The last time the Global Touring Cars raced at Zwartkops, it proved something of a revelation as young guns came to the fore in sensational style. But it’s still the old school in control up front as Chemical Logistics duo Robert Wolk and Julian van der Watt continue to lead the championship four races and two rounds into 2022.
Now the National Extreme Festival heads to Gqeberha’s Aldo Scribante Volkswagen Races with pole man last time out, 16-year-old Saood Variawa among those out to continue proving a point to take over up front. It’s a similar state of affairs in GTC SupaCup, where another young gun, Polo Cup champion Leyton Fourie leads the way after he and fellow rookies dominated the all-VW Polo class in Pretoria.
Wolk, who has won both opening races in his Chemical Logistics Toyota Corolla GTC, and van der Watt, who took both second reverse race wins in the opening rounds in his Chemical Logistics Ford Focus RS GTC, however, hold only a tiny title advantage over Variawa’s factory Gazoo Toyota Corolla GTC en route to Gqeberha. Daniel Rowe in the best of the Volkswagen Motorsport Golf 8 GTI GTCs and Michael van Rooyen’s second Gazoo Racing Corolla are looming large, close behind.
Jonathan Mogotsi sits sixth in the second VW Motorsport Golf 8 GTI from Andrew Rackstraw’s Investchem / RDSA Audi S3. Mandla Mdakane’s third Gazoo Racing Corolla and the luckless Bradley Liebenberg in his new Hype Energy Drinks Golf 8 GTI GTC will both be keen to improve their positions. Both drivers will also be helped a little by talk of a GTC Balance of Performance shift looming at Scribante.
It’s a similar state of affairs in the equally spectacular GTC SupaCup. Consistent young rookie Leyton Fourie scored his first race win in the second Zwartkops race to gain a slight title advantage in his Express Hire Polo SupaCup over double race winner, Keagan Masters’ Perfect Circle machine and Cape Town opening round second race winner, Universal driver Jeffrey Kruger.
Campos brothers Keegan, who sits fourth in the chase and Jason in seventh, will be looking for better luck in Gqeberha. They sit each side of Arnold Neveling, who enjoyed a dream debut at Zwartkops and Jean-Pierre van der Walt’s Platinum Wheels Polo. Cape Town’s Danie van Niekerk will be the sole Van Niekerk Racing entry for this event. Calvin Dias takes back driving duties in the Carello Auto Polo SupaCup. At the same time, local hero and top Masters driver Nick Davidson’s Stu Davidson Polo will have Rui Campos and Andre Bezuidenhout for company in Gqberha.
Nathan Hammond, who missed Round 2 following a horrendous season opener accident, will be back in his Trinity Protection Services entry. He will be joined by brother Damian, another former Polo Cup competitor set to make his debut.
So, will the young blood overcome the Global Touring Cars and GTC SupaCup old school at Aldo Scribante? All will be revealed in Gqeberha this weekend, which makes Aldo Scribante the top destination if you are in the Nelson Mandela Bay area, or spectacular entertainment via live streaming wherever you are, over the Global Touring Cars Facebook Page on Saturday, 28 May.
Issued by Motorsport Media on behalf of Global Touring Cars
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