Brian Algar’s
weekend of drama |
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Brian Algar’s weekend was one of those dramatic,
once in a lifetime events. It started on Friday when he was caught out by cold tyres and pitched heavily into the wall exiting the notoriously fast Damps Dip corner. Damage, although severe, wasn’t as bad as initially thought and crewman Peter Jaquet had the Etana Insurance liveried car race ready by morning. He then went into qualifying on flat spotted tyres and was surprised to line up second, only .8 seconds behind poleman and championship leader Rui Campos in the Q8 Oil backed car. Race one saw a closely fought three car battle for the lead with Campos holding station at the front for eight of the 10-laps. On the penultimate lap Algar produced a classy outbraking move to take the lead going into the first corner. “I was killing him on the brakes and worked out that I could pass him there and hold on to the flag – it worked perfectly. It’s hard to believe after what happened on Friday.” Another entertaining battle was for fifth place between local aces Greg Walker (Sunoco/Indy Oil) and Doug Macdonald in the Fantastic Racing example. Sadly this came to nought after Macdonald slithered into the side of Walker shortly before the end which dropped both of them out of contention. “At first I thought it was a 50/50 accident, but then I looked at the camera footage and I think I was more to blame,” explained Macdonald afterwards. Race two was an entertaining 45-minute endurance event combined with the GT Challenge and it was a spectacle that had the large crowd on their feet throughout the duration. Campos judged it well and claimed the Shelby win, his task made slightly easier when Alan Eve (Metal Used Spares) retired shortly after the start when his airbox exploded after an engine malfunction! Second, 13-seconds adrift was Darryn Lobb who drove the association car at the last moment and by doing so keeps his title hopes alive, although it’s a tough challenge. Macdonald put in a drive he’ll remember for a long time and third place was the result of consistency. Completing the top six were Algar and Hanno Pengilly (Azura Retreats/Sunoco Race Fuel). Next stop for South Africa’s only Sports Car championship is at Zwartkops in June. |