Pepper Racing’s Shaun La Réserveé took another Engen Volkswagen Polo Cup lights to flag win in the 2016 Engen Volkswagen Polo Cup as he sped to Race 2 victory in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, while the team’s Junior drivers Daniel Duminy and Brad Benningfield endured a tough day’s racing as they diced home 13th and 14th overall.
Durbanite La Réserveé had a difficult qualifying in the Alpine Volkswagen Pepper Racing Polo. “It was a disaster — I could only manage 9th on a damp track,” Shaun explained, before delivering a great performance in the first race. “But I was very happy with my first race as I moved up from ninth to take sixth.
“The second race was brilliant — I had a great dice with Matt Shorter and I’m really chuffed with my lights to flag victory – in fact I’d go as far as to say that it was one of my best races in the last couple of years . “I then started Race 3 in sixth and fought my way back to fourth — we got the we could maximum we could out of the car, so thanks to the guys — it’s turning out to be a pretty good year!”
Ballito youngster Daniel Duminy was delighted with another positive result with the SMD Pepper Racing Polo at the end of a weekend that had him scratching his head after practice Friday evening. But come Saturday morning the fifteen-year old put it all together to deliver his best overall result so far in 13th. “It was a a tough and character building weekend for me,” Daniel admitted. “But my team did a wonderful job — without them it would not have been the way it was.
“I also want to say thanks to everyone — all the fans and supporters — from my mom and dad to the whole team — Iain, Shane, Lee, Kevin and Richard.” Duminy, who has improved steadily since his step up to main circuit racing this year then immediately boarded a flight back to Durban, where he was due to race a KZN karting regional at iDube Sunday in preparation for the national there in two weeks time as part of his busy race schedule this year.
The weekend however went the other way for Brad Benningfield — the Johannesburg driver who is studying at Rhodes University not far up the N2 from Aldo Scribante thrilled his digs mates who came down to support him with a brilliant fifth and fourth in qualifying, but he soon discovered the harsh reality of running up front in the cutthroat world of Polo Cup racing…
“I was delighted after qualifying — I had brilliant pace and ended up fifth and fourth on the grid,” the Nashua Pepper Racing Polo pilot reflected. “But race day was tough — I was knocked around and pushed off multiple times but I still had good time behind the wheel and it is great to know I am fast. “Now I just need to learn how to stay there, so big thanks to Nashua, Pepper Racing and my dad for all the hard work and support — I’m really looking forward to making it stick next time…
“Overall we had a very good weekend,” team boss Iain Pepper concluded. “Shaun brought us another race win, Daniel showed great resolve to turn a very difficult Friday into a pretty darned impressive race day and Brad showed he has the pace to run up front — now it’s just a matter of keeping there. “We look forward to some high speed action next at East London on 9 July, where we hope to continue building on a good season so far.”