Sasol Raceday at Zwartkops Raceway promises much

The 2,4-kilometre venue’s annual Sasol Race Day will bring spectators a total of 16 races. Apart from being the country’s shortest main circuit, Zwartkops is generally seen as South Africa’s most spectator friendly.

That will again be the case this weekend with both the pits and pre-race paddock open to spectators on foot. Grandstand seating is free of charge and tyhere is a free taxi service to ferry visitors between the spectator areas and the pits.

Top billing for the day will belong to three Bridgestone Production Car races. After winning most of the races this year, overall championship and Class A leader Michael Stephen will start as the victory favourite in his Engen Xtreme Audi S4. His closest adversaries should be the Afrox Pirtek BMW 335i entries of Etienne van der Linde and Johan Fourie who recently outraced the Audis on all counts at Phakisa.

Stephen will also face a tough challenge from Gennaro Bonafede (Ferodo Audi S4), Melvill Priest (Meuller Sports Medicine Audi S4) and Tschops Sipuka (Engen Xtreme Audi S4).

Finally, chasing victories on Sasol race day will be of extreme importance to the Sasol Subaru team’s Hennie Groenewald. Running the Sasol sponsored Impreza WRX on his own, Groenewald could well score at least two of the day’s three race wins at Zwartkops with the layout suiting the all-wheel drive, turbocharged car down to the tarmac.

CHALLENGER. Hennie Groenewald (Sasol Subaru) will be desperate to win Bridgestone Production Car heats at Saturday’s Sasol Raceday at Zwartkops. Picture: Dave Ledbitter.

The IndyOil Volkswagen team’s veteran Graeme Nathan and Castrol MINI team’s Gavin Cronje will go to Zwartkops tied in the lead for Class T – and nothing to choose between them in terms of pace. Nathan will be supported by the IndyOil Golf of youngster Jacques Joubert, while Cronje will be backed by the similar Castrol MINI Cooper S of Lee Thompson.

Both teams have suffered with technical problems earlier this year, and both will hope for a clear run at Zwartkops.

The Castrol Ford team’s Gary Formato could provide surprises, with his Focus ST seemingly rid of its early season teething problems. He will be supported by the Castrol Focus ST entries of Garth Waberski and Niyaaz Modack.

Rounding out the field, and hoping for reliabilty will be privateers Michael van Rooyen (Williams Hunt Chevrolet Cruze) and Devin Robertson (Liqui Moly Renault Megane). Both have shown exceptional bursts of speed earlier this year, and that could agoin be the case on Saturday.

Also providing brilliant tin-top action at Zwartkops will be the Engen Volkswagen Cup contenders. The championship leader is Kosie Weyers (Engen Primax Polo) and he should start as the day’s favourite for victoery. His closest championship rivals are Mathew Hodges (ITR Africa Polo), Dewald Brummer (MAD Polo), Mark Silverwood (OKI Printing Polo) and lady racer Tasmin Pepper (PG Glass Polo).

The Masters series is led by Eddie Rodrigues (SEW Eurodrive Polo), chased by Ettiene du Toit (Zenith Design Polo) and Juan Gerber (Carfind.co.za Polo). The guest driver for the last three rounds of the series will be motoring scribe Thomas Falkiner (MotorMania Polo). Falkiner is no stranger to the track and he also knows the Zwartkops circuit well.

Racing will start at 10am, with the gates open from 7am. Admission isR80 per adults, R60 for students and children under 12 go in for free.

For more information, contact the circuit at 012 384 2299 or info@zwartkops.co.za or www.zwartkops.co.za.