30 Apr DRAG RACING ROUND 3 – REVIEW
SPECTACULAR RUNS AT KILLARNEY’S FREEDOM DAY DRAGS.
Shaun Zurich and his immaculately prepared Honda Civic did not disappoint at Round 3 of the Western Province Motor Club Drag Racing series at Killarney International Raceway on Freedom Day, Saturday 27 April, with a best pass of 9.409sec at 231.86km/h.
His was in fact the only four-wheeler to break 10 seconds on the day, although a trio of Nissan GT-R supercars and two all-wheel drive Golf 7 R’s came tantalisingly close.
The star of the show however, was reigning South African Superbike Shootout champion Reece Roberts, out for only the third time on his matt-black Suzuki GSX-R1000 L7, who posted a new personal best of 8.637sec at 258.56km/h.
Not far behind him were BMW S1000 RR riders Heinrich Slamet (8.795sec at 247.59km/h) and Shakier Brenner (8.958sec at 250.73km/h).
Zurich’s time in the open Class OA for naturally-aspirated cars (the Civic has neither a turbo nor nitrous!) was well clear of Saud Bassa (Toyota Conquest), Riaan Scholtz (Nissan Exa) and visitor from Port Elizabeth Ashraf Rangasamy (Volkswagen Golf), the only drivers in this class other than Zurich to break into the 11’s.
Just as impressive were the Golf 7R’s of the open class OS for turbo-charged cars, with Alan Jacobs the top gun on 10.481sec and 211.14km/h, followed by Yaseen Ebrahim (10.646 at 207.56) and Mansoor Parker’s hissing, spitting BMW E30 on 10.892sec and 209.47.
Waghied Jappie (10.153sec at 225.54km/h), Yaseen Ebrahim (10.830sec at 211.88km/h) and Nivan Maistry (11.063sec at 213.49km/h), each in a Nissan GT-R, headed Class 6S for turbocharged six-cylinder cars.
Class 4A for naturally aspirated four-cylinder cars was won by Justin Harper in a Honda-powered Toyota MR2, with an impressive 13.0004sec pass at 170.82km/h, ahead of Lyle Africa (Honda Civic) and Isgak Allie (Ford Escort Mk1), both breaking 14 seconds on the day.
Thabied Jacobs and his Volkswagen Golf 7R aced Class 4S for force fed four-bangers with a decisive 11.116sec pass at 200.98km/h, more than two seconds quicker than either Johan van der Merwe’s CitiGolf or Brent Brookes’ Volkswagen Fox.