Closest ever finish
 - 11 October 2010
 
Shelby Can-Am produced a finish seldom seen in motorsport when Darryn Lobb pipped Guy Botterill by a mere 5/100ths of a second to win a thrilling second race at Phakisa.

Lobb, the reigning champion, has had what can only be described as a character building year as budget problems have seen him miss a few rounds. At this race, he stood in for Hanno Pengilly who was unable to race due to business commitments.

With only three points separating the top four drivers, there was everything to go for and it was Lobb who fired the first salvo by qualifying over a second faster than anyone else to claim pole from Sean Greve (Sunoco).

Guy Botterill (Yato Tools) and championship leader Brian Algar (Thuthuka Welding/Etana) were on row two with former champion, Rui Campos (Hugo Boss) and Thomas Reib (Jägermeister) making up the top six.

Lobb won the first with Botterill the runner-up, having managed to keep a safe distance ahead of Algar who had his work cut out fending off numerous challenges from Campos throughout the race.

Greve’s chances of a good result disappeared in shower of stones as a brake balance problem dispatched him into the gravel at turn three on lap two while holding fourth place. That left Reib to claim fifth ahead of Bertil Hoffman (GP Energy Drink).

Also at turn 3, Neil Lobb (Strike1) and Doug Macdonald (Fantastic Racing) came together and retired to the pits. “He just didn’t see me and turned in … I honestly thought he was giving me room,” said Lobb afterwards.

Ferdi van Niekerk (Duo Plus Modems) and newcomer Justin Allison (GF Plastics) had a ferocious scrap and finished in that order after their sparring partner Greg Walker (Indy Oil) spun out of the battle just before the end.

Race two saw Campos lead until a gearbox problem two laps from the end gave the lead to Botterill with Lobb hot on his heels. Lobb sensed an opportunity and the pair came onto the pit straight for the final time side by side, but Lobb had just enough drive to win by a wheel.

Campos held onto third and watched the finish from a few car lengths back, the trio being well clear of fourth placed Greve. Having spun in sympathy with Hoffman on lap four Algar was a distant fifth with former kart star Allison rounding off the top six after a good debut.

Reib went out early as did Macdonald as Hoffman and Lobb completed the top ten after both had various problems.

The final round of the Shelby Can Am championship takes place at Kyalami on 13th November.