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Robertson second in VW Cup
Devin Robertson and Ferodo team mate Gennaro Bonafede had contrasting weekends in the fifth round of the WesBank Super Series of national championships at Phakisa Freeway in the Free State on Saturday.
While Engen Volkswagen Polo Cup championship contender Devin Robertson celebrated his recent 18th birthday with two pole positions in qualifying and followed that up with two podium finishes to keep his second place in the points standings, Bonafede (Ferodo VW Golf GTi) saw his lead in class T of the Bridgestone Production Car Championship disappear.
After qualifying second for the opening six-lap sprint race, 19-year-old Bonafede found himself side-lined after just one lap when he was hit by the Ford Focus of Shaun Duminy after the Ford's brakes failed in the hairpin before the pit straight. With just 10 minutes between the first two sprint races, Bonafede had to sit out the second race.
The team did a great job of getting his car ready in time for the 12-lap feature race, replacing a right front control arm and sub frame and panel-beating a badly bent driver's door.
Sadly, a bent shock absorber damaged in the race one crash hampered the talented youngster and he had to be content with a disappointing sixth. Title rivals Graeme Nathan (VW Golf GTi) and defending champion Gary Formato (Ford Focus) took full advantage of Bonafede's misfortune and both have now overtaken him in the championship standings.
Robertson, who missed most of Friday's free practice as he was writing matric prelims, was again out of luck with the customary draw for grid positions. Despite his two pole positions in qualifying (main title rival and defending champion Mathew Hodges was fourth and fifth), he had to start the two eight-lap races from second and third respectively on the grid, while Hodges drew pole for race one and second place for race two.
A third behind Hodges and Kosie Weyers in race one and a very close second behind Hodges in race two saw Robertson accumulate enough points to stay second in the championship behind Hodges.
The next round of the WesBank Super Series is at Zwartkops Raceway in Gauteng on 11 September.
