Chemical Logistics Racing heads to its home 23 April second Global Touring Car Championship round at Zwartkops in full control, following a stellar performance in the Cape Town opener in March. The team is now in an even stronger position, since champion Robert Wolk had his second race Killarney penalty overturned, so he arrives in Pretoria in a strong 9-point championship lead.
Wolk took the day at Killarney with pole position, a first race win, second from the back in reverse race 2 and two fastest laps in his Chemical Logistics Toyota Corolla. Teammate Julian van der Watt won the reverse-grid second race win in his Ford Focus RS and Andrew Rackstraw bounced back from a first race retirement to stand on the second race podium on his GTC debut. All three are now ready to do even better at Zwartkops.
“Killarney was almost perfect, so we’d like to make Zwartkops perfect!” Robert Wolk promised. “Fortunately sanity prevailed at our protest hearing and the Stewards were unanimous in heir findings that I did not bump anyone. “They concur that I was rather crowded. “So my full second place points were reinstated and we take a handy advantage into Zwartkops. “Stuart and the guys have my Chemical Logistics Corolla perfectly poised and we’re looking forward to another good fight. “Bring it on!”
Julian van der Watt made it a Chemical Logistics Racing WCT Engineering double when he endured huge pressure from both Robbie Wolk and Daniel Rowe’s Golf to take a splendid second race win at home at Killarney in his Ford Focus GTC. “That result was quite flattering because we really struggled though that weekend until then. “But it has also left us in a strong early championship third position. “So we’re looking for a good, clean weekend up at Zwartkops. “I can’t wait!”
Third Chemical Logistics Racing driver, Investchem Formula 1600 champion Andrew Rackstraw is another looking for a clean weekend in Pretoria after a testing first outing en route to a solid fourth in Killarney’s race 2 in his Investchem RDSA Audi A3 GTC. Andrew took the opportunity to race in British Formula Ford in the long gap between races. “It was intense racing against the best the UK, but now the focus is squarely on a solid GTC weekend at Zwartkops, Andrew Admitted. “We are ready!”
“We had a very good weekend at Killarney, so the plan is to build on that at Zwartkops,” WCT Engineering team manager Stuart Thompson pointed out. “It’s also a great relief that Robbie got those points back. “Our competition is far more serious and it’s getting stronger by the race this year, so every single point counts. “Our cars are ready, our drivers want to win, so bring it on — Zwartkops promises to be a brilliant weekend!”
“We had a great start to the season, so now the objective is to keep that winning momentum rolling!” Chemical Logistics team principal Ian Schofield concluded. “It’s not going to be easy with Global Touring Cars growing in stature by the meeting as it is, but that’s what it’s all about. “We don’t just want to win, we want to beat the best while doing so!”
Issued by Motorsport Media on behalf of Chemical Logistics GTC Racing