THE Engen Volkswagen Cup racers do battle at East London’s circuit on Saturday, June 11, when they contest round four of the national championship for Volkswagen Polo Vivo race cars. This event is the mid-point of the 2015 season and their third race meeting in a row at a coastal circuit.
Heading in to the mid-season event, it is Sheldon van der Linde (1 – Champion) who leads the championship. Van der Linde is 15 points in the lead after the first three rounds having won the first three races of the season.
Since though he has come under pressure from Mathew Hodges (M1 – Makopano / Phoenix Signs / 959 Panelbeaters) who has won twice, Daniel Rowe (2 – Ferodo) has claimed a race victory, as has Chris Shorter (33 – Hollard).
Van der Linde remains the most successful of the competitors as he has missed a podium result only twice this season.
While Van der Linde has to keep an eye on his rearview mirror where Hodges seems to be especially focused on closing the gap, the real battle is the one for third place in the series.
Here Rowe, Matt Shorter (11 – Champion) and Bland are fighting with just three points between them – all vying to claim that third podium spot in the series. As the season moves past the halfway mark, every single point is going to be critical.
Watching the boys fighting it out will afford Tasmin Pepper (31 – PG Glass) a chance to bide her time and select the perfect opportunity to pounce. Pepper is currently sixth overall with just three points separating her from both Bland and Shorter – a carefully chosen moment could see Pepper move from sixth to fourth in one moment.
Hodges is not only second overall in the championship, he’s also the lead Master. Bland holds second in this category in addition to his fifth spot in the overall championship, with the pair showing just how much of a threat the Masters racers are to the younger competitors this season. Juan Gerber (M8) rounds out the top three in the Masters and is also amongst the top 10 overall.
The Engen Volkswagen Cup competitors will wow the East London race fans with their tough racing style and dramatic action. The Engen Volkswagen Cup championship has proved a long-time favourite with race fans thanks to the door-to-door racing and there is the promise of plenty of that happening when the series competes in East London on Saturday.