SuperHatch Race Report – 12 August 2017 – SASOL Race Day @ Zwartkops Raceway
The 6th round of the autObarn SuperHatch Championship was held at a sunny Zwartkops Raceway as part of the Sasol Race Day. With the championship battle heating up, all the usual suspects were in attendance and ready to give it all. We also saw two new competitors entering the field – Nathan Lizemore made his debut in a VW Golf, and John Lange brought his beautiful Fiesta ST that he bought only the week before as a road-legal car.
Qualifying
As always qualifying was the first order of the day, but the session was red-flagged after Vernon Stoltz’ Kadett broke the gearbox which sent him off the track and into the wall at turn one. The super-efficient team of marshals got the track cleared in no time, and at the end of the session, Jono du Toit topped the time sheets with an impressive 1:13.250 in his TAR Honda Civic. In class B Nic Martin (RDG Opel Kadett) once again showed why he is the man to beat with a time of 1:16.241, and class C saw rookie Freddy Watkins (VW Polo) on top with a time of 1:21.788.
With the top 5 grid reversal per class from Phakisa’s finishing order, pole position was taken up by Brett Garland in his autObarn/Jonnesway/Total Honda Civic, with Chris Davison next to him in the SuperBoss. Class B saw Samuel Gerber in front in his Sand T Tuning Peugeot 206, with Zane van Zyl (Credit Guarantee Gold MK 2) lined up next to him. Vernon Stoltz managed to get his Jestik/Episerve Opel Kadett repaired, and was in pole position for class C, with Craig Priestley (Tactical Fluid Ford Laser) next to him.
The annual trek to the Free State for the annual Phakisa 200km race took place last Thursday as we hit the road to the cold, flat piece of the country where we race in this longer, but super fun race.