as he puts it, enjoy the competition. Business pressure ensures that he seldom contests a full season.  

‘Rocket’ aka Harry Roscoe comes from an off-road racing background where he’s survived driving Sandmaster buggies over cliffs in Lesotho. As one of motorsport’s elder statesmen, he says it keeps him young and (in)sane. 

Former 250cc Superkart champion Veron Pappas raced Shelby Can-Am in 2005, ending the year seventh in the championship with two wins under his belt. He will be in the car raced by Murray last year and could very well be fighting at the sharp end of the field. 

Former kart racer JP Bredenhann (Panel Rite) has previous experience of Shelby Can-Am machinery having finished eighth in the 2007 championship despite missing almost half the season.

Making his Shelby Can-Am debut is Capetonian historic racing enthusiast and Porsche Challenge racer Rudi Patoir. He scored an important win at the recent David Piper Historic event at Killarney. 

All though it is a non-championship event, the races on Saturday and Sunday are bound to be packed with action as there’s a lot of prestige at stake.