The inaugural GTC SupaCup round for 2020 saw debutant Jeffrey Kruger and reigning GTC2 Champion Brad Liebenberg trade hard-fought wins at Zwartkops Raceway last weekend (August 7-8).
Saturday morning’s Qualifying session saw Liebenberg (Volkswagen Motorsport) continue his late-Practice Day pace to take the Dunlop Pole Position ahead of Jeffrey Kruger (Universal Racing) who occupied the position consistently on Friday.
Jonathan Mogotsi (Volkswagen Motorsport) topped the timesheets for most of the session and lined up in third place. Saul Hack (Team Perfect Circle) set the pace in Friday’s early two sessions and completed the top-four who were covered by just over a quarter of a second. Shaun Duminy (SMD Exotics) and Andre Bezuidenhout (Team Perfect Circle) completed the top-six with Manogh Maharaj (SMD Exotics) setting the seventh-fastest time.
Although entered, Johan de Bruyn (OdorCure) did not participate this weekend while recovering from an operation prior to the event.
In Race 1, Liebenberg took the lead off the line but Kruger had the inside-line heading into Turn 2 to move into the front. The pair continued their cat-and-mouse battle for the duration of the race with Kruger taking the first win in the new class. Mogotsi set the maiden lap-record during the race and tailed the pair over the line to complete the podium.
Hack finished in fourth place while further back, Duminy held off Bezuidenhout for fifth place. Maharaj completed the field.
In Race 2, Liebenberg again made a good start and held the lead into the second sector of the opening lap. The opening laps saw the frontrunning trio opening up a slight margin over Hack. Liebenberg set the fastest lap of the race on his way to his maiden win, dominating over second-placed Kruger who had to fend off attacks from Mogotsi in third; his second third-place finish of the day.
Hack and Duminy repeated their respective fourth and fifth places. Bezuidenhout was closely-pursued by Maharaj to sixth place.
With South African motorsport being a recent addition to activities allowed under the Risk-Adjusted Strategy, some aspects around the remainder of the 2020 calendar are yet to be finalised. The next round of the GTC SupaCup is provisionally scheduled for September 26 with the venue still to be confirmed.
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