One thing is for certain, if you are looking for excellent entertainment on Spring Saturday 3 September, then a trip to Killarney to witness the next battle in the Bold Marine Western Cape GTi Challenge war would be close to, if not on top of the list. The closest and most competitive form of racing in the Province, you can trust the lads of the GTi Challenge to put on a show worth every cent of that entrance fee all on their own.
Class A is reserved for the fastest cars in Challenge – powered by modified 16-valve engines with a maximum of 142 kilowatts and endowed with the brakes and suspension to match at a minimum race mass of 1070kg, these top class cars circulate Killarney in the 1 minute 25-second bracket and make no mistake – there may not be too many of them, but here’s no love lost between the title protagonists.
Old rivals Jano van der Westhuizen (Kwikfix/Bessie Bester Polo) and Nian du Toit (Cash Cars Jetta) are set to once again fight it out, split by just two championship points at the head of the class log. Never however ignore Mario Roux (Sprayteq Autobody Jetta 2) from the top class action, while we hear that Cape Town’s Polo Cup star Umpie Swart is working flat out to have his Alpine Autohaus Polo ready to take on his hometown rivals in their own back yard.
Only a short head behind and delivering the closest possible battle for class title honours, the Class B tussle will see six drivers swapping paint in their efforts to come out on top. Challenge Class B cars must weigh over 980kg and be powered by maximum 115kW 2-litre 8-valve engines capable of lapping Killarney in the 1 minute 27-second bracket.
Eden Thompson currently tops the ever-changing class table in his white Mk.1 Golf GTi, with Scotty Hayes (Jetta 2) now having jumped into second with Jacques Geldenhuys’ Ferroli Golf 2 in third from Peet van der Walt (PSW Sport Polo Classic), Shane du Toit’s Golf 2 and Damien Lopez (Cape Refractory & Servco Polo Classic). The likes of Cash Cars GTi 1 men Herman Lazarus and Roelf Tolman and rookies Wayne Field (Coetzee’s Coachworks Golf 2) and Silvermoon Racing dad Norman (Polo) and son Earl Joseph (Golf) are also all ready to pounce if any of the top men dare put a foot wrong.
Class C is however where the most frantic Bold Marine GTi Challenge action goes down for a variety of reasons. Class C cars are powered by a 1.8-litre 8-valve engine limited to 95 kilowatts and the car must weigh more than 950 kilograms, but still they lap Killarney in a quite astounding 1-minute 30 seconds. And to stir up the pot, the top Class C cars generally find themselves among the tail end of the Class B pack, so it’s quite frantic back there.
Then add the fact that the Brat Pack is growing in number by the meeting – and that most of the newcomers appear to be refugees from Class A and other higher classes and things become even more interesting. Class C also sees its top two drivers leading the Bold Marine GTi Challenge championship overall, as Bryan Morgan (Greatsoft Payroll Golf 1 GTi) and arch rival Ebrahim Levy (Jive/Ebrahim Levy Golf 1 GTi) do battle at the top of the log.
Morgan leads Levy by 20 points, but Ebrahim had to carry 40 kilos worth of ballast in lieu of dominating the previous races last time out, which weight will now transfer to Bryan’s car, so as it happens in Challenge, there’s about to be another shake-up at the front of the class.
Then add those former Class A drivers – both of them ex-Class C champions – Marco Busi (Automan Polo) and and Spongebob Chris Swart’s Golf 1 GTi to the mix, spice it up with a horde more Golf 1 GTis wielded by the likes of Jarred Simpson (Greatsoft), Gideon Serfontein (Goeie Hoop Onderdele), 15-year old Giordano Lupini (Monroe/Bakkie & Car), Dillon Jeary (Lucan Racing) and it all becomes quite explosive.
Class C regulars Dillon Joubert (Powder Coating World/TAC Steel), Gert du Plessis (Cash Cars), Francois Erasmus (QTech/Modjects) and Alfie van Zyl (PSW Union Signs) are always part of the mix, while experienced Challenge newcomer Jaco Lambert can be expected to add even more interest to an already well-charged spectacle
The Bold Marine GTi Challenge will be one of the highlights among a thrilling Spring Day Wingfield Motors Flower Power Series round on Saturday 3 September. Find the circuit on Potsdam Road, Milnerton – see you at Killarney!