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Lots of action at Zwartkops
Zwartkops Raceway near Pretoria will host round five of the 2010 Pro Tour circuit racing series on Saturday 26 June.
The blend of national, regional and club championship contingents will bring six racing disciplines to the venue, plus an additional guest category adding up to a 16-race programme of events.
Top billing on the day will go to the Shelby CanAm sports prototype category, expected to produce both thrills and spills within the tight confines of the 2,4 kilometre circuit. Going to Zwartkops, 2008 champion Rui Campos (Hugo Boss Shelby) tops the year's title chase, marginally ahead of Guy Botterill (Yato Shelby) and Alan Eve (Phakisa Shelby). Any of these three drivers can win races at Zwartkops, as could Brian Algar (Thuthuka Shelby), Bertil Hofmann (GP Shelby), Thomas Reib (Jägermeister Shelby) and Neil Lobb (Vulcania Shelby). Others to watch will include Andrew Strike (Strike 1 Shelby), Hanno Pengilly (Azura Shelby), Greg Walker (Indy Oil Shelby), Doug MacDonald (Fantastic Shelby) and Ferdi van Niekerk (Shelby CanAm).
The meeting's closest competition should be provided by the Midas Formula Ford category, where four young Turks will continue fighting tooth and nail for this year's title lead. They will be Robert Wolk (Midas Mygale), Matthew Merton (Matsam Mygale), Wesleigh Orr (Teague Van Diemen) and Jayde Kruger (First Freight Mygale). All four drivers have won races this season and predicting winners at Zwartkops would best be left to the brave of heart. Behind the top four, Werner Scholtz (Investchem Mygale), James Temple (GWM Mygale), Nicholas van Weely (Anglorand Van Diemen) and Ernie vd Walt (Daly Van Diemen) should fight to round out the top six placings.
The Altech GT Challenge races will see an awesome display of delectable sports cars being driven around Zwartkops as their designers intended. Charl Joubert and his incredibly quick Lotus Exige should win the overall and Class A races both times, but will be in for some serious opposition from Vernon Bricknell's Porsche GT2. Behind them, Class B should provide the best spectacle, topped by a dice between Franco Scribante (Ferrari 430) and Pieter Joubert (Lotus Elise). Their closest challengers should include Ferrari drivers Jeremy Pougnet, Nic Chapman, Gerald Chapman and Nicky Dicks, plus the Porsche brigade of Sun Moodley, Rod Cole-Edwardes and Jon Wilson.
With close to 40 entries, the Red Square Kawasaki ZX10R Masters Cup races will provide an excellent spectacle. The man to beat will be Gavin Lightfoot (Execuline), with his closest rivals Carl Liebenberg (Calberg), Jannie Stander (Insane), Bradley Stark (Stark), Pieter de Vos (Jonnesway) and Chris van Vuuren (G&D Services).
The Goldwagen Challenge races will also boast more than 40 entries and close racing. Eddie Rodrigues (Eurodrive Polo) will lead the Class A fight from George Economides (Wealth Avenue Golf I) and Derick Smalberger (Sabertek Polo). Quentin Thompson (Thompson's VW Golf I) will be the man to beat in Class B, with Jannie van Rooyen (Goldwagen Golf I) and Peter Thompson (Thompson's VW Golf II) the most likely people to do so. Teenager Charl Smalberger (Remconix Golf I) will lead Class C from Giles Darroch (J&K Golf I), while Wouter Roos (Performance Polo) and Jakes Jacobs (Goldwagen Polo) are tied for points at the top of the Class P log.
Rounding out the day's activities will be two Altech Porsche Club 924 Challenge handicap races. Top drivers include current champion Paul Moss (Comcorp), Mark Harvey (Cornerhouse) and Melt Malan (Kilimani). Theoretically they should all cross the finish line simultaneously.
Warm-ups commence at 8 am on Saturday morning and racing starts at 10 am. Gate price is R60 for adults, R30 for students and under 12s are free.
