The Engen Volkswagen Cup field faced a tough challenge at Zwartkops Raceway on Saturday. Recent work on the surface of the circuit altered the handling characteristics of the race cars and the field had to adapt accordingly.
It wasn’t all about the circuit though as luck played its usual role. For Bryan Morgan (41 – Great Accounts / Great Soft) luck included drawing pole position in the top-six draw – for both races. With a good starting position in each race, it was up to Morgan to make the most of the opportunity.
Right off the line in race one, Morgan’s pole position came under threat from Mark Silverwood (32 – OKI Printing Solutions) who claimed the inside line through the first turn. Morgan was able to fend off that challenge, but couldn’t hold off the repeated attacks, slipping into second place.
This remained the status quo until the flag dropped with Dewald Brummer (22 – UMP / Horne Hydraulics / MAD Racing) claiming third after a tense battle with championship leader Kosie Weyers (5 – Engen Primax).
In the second race the action started in very much the same way, with Silverwood moving on Morgan to take first. This time though, Weyers also pushed his way past, sending Morgan down to third.
Guest racer Marius Roberts (M3 – Volkswagen Motorsport / Ignition TV) found the going tough at Zwartkops. Roberts is no stranger to the track and has a good deal of racing experience. He had to adapt this knowledge to the rather robust and unpredictable nature of the Engen Volkswagen Cup Series when, in race one, he found himself side-by-side with Andrea Bate (37 – Powerflow) and Tasmin Pepper (31 – PG Glass)
With Roberts sideways, on the dirt, in turn one it appeared his race day would come to an unexpected and premature end.
He did, instead, manage to hang on against the odds.
“I dropped into third gear, put my foot down hard on the accelerator and held on, hoping the car would pull itself straight,” says Roberts. “In the series I race, bumping is not allowed, so this is a new experience for me.”
“This was like going to school, except it is the pupils doing the teaching! Talk about proper racing, I’ve never done anything like this before, everyone is giving 120 percent all the time.”
In race two Roberts suffered a flat tyre while trying to avoid a piling of Engen Volkswagen Cup Polos in the second corner, this time forcing him out of the race.
In the Masters category Ettiene du Toit (M4 – Zenith Product Design) claimed the win in race one, followed by Etienne Prinsloo (M11 – Tile Mecca) and Juan Gerber (M8 – Carfind.co.za) bringing it home in third. Race two saw Eddie Rodrigues (M7 – SEW Eurodrive) take the flag, followed by Gerber and then Du Toit.
ZWARTKOPS RACING RESULTS:
RACE ONE:
- Mark Silverwood (32 – OKI Printing Solutions)
- Bryan Morgan (41 – Great Accounts / Great Soft)
- Dewald Brummer (22 – UMP / Horne Hydraulics / MAD Racing)
RACE TWO:
- Mark Silverwood (32 – OKI Printing Solutions)
- Kosie Weyers (5 – Engen Primax)
- Bryan Morgan (41 – Great Accounts / Great Soft)
OVERALL:
- Mark Silverwood (32 – OKI Printing Solutions)
- Bryan Morgan (41 – Great Accounts / Great Soft)
- Kosie Weyers (5 – Engen Primax)
MASTERS:
- Ettiene du Toit (M4 – Zenith Product Design)
- Juan Gerber (M8 – Carfind.co.za)
- Eddie Rodrigues (M7 – SEW Eurodrive)
