THE Engen Volkswagen Cup series is best-known for delivering on enthusiastic driving performances from competitors eager to grab any advantage in their search for track position and championship points. Round five at Phakisa Freeway in Welkom, Free State on Saturday was no different.
Duvall Maritz (25) was an early casualty when he hit the barrier during Friday practice, ending his race weekend early.
On race day, the first race saw Andrea Bate (37 – Monroe Racing) involved in an incident with Christopher Shorter (33 – Hollard Insurance) – who then was involved in an incident with Mathew Hodges (M3 – ITR Africa / 959 Panelbeaters) that saw them both sidelined for the rest of the race.
In that first race it was championship leader Daniel Rowe (11 – Ferodo Racing) that led the field from start to finish, with Dewald Brummer (2 – MAD Racing / Grand Prix Models) climbing from a fourth place start to take second spot. Sheldon van der Linde (16 – Ferodo Racing) also climbed the order starting in fifth and finishing in third.
The second race saw Michael Gibson (21 – Grand Prix Models) claim his first pole position start, having qualified in the top six and taking the top spot in the lucky draw. The front row of the grid is a pressure cooker for the inexperienced and it was no surprise when the series’ predators pounced and Gibson was slowly forced down the order. For championship leader Rowe, race two saw him forced off the track and he crashed through a barrier in lap eight of the 10 lap race.
This left the race open to Van der Linde and Brummer for first and second with Masters racer Trevor Bland (M6 – PG Glass / Suburban Panelbeaters) taking third place and Gibson in fourth.
Overall race day results put Van der Linde at the top of the table with Brummer in second and Bland taking third place. In the championship standings, Rowe remains the series leader, but Van der Linde now trails by just five points with Brummer in third place 15 points back. Bland is now the leading Masters competitor with Hodges slipping back to second place and Juan Gerber (M8 – Haupt Racing) holds on to third spot.
Matt Shorter (33 – Hollard Insurance) received the Driver of the Day award on his debut in the Engen Volkswagen Cup series. A first race day, his 15th birthday, the award and his seventh overall finish – beating his brother Christopher Shorter in the process – clearly made for a good race day in the Free State.
Round six of the Engen Volkswagen Cup championship will lead the national competitors to Zwartkops Raceway on Saturday, 30 August, for another round of action-packed racing.
Results:
Race 1
1. Daniel Rowe (11 – Ferodo Racing)
2. Dewald Brummer (2 – MAD Racing / Grand Prix Models)
3. Sheldon van der Linde (16 – Ferodo Racing)
Race 2
1. Sheldon van der Linde (16 – Ferodo Racing)
2. Dewald Brummer (2 – MAD Racing / Grand Prix Models)
3. Trevor Bland (M6 – PG Glass / Suburban Panelbeaters)
Masters
Race 1
1. Trevor Bland (M6 – PG Glass / Suburban Panelbeaters)
2. Juan Gerber (M8 – Haupt Racing)
3. Shaun Holtzhausen (M9)
Race 2
1. Trevor Bland (M6 – PG Glass / Suburban Panelbeaters)
2. Juan Gerber (M8 – Haupt Racing)
3. Shaun Holtzhausen (M9)
Overall
1. Sheldon van der Linde (16 – Ferodo Racing)
2. Dewald Brummer (2 – MAD Racing / Grand Prix Models)
3. Trevor Bland (M6 – PG Glass / Suburban Panelbeaters)
Championship points:
1. Daniel Rowe (11 – Ferodo Racing)
2. Sheldon van der Linde (16 – Ferodo Racing)
3. Dewald Brummer (2 – MAD Racing / Grand Prix Models)