|
The Comsol VW Challenge competitors make their way to Phakisa Freeway for the second time this season on Saturday, 23 April for the third round of the 2016 championship.It is still relatively early in the championship but already there are some signs of what is likely to come. In class A, the battle is developing into a three-way fight between Tasmin Pepper (Campos Transport / Alpine Motors Polo), Rory Atkinson (Comsol Polo) and Waldie Meintjes (LTR / Marty’s Body & Spray Polo).  They have all taken one win this season so far but Atkinson has a slender two-point lead over Pepper on the championship log with Meintjes a further two points back. 2014 Champion James Hurley (The Starter Pack Company Polo) hasn’t had a great start to his season and will be looking to improve at Phakisa. Iain Stevenson (Comsol Polo) and Wayne Crous (King Price Insurance Polo) will both be looking to challenge the leaders as will Gavin Ross (Norbrake Polo) who missed the first two rounds due to business commitments. In class B, which should see at least 15 cars line up on the grid, reigning champion Nic Clarke (Central Technical Services Polo) and Darren Nathan (Sextrader Polo) have dominated all of the season’s races. Nathan has the class B and overall championship lead by virtue of his three race wins, Clarke just managed to get in front of him and take the other win. Behind them Brad Hall (Hellermann Tyton Racing Polo), the Stewart brothers, Daine and Mile, in their RCS Security Services Polos, together with Francois van Zyl (Jesus Saves Polo) and Adrian Wood (Laserfische Polo) are locked in battle with just three points separating the five of them. Unfortunately, a couple of class B drivers won’t be making the trip to Welkom, Jacques Smith (Hydra Arc Polo) had a huge accident while practicing at Zwartkops last week while Michael Harris (Lee Thompson Racing Polo) is recovering from an appendix operation. Graham Savage (Goldwagen JHB CBD and Wynberg Golf) took his first win at the opening round at Phakisa and followed that up with a double win at Zwartkops to take the lead in the class C championship but he is unlikely to have it all his own way this time. Elke van Vledder (Golf) is likely to lead the challenge with Stuart Mack (Goldwagen JHB CBD and Wynberg Golf) and the Roos family, father Wouter and sons Zander and Luan, in their Nathan’s Motorsport Polos almost certain to be part of the chase as well. With 16 entries on the class C list there could be a couple of others looking to challenge the leaders as well. It is an early start on Saturday morning with qualifying scheduled to take place at 07h20. The first race should get underway at 11h10 with the second at 14h20 |
