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Thrilling procar races at Kyalami
Few things in life are guaranteed, but when it comes to the Bridgestone Production Car Championship, expectations of close, action-packed racing were not only met but exceeded at Kyalami this weekend.
Friday's practice sessions set the tone for the weekend, with BMW and Subaru topping the timesheets. This trend continued in Saturday's qualifying session with Hennie Groenewald (Timken Subaru WRX) setting a time one tenth of a second faster than Anthony Taylor (Afrox BMW 335i). Melvill Priest (Afrox BMW 335i) was third with Leeroy Poulter (Tubular Nissan 350Z) impressing in fourth place. The first two rows of the grid were separated by just eight tenths of a second.
Marco da Cunha (Tubular Nissan 350Z) and Michael Stephen (Engen Audi A4) took fifth and sixth places respectively, with Reghard Roets (BMW 335i) and Tschops Sipuka (Engen Audi A4) sharing the fourth row of the grid.
Johan Fourie (Indy Oil Audi A4) had a dismal qualifying session, taking ninth place. He was however faster than Dawie Olivier (Timken Subaru WRX) and Richard Pinard (Midas Lotus Exige), who completed the Class A line-up.
Groenewald was later moved to the back of the grid after making the rookie mistake of not having his Subaru weighed after the qualifying session.
The Class T qualifying was another close affair. Graeme Nathan (Indy Oil VW Golf GTI) took pole position from the charging Nando's Ford Focus ST trio of Gary Formato, Shaun Duminy and Michael van Rooyen. The top four times were separated by less than four tenths of a second.
Talented youngsters, Kieren Quarmby (Interfile VW Golf GTI) and Gennaro Bonafede (Ferodo VW Golf GTI) were next up, ahead of Nieyaaz Modack (Woodmead VW Golf GTI) and George Smalberger (First Mazda 3 MPS).
The final four runners were Nizaam Esa (Asrin VW Golf GTI), Gary Green (VW Golf GTI), Heinz Bose (MFC Mazda 3 MPS) and Curt Alchin (Bodyman VW Golf GTI).
The first race began in exciting fashion, with Leeroy Poulter getting the jump on Melvill Priest for second place before the safety car was deployed for an accident in Class T. Taylor led the pack while the circuit was cleared and when the race commenced a lap later, he sprinted into the distance to take an unchallenged victory.
Behind him, things weren't as clear cut. Poulter and Priest were embroiled in a massive tussle for second place, but by lap four, Priest had taken back the position and would hold onto it to the flag. With the podium positions sewn up early on, attention was directed toward an immense six-car midfield battle.
Da Cunha, Groenewald, Stephen, Roets, Olivier and Fourie were covered by just over a second. The positions chopped and changed every corner, leaving the teams cheering from pit lane. The dice didn't finish until beyond the chequered flag with da Cunha and Groenewald crossing the finish line side by side. Behind them, Olivier managed to pip Stephen to the line for sixth. Fourie had a great view of the photo finishes in eighth place, with Roets and Sipuka the final runners. Pinard retired with oil pressure problems.
The Class T race was one of drama. To begin with, Gary Formato started the race from pit lane in accordance with a driving standards infringement incurred in PE, but the drama didn't stop there. Contact between Nathan and Duminy saw Nathan lose control of his Golf and plough into the turn two tyre barrier with a sickening thud. The safety car was deployed in order to get Nathan to an area of safety. Fortunately, and with some credit to today's safety measures, Graeme walked away from the crash unharmed. His car however wasn't so lucky and was put into instant retirement.
When the race got back under way, Michael van Rooyen was in the lead and would not relinquish this position, taking his maiden production car class victory. Duminy finished second with Quarmby and Formato hot on his heels. Bose took a solid fifth place, keeping Bonafede's Golf at bay. Golf drivers Modack, Alchin, Esa and Green concluded the Class T placings.
The second sprint race started a few minutes later, after da Cunha frantically tried to tie up his loose exhaust pipe. It was an all-Subaru front row, with Olivier on pole and Groenewald in second. Nissan took the second row with da Cunha third and Poulter fourth. The BMWs followed with Priest and Taylor ahead of the Audis of Stephen and Fourie. Roets and Sipuka started from the fifth row.
The race began with some exciting driving from the Subaru teammates. By the end of lap one however Groenewald had got the better of Olivier and took the lead. The duo crossed the finish line in formation. It was a fantastic result for Olivier in his return to racing after a back operation.
Priest had a great start to the race and had sprinted his way into third place by the end of lap one. He held this position to the flag, defending the position from Taylor.
The midfield positions were hard fought, with Fourie eventually taking fifth place from Stephen and Sipuka. Roets and da Cunha were the finally finishers after Poulter retired on lap three.
Bonafede ran an intellectual first race, placing himself on pole position for race two. He was joined on the front row by Bose. Formato and Quarmby were next, in front of Duminy and van Rooyen. Modack and Alchin started ahead of Esa and Green.
By the end of the first lap, Formato was in the lead with Bonafede second. These positions were retained to the flag. Quarmby worked his way into third place, with Duminy getting the better of Bose. Esa managed to defend sixth position from Alchin, who struggled all weekend. Van Rooyen crossed the line in eighth, with Modack and Green the final runners.
The final race was another all BMW affair after Groenewald retired with gearbox problems. Taylor took his second win for the day ahead of Priest, concluding a brilliant weekend for Team Afrox.
Stephen eventually took third place, after Poulter was forced to pit with a puncture and Fourie slowed on the last lap with an electronic issue. Olivier retired with brake problems, leaving Sipuka to snatch up fourth place. Fourie managed to take fifth, with Roets sixth and Poulter seventh.
Formato lead from lights to flag and although Quarmby made a valiant effort, it wasn't enough to steal the victory. Quarmby settled for second, rounding out his day with three podium finishes. Van Rooyen took third place, with Bonafede having a conservative race in fourth. Duminy took fifth, ahead of Bose, Modack, Esa and Green.
Teams have a long break before the next round of the championship which will take place at Phakisa on 14 August.
Bridgestone Production Cars
Race 1 - 1 A Taylor (BMW 330i); 2 M Priest (BMW 330i); 3 L Poulter (Nissan 350Z); 4 M da Cunha (Nissan 350Z); 5 H Groenewald (Subaru).
Class T - 1 M van Rooyen (Ford Focus); 2 S Duminy (Ford Focus); 3 K Quarmby (VW Golf GTi).
Race 2 - 1 H Groenewald (Subaru); 2 D Olivier (Subaru); 3 M Priest (BMW 330i); 4 A Taylor (BMW 330i); 5 J Fourie (Audi A4). Class T - 1
G Formato (Ford Focus); 2 G Bonafede (VW Golf GTi); 3 K Quarmby (VW Golf GTi).
Race 3 - 1 A Taylor (BMW 330i); 2 M Priest (BMW 330i); 3 M Stephen (Audi A4); 4 T Sipuka (Audi A4); 5 J Fourie (Audi A4). Class T - 1
G Formato (Ford Focus); 2 K Quarmby (VW Golf GTi); 3 M van Rooyen (Ford Focus).
