A dry hot Highveld day greeted race fans for the season-opener of the South African circuit racing championships at the historic Kyalami Midrand circuit.
News and gossip abounded as production car racing teams announced their plans and team changes for the year but nothing seemed to capture the imagination of all concerned as much as the new race format.
Strategies changed and the emphasis on a fast lap time diminished as the knowledge of the new three-race format sunk in. Teams now discussed the importance of being in the fray for all three heats, with particular emphasis on double points being awarded for race 3.
Race 1
Pole sitter after qualifying was Leeroy Poulter, who pedalled his Tubular 350Z Nissan to the top spot and then straight into the race lead, which he held for only one lap. Anthony Taylor seemed to have the legs on him as he powered his Afrox BMW 335i into an unassailable lead.
Poulter struggled gamely in second place until a hard-charging Johan Fourie (Indy Oil Audi) squeezed past him on lap 4. Fourie held second with Poulter third and new Afrox BMW man, Melvill Priest fourth. Priest had a good dice, passing Stephen (Engen Audi) on lap four. Stephen, initially third, suffered brake problems and slid down to sixth. Marco da Cunha (Tubular Nissan 350Z) took advantage of Stephen's problem, finishing fifth. Seventh place went to Lee Thompson (Rough Rider BMW) who managed to outdistance Hennie Groenewald's Timken Subaru. The final runner was a beleaguered Tschops Sipuka in his Engen Audi.
Class T was more complicated: Graeme Nathan (Indy Oil VW) had too much power for the bunch, winning easily ahead of Bonafede's Ferodo VW. Formato (Nando's Ford) was initially second but slipped with a broken V-belt, which hampered his power-steering. Fourth went to the improving Michael van Rooyen (Nando's Ford) with new boy Quarmby impressing in his Interfile VW. Veteran Curt Alchin finished sixth in his brightly-liveried Bodyman VW, just ahead of the third Nando's Ford racer, Shaun Duminy.
Minor placings went to George Smalberger, Heinz Bose (both in MFC Mazdas), Esa (Asrin VW) and Modack (VW). A disappointing turn-out in class B saw a group of racers miss the season opener. Mishal Singh won the race in his BMW diesel, ahead of Gary Green in the Shell Alfa.
Race 2
The hurriedly-arranged reverse grid went smoothly and within six minutes the 2-minute board was out and all of the drivers ready for the race. The top six were inverted in each class.
Michael Stephen had a great start and showed true mettle in keeping Anthony Taylor at bay. The two battled long and hard before finishing in that order. Marco da Cunha had a good drive, staying ahead of his team-mate, Leeroy Poulter to clinch third. Fifth went to Melvill Priest ahead of a recovering Tschops Sipuka who managed to stay ahead of Johan Fourie. Hennie Groenewald and Lee Thompson reversed positions for this outing.
Graeme Nathan seemed to breeze to the front of the pack with consummate ease, reaching the lead by lap 2 and staying ahead for the full duration. He was followed over the line by Gennaro Bonafede, the youngster showing a great turn of pace. Third went to Shaun Duminy who battled gamely with team-mate Michael van Rooyen. Curt Alchin, who lost clutch pressure midway through the race held on to fifth. Sixth and seventh went to Heinz Bose and George Smalberger followed by Modack. Gary Formato, who lost power steering was unable to start the race.
After the demise of Gary Green in his Alfa midway through the race, Mishal Singh took the class B win unopposed.
Race 3
The double-points third race got away to a clean start, Anthony Taylor blasting his turbo-charged BMW into the lead, a position he held untroubled for the duration of the 10-lapper. Leeroy Poulter held station in second place, his recently-replaced gearbox holding out. He seemed destined for the runner-up position but Michael Stephen had other ideas, catching him on lap seven and squeezing through on the final tour. Melvill Priest was a victim of Stephen, whose great drive demoted Priest to fourth. Marco da Cunha was impressive, holding off Johan Fourie for six laps when the latter pitted with tyre problems. This left da Cunha to a comfortable fifth, followed home by Thompson and Groenewald.
Class T provided the surprise result of the day, Graeme Nathan led initially and looked set to romp home. Young Bonafede hounded him lap after lap before finally passing the GTI star on the last lap. Quarmby had a great drive to third, leading home Alchin, Formato and Duminy. Smalberger, Modack and Esa followed.
In class B Gary Green managed a win over Mishal Sing, the latter suffering from intermittent turbo problems.
In all, a great day's motorsport, punctuated by some good, clean racing. The season opener showed that we are in for a bumper season with closely-contested rivalries all through the field