Championship leader Gennaro Bonafede (#32 Sasol BMW GTC) heads to East London keen to add to his three race wins out of four starts so far in 2017. Jozi driver Bonafede won the first two races at Killarney and took the first race at Kyalami and will want to expand on his handy 41-point title advantage. Gennaro’s Sasol BMW teammate Robert Wolk has endured a bit of a baptism of fire on his return to top flight racing and he’ll be looking for a good points haul from his #41 BMW GTC.
Engen Extreme Audi #38 driver Simon Moss has enjoyed a solid season so far to sit a rather lonely second in the championship chase and the Port Elizabeth youngster will be keen on a home province victory. Simon however first has to beat his teammate to do that and it goes without saying that Port Elizabeth’s defending Sasol GTC champion Michael Stephen will be out to make good after a tough start to the season.
Michael’s #1 Engen Extreme Audi has had more than its fair share of issues so far this season, but when its run right, his A3 has won and Stephen will be more than keen on a problem free weekend for his Terry Moss Racing-run machine. Stephen sits well down in fifth in the championship race and the Port Elizabeth mechanical engineer has one mission in mind and that’s to make sure he turns his season around – starting in East London.
Factory Volkswagen GTC pilot Matthew Hodges was the overall winner at Kyalami last time out and the Johannesburg driver is keen to keep propelling his number 57 Jetta up the championship standings from his current fourth position, two places clear of teammate, reigning GTC2 champion and top class rookie Daniel Rowe, who has shown great promise in the #11 Jetta so far. Daniel is another Port Elizabeth driver keen to add a few podium positions to his championship score.
One driver punching above his championship weight is multiple SA race champion Johan Fourie, who has muscled his privateer #14 EPS Couriers BMW GTC into third in the championship race off a positive season so far. Michael van Rooyen was happy to bounce back off a dreadful season start to leave Kyalami on a positive foot and he’s looking forward to the prospect of further progress at East London in his #95 Rustenburg Steel Construction BMW GTC.