Cape Town’s favourite race series, the Western Cape Bold Marine GTi Challenge heads into the final stretch, with Killarney’s penultimate November 12 Power Series meeting leaving only four drivers in the championship frame, but three of them needing a minor miracle to pull it off.
For all intents and purposes, the title should already have been tied up, but the addition of an extra meeting on 3 December still sees Class C leader Bryan Morgan and his Greatsoft Payroll Golf 1 GTI being the combination to beat in the championship. In reality, all Morgan needs do to wrap it up is to score two solid points finishes on Saturday, but until there is no chance at all, expect Class B man Eden Thompson to give it his absolute all with his white Golf GTi, to stop Simpson from wrapping it up on Saturday.
Thompson needs to win both races on Sunday and Morgan must finish fourth or lower in both races to lose it, while two other men – Class A frontrunner Nian du Toit (Cheaper Cars Jetta 3) and Class B man Scott Hayes (Jetta 2) still have a mathematical chance of pulling off a shock title, but Morgan, who has already wrapped up the Class C championship, will need to capitulate for that to happen.
Whatever happens in the title chase, rest assured that the racing will be fraught throughout the field and with Class A showing encouraging growth once again, be warned that there will be fireworks throughout the field – even a week after Guy Fawkes Day! Jano van der Westhuizen returns to the Class A spat after missing the last race, to take on class regulars Nian du Toit, Mario Roux (Sprayteq Autobody Jetta 2) and Polo Cup star Umpie Swart (Alpine Autohaus Polo Classic).
Last race winner Kosie Weyers should be back in his Mike’s Place Most Wanted Golf 1 GTi, along with Colin Meder, who will have his brand new International Tube Technology Polo better sorted this week, while Pieter Kriel will be intent on moving his Genesis Panel Golf 1 GTi up the field and returning Spongebob Jetta duo, Chris Swart and Greig Edwards will further conspire to make the top class battlefield a most interesting one
The Class B action will be headlined by what promises to be a fraught head-to-head between title fighters Thompson, Hayes, Jacques Geldenhuys (Ferroli Golf 2 GTi), Peet van der Walt (PSW Sport Polo Classic) and Shane du Toit (Golf 2 GTi), all of whom sit within 20 championship points of each other, with 40 points still to pay. Don’t discount veteran Miguel Pasqualli, Cheaper Cars Golf duo Roelf Tolman and Herman Lazarus and do not ignore rapidly improving rookies Silvermoon Roofing’s Earl (Golf 1 GTi) and dad Norman Josephs (Polo) and Wayne Field (Coetzee’s Coach Golf 2) from this equation either.
The focus in Class C is all about second place in the championship behind the already crowned Morgan, with his Greatsoft GTi 1 teammate Jarred Simpson and Gideon Serfontein (Goeie Hoop Onderdele) Golf 1 GTI split by a solitary championship point ahead of Gert du Plessis (Cheaper Cars Golf 1 GTi). Marco Busi (Automan Polo) has rocketed up the Class championship order to sit fifth ahead of Dillon Joubert (Powder Coating World/TAC Steel Golf), Dillon Jearey (Lucan Racing).
The championship table also fails to truly reflect the Class C form book, with the likes of 16-year old Giordano Lupini (Monroe/Bakkie & Car Golf) determined to build on his recent Kyalami successes and regular winner Ebrahim Levy (Jive Armien Levy Golf) both easily capable of running in front, while Francois Erasmus (QTech-Modjects Golf), Jaco Lambert (Lambert Racing Golf) and Alfie Van Zyl (PSW Golf) are always right there too.
The Bold Marine GTi Challenge is one of the highlights of an action-packed Power Series spectacle well worth setting a Saturday aside for – why not diarise 12 November now – see you at Killarney!