Motorsport Preview: Eastern Cape goes extreme

Officially, the event will be headed by two races for Global Touring Cars, where two local heroes should fight for victories. Simon Moss (All Power Audi A3) and Daniel Rowe (VW Motorsport Jetta) look the main contenders on a circuit where both their teams test, giving them a definite hometown advantage.

Those who could interfere with their rivalry must include Keagan Masters (VW Motorsport Jetta), Johan Fourie (EPS Couriers BMW), Robert Wolk (Chemical Logistics BMW), Michael van Rooyen (Gazoo Toyota Corolla) and Tschops Sipuka (All Power Audi A3).

Bradley Liebenberg (VW Motorsport Golf GTI) must be the man to beat in the GTC2 category, chased by people like Charl Smalberger (Universal Health Golf GTI), Adrian Wood (Kyocera Golf GTI) and Paul Hill (Kalex Ford Focus ST).

Reigning champion Jeffrey Kruger (Universal Health Polo) will be favourite in the Falken Polo Cup races. His closest challengers should include Darren Oates (Total Excellium Polo), Keegan Campos (Campos Transport Polo), Jurie Swart (Alpine Autohaus Polo), Jason Campos (Turn 1 Insurance Polo), Matt Shorter (Monroe Polo), Clinton Bezuidenhout (Glyco Engines Polo) and Stiaan Kriel (Motor Mart Polo).

The Investchem Formula 1600 races should see championship leader Scott Temple (Road To Race Mygale) facing off against Nicholas van Weely (Magnificent Paints Van Diemen), Andrew Rackstraw (RDSA Mygale), Siyabonga Mankonkwana (Investchem Mygale), Tiago Rebelo (TRMS Mygale), Andrew Schofield (Investchem Mygale), Alex Gillespie (ERP Trucking Mygale) and Gerard Geldenhuys (Abacus Divisions Mygale).

Two-wheeler enthusiasts can look forward to races for both 1 000cc Superbikes and 600cc motorcycles. In the Superbike class Clinton Seller (King Price Yamaha R1) will face a stiff challenge from riders like David McFadden (RPM Centre Yamaha R1), Lance Isaacs (Supabets BMW S1000RR), Garrick Vlok (Yamaha R1), Byron Bester (Hi-Tech Yamaha R1), Hayden Jonas (WP Motors Yamaha R1) and Dylan Barnard (Yamaha R1).

Blaze Baker (King Price Yamaha YZF600) should be the man to beat in the 600cc class, taking on riders like Kewyn Snyman (MCM Cooling Yamaha YZF600), Jared Schultz (ASAP World Yamaha YZF600) and Ricardo Otto (Yamaha YZF600).

Backing the national events will be two races for Eastern Cape Regional Modified Saloon Cars, with frontrunners in the 35-car field expected to include Gordan Nolan (ITTS VW Polo Turbo), Aldo Scribante (Scribante Concrete Audi S4), Silvio Scribante (Scribante Concrete Audi S4), Kean Barnard (HR Focus Lotus Seven), George Economides (Wealth Avenue Golf Turbo) and Warren Oats (VW Golf Turbo).

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