The fourth round of the 2016 Comsol VW Challenge takes place at Zwartkops Raceway on Saturday, 21 May. Around 40 vehicles, spread across three categories, should take to the circuit to do battle in one of South Africa’s longest running saloon car racing series.
One third of the way through the season the class A battle has developed into a three-way fight between Rory Atkinson (Comsol Polo), Tasmin Pepper (Campos Transport / Alpine Motors Polo) and Waldie Meintjes (LTR / Marty’s Body & Spray Polo). Atkinson and Pepper have both won two races this season and are separated by just a single point at the head of the championship log. Meintjes, who was the overall winner when the series visited Zwartkops in March, is just six points behind Pepper.
The class A entry list for the Zwartkops round contains a couple of new additions. Stiaan Kriel will be making his first competitive appearance in his Imperial Select Polo while Charl Smalberger is slated to drive the Sabertek Beetle normally piloted by his father. They will join James Hurley (The Starter Pack Company Polo), Iain Stevenson (Comsol Polo), Wayne Crous (King Price Insurance Polo) and Gavin Ross (Norbrake Polo) in trying to stop the leading trio.
In class B Darren Nathan (Sextrader Polo) is the man to beat. He has won five of the six races held this season and leads the class B and overall championship logs by 15 points from reigning champion Nic Clarke (Central Technical Services Polo). Brad Hall (Hellermann Tyton Racing Polo) and Adrian Wood (Laserfische Polo) are their closest challengers with the Stewart brothers, Daine and Mile, in their RCS Security Services Polos, not far behind.
Graham Savage (Goldwagen JHB CBD and Wynberg Golf) and Elke van Vledder (Golf) look set to resume their battle at the head of the class C field although Stuart Mack (Goldwagen JHB CBD and Wynberg Golf) and the father and son pairing of Wouter and Luan Roos, in their Nathan’s Motorsport Polos, will be looking to join them in the fight for the class win.
Due to the number of entries qualifying has been split. The class C cars will go out for their 15-minute session at 09h55 on Saturday morning while classes A and B will have a combined session at 10h15. The first race of the day will also be split with class C taking to the circuit at 13h35. The faster class A and B cars will follow them out at 13h55. All three classes should be on track for their second race of the day at 17h15.