Regional Festival racing returns to Red Star Raceway near Delmas

Regional Festival racing returns to Red Star Raceway near Delmas to offer race fans a quality springtime program of top Gauteng race series action on Saturday 8 October. Featuring penultimate rounds of the Pabar VW Challenge, Car Care Clinic 111 and Superhatch, Lotus Challenge, and combined On Track Clubmans and NSCC Sportscar races, there will be something for everyone.

 

The Pabar Gauteng VW Challenge is now down to who the overall champion will be, with the respective class leaders less likely to be toppled at this late stage of the season. Class A leader Rory Atkinson moved to the top of the log last time out after both he and top Class C driver, Ian Walker enjoyed perfect grand slam weekends, while Class B super rookie Hannes Scheepers had a day to forget. All three will be out to take that overall crown. 

 

Atkinson has Stiaan Kriel, Wayne and Bevan Masters, Derik Smalberger, and Sam and Chris Dale on his Class A case. Class B youngster Anthony Pretorius took a maiden win last time and he’s keen to topple Scheepers again. As are fast ladies Charise van der Merwe and Elana Croeser, Bevan Williams, and newcomer Yotti Nousias. Walker must wait to see if Class C arch-rival Pierluigi returns to the chase alongside Andy Gossman, Philip Croeser, and the gang. 

 

Thomas Falkiner is now the man to beat in Lotus Challenge after leader of the opposition Jeffrey Kruger had a torrid weekend last time out. Both will need to keep chips for Mackie Adlem, Rudi Barnard, Andre Human, Kruger, JP Nortje, and David Coetzee on the tight and twisty 13-turn Delmas Raceway. Sean Hepburn meanwhile has Andre du Plessis and Davide Favo, among others to deal with in the Locost wins. 

 

The twin Car Care Clinic 111 and Superhatch classes return to normal duty in Mpumalanga after their Free State endurance race. Watch for Adrian Dalton fresh off that 2-hour success in his wild turbo Golf 1, with the likes of Wouter Roos, Louis Scholtz and George Economides’ Golfs, GT men Johan van der Vyver’s Subaru, Phillip Meyer’s Porsche, Mark du Toit in a BMW Z4 and Lenard Archer’s Civic Type R. In the classes, watch for Roland Hopkins in B, Maritz le Roux in C, Michael Grobler and Didi Matjula in D, and Dean Ross in Class E.

 

Andre Dannhauser topped the Car Care Clinic Superhatch pops in the two-hour in his Class A Corsa. He will have Jonathan du Toit’s and Louis Scholtz’s Honda Civics, Lenard Archer’s Hyundai Getz, Karel Stolts and Francois Henning on his case in Saturday’s sprint races. Expect Nic Martin’s Peugeot 207 and Melanie Spurr in a Polo to fight over Class B and Devon Piazza-Musso’s Polo and Francis Aldrich to do battle in Class C.

 

The combined NSCA Sports Car and On Track Magazine Clubmans races are always entertaining to watch with the sports front runners starting behind in the first race and charging through the Clubmans pack. Pieter Zeelie has found good form of late, and he should have Gerald Wright’s Nash and Klippies Krige’s Seven for company. The Clubmen are eclectic with everything from Eugene Gouws’ Chevy Can Am, Johan Labuschagne’s Subaru and a fleet of Hondas including Dirk Lawrence and Tjaart Visser in the fight.

 

Red Star will also be laying it on off the track, with live music and entertainment, stalls, all the expected good food and refreshments, and more at the top class facility on Saturday 8 October. But the racing will steal the show as always. Find Red Star just off exit 485 on the N12 freeway. Entry is R100 per person over 12 years old.