After an outing to Phakisa Freeway last month, the Car Care Clinic 111 Sports & Saloons drivers return to Zwartkops Raceway on Saturday, 12 May for the third round of their 2018 championship.
In class A, Neil Lobb (TVR Cimeara) returns to the fray after missing the last round and will be looking to challenge Wouter Roos (Strata Drilling VW Golf) and George Bezuidenhout (Accolade / CES Forklift Nissan Primera), who are leading the way in the championship standings. Lucas Bezuidenhout (Pretoria Noord Toyota Lexus IS200) and Harry Arangies (Stradale Racing Porsche 944 Turbo) will be joining them in the quest for class A honours.
Paul Saayman (Intercity Auto Movers VW Caddy) leads the way in class B and will be out to extend his advantage. His closest competition is likely to come from Veritie-Anne Joubert, who won the opening race at the last event before her Honda Spares Ballade let her down in the second. Justin Gordon (3D Nutrition Honda Ballade) won the season-opening race at Zwartkops and must also be considered as one of the favourites. Others who could be in with a chance include Ismail Peck (JDM Tuning Honda Civic), Rodney Norman (3D Nutrition Hinda Ballade) and Louis Cloete (SV Tech VW Beetle).
Class C has the largest entry. In the championship standings Danie Deysel (Solly’s Tyres & Mags Honda Civic) leads the way from a trio of Porsche 924s. Mark Harvey (Adapt Design & Sign) heads that three-way battle with Phillip Meyer (LSC Group) and Mark Ellis tied on points behind him. Others who should be able to run close to the head of the field include Louis Scholtz (Car Care Clinic Honda Civic), Gawie Marais (Titan Products VW Polo), Johan van der Vyver (Devlaw Subaru WRX), Rinus Pienaar (Goldwagen JHB CBD & Wynberg VW Golf), Ishmael Baloyi (Trans Africa Racing Honda Civic) and Karah Hill (Kalex VW Polo).
Almero van Eck (Taurus VW Polo) has yet to be beaten in class D this year and Craig Botha (Moto West Car Sales VW Golf), who has finished second to van Eck on each occasion, will be out to change that. Reno van Heerden (Remington VW Polo) should also be there or thereabouts with more competition coming from Greg Gossman (111 Plumbers VW Polo), Franco Di Matteo (Deltech Ford Laser), Chris Smit (Captive Porsche 924) and Clive Smith in his Porsche 924. Linda and Gerhard Henning, in their Toyota Spares supported VW Golfs, should also be in the thick of things.
Peter Kirkhoff (VW Golf) and Etienne van Vuuren (Porsche 924) will be fighting it out for class E honours.
Two new cars running under the N4 Autocraft / Elite Tents banner will be making their debut at Zwartkops, JP Nortje in a VW Polo and Corrie Volschenk in a VW Golf.
After Friday’s practice sessions, qualifying gets underway at 08h00 on Saturday morning with the first of the two 8-lap races scheduled to start at 10h40. The second race should get underway at 14h30.