22 Nov POWER SERIES ROUND 9 (FINAL) SATURDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2019 – PREVIEW
BIG NAMES ENTERED FOR KILLARNEY’S SEASON FINALE ENDURO
Cape Town – Some of the top names in local motorsport are among the entries for the one-hour Burly Pro GTi Challenge Enduro, the headline event at the ninth and final round of the 2019 Power Series sponsored by Wingfield Motors, with support from our media partner Kfm 94.5, at Killarney International Raceway on Saturday 30 November.
They include Polo Cup contender Jurie Swart and E36 Cup Rallycross star Zack Groenewald, who will be sharing the Alpine Autohaus Polo, as well as top Mikes Place Clubmans driver Colin Meder, partnered with former GTi Challenge stalwart Andrew Goslett, now better known as a tuner, in the International Tube Technologies Polo 6R.
In Class B look out for Eden Thompson, sharing his VW Jetta with former GTi Challenger Shane du Toit, as well as the George Schutte / Jaco Lambert Golf Mk1, and leading Clubmans contender Danie van Niekerk, sharing the Upstream Connect Golf MK1 with Grant Cloete.
It’s youth versus experience in Class C, as Giordano Lupini and Ebrahim Levy (CIR/La Vie de Luc/Accelerate Golf Gti) take on 2014 and 2015 Challenge champion Paul Simon, out of retirement to partner Jarred Simpson in a VW Golf.
And just in case you think motor racing isn’t a family sport, keep an eye out for Colin Smith, sharing his daughter Leigh-Anne’s VW Golf, and Carel van der Merwe, partnered in a Golf Mk1 by his mother Stephanie!
A strong entry of 39 cars for the Millstock Cars Pre 1980 and 1990 Cars & Shatterfix Fine Cars ensures close and probably robust racing, with Richard Quixley starting as favourite in Charles Arton’s indecently quick Datsun 240Z, albeit under pressure from Eric and Erik – Van der Merwe in the Lynx 944T and Mouton in his Chev De Ville.
A combined total of 27 entries for the V8 Masters and Makita Supercars promises more doorhandle-bashing action, especially from arch-rivals Marcel Angel and Fabio Tafani, with Richard Schreuder and honorary Capetonian Rui Campos to keep them honest, while Ryan McCarthy and Andrew Moffitt battle it out in the Supercar category.
This weekend’s headline motorcycle category, the RST Trac Mac Clubmans, is likely to come down to a straight fight between hotshot rookie Lubabalo Ntisana (LB Autos ZX-10R) and veteran Wayne Arendse (JJ Smith Trust ZX-10R), but will also feature a dark horse in the shape of Chris Williams, back on the Trac-Mac Ducti Panigale after a long lay-off. They’ll be contesting the podium positions with up-and-coming riders Willem Binedell (Dog Box ZX-10R) and Shaun Mackrill (GFP Lighting ZX-10R).
Likewise, teenage superstars Slade van Niekerk (Prestige/GT Graphics R3), David Lindemann (GM Contractors/Body and Fuel R3) and Jason Linaker (Samurai RC 390) are unlikely to have it all their own way, with a revived Powersport 650 class featuring David Enticott (Monza Group/AWR ER650) and Andrew Liebenberg (Calberg ER650) to keep them honest.
If Craig Jarvis can keep the Maui Motorhomes Ginetta G57 going at race pace for 10 laps, he’ll win the Pirelli Sports & GT Car races going away, but the thundering LMP2 bruiser is notoriously temperamental, which might just be the opening Dawie Joubert and the giant-killing 2.5-litre Honda powered Lotus Exige are looking for. Also in the mix will be Steve Humbles’s 45-year-old Opel engined Harp/Ravenol Mallock Mk14B, and the Juno SS3 of Sandro Biccari.
In much the same way, all Dee-Jay Booysen and the Bidvest McCarthy Toyota/Dico Suzuki RM08 have to do is finish the Formula Libre single-seater races to be assured of victory; there’s nothing in the field that can catch the RM08 for sheer speed even though it has the smallest engine in the field, a 1340cc Suzuki Hayabusa motorcycle engine.
However, look out for a serious debate over second between Dolphin Engineering team-mates Byron Mitchell (VW Forza 1.4L) and Cyril Somerville (VW Sting 1.4L) and the Yellow Capital Lantis of Hayden Ellwood.
There will also be demonstration races featuring a mixed bag of Clubmans and E36 Cup racers, each one carrying a passenger – the winners of an online competition.
Fine food and ice-cold drinks are available at the revamped, upmarket Trackside Pub and Grill, upstairs at the Clubhouse, light snacks and even colder drinks at the New Pits Lounge and the Karting Clubhouse.
Watch all the action from cameras around the circuit on TV screens on the Clubhouse Balcony and in the New Pits Lounge, then hop on the free Hyundai Shuttle and watch it live from vantage points all round the circuit.
Bring the whole family – there are pedal karts, jungle gyms and more for petrolheads-in-training, as well as nappy-changing, breast-feeding and toilet facilities, at the Clubhouse Kiddies Korner.
Gates open at 7:30am, racing begins at 10:00am. Book through Computicket at https://online.computicket.com/web/event/power_series_round_9/1350934436 or pay at the gate: Adults R80, scholars under 16 R20 and children under 12 free.