South African Endurance Series Round 3 2023 | Aldo Scribante, Gqeberha EP
by Motorsport Media - 7 Aug 2023 15:00:00
| What | South African Endurance Series Round 3 Report |
| Where | Aldo Scribante, Gqeberha EP |
| When | Saturday 5 August 2023 |
| Community | South Africa National |
Volkswagen SupaPolo second in class in Scribante 4 Hour
Volkswagen Motorsport continued its 100% finishing record in the South African Endurance Series Championship with a strong second in the Gqeberha 4 Hour at the Aldo Scribante racetrack on Saturday.
Daniel Rowe and Graeme Nathan qualified the Volkswagen Motorsport SupaPolo on pole position in Class D and led the way in class early on. The team took advantage of a Safety Car period to make its first pit stop earlier than planned. The Safety Car did not stay out as long as expected, which lost Rowe and Nathan time in the pits.
From there it was a game of catch-up on fresh tyres, which rivals Karah Hill and Jurie Swart responded to by risking to remain on older rubber and rely on less time in the pits in their Kalex Volkswagen SupaPolo. Their gamble paid off, for despite Rowe’s furious late race pace, it was not enough to catch the victorious Hill and Swart in the end.
“The Volkswagen Motorsport team prepared a great, fast car, and the lads took pole position for Class D,” Head of Volkswagen Motorsport Mike Rowe explains. “Our first stop was slightly earlier than planned when the team took advantage of a safety car period. Unfortunately the Safety Car came in earlier than expected, and we lost a little time.
“We then made a second stop for tyres and fuel, which allowed Daniel to do a double stint at a very fast pace. Our rivals however opted for a riskier strategy by not taking tyres at their second stop. That saved them time and they were able to hang on for the win. Well done to them, and to Daniel and Graeme.
Daniel’s charge after the second stop was very impressive, pulling back an enormous amount of time to finish on the same lap as the opposition, just 41 seconds behind. It was a great race and we are satisfied with our 100% finishing record and two wins and a second in class so far in 2023.”
“That was a close one!” Daniel Rowe admitted. “We qualified on pole and led the first hour or so. We were then unlucky with the Safety Car, while our rivals Karah and Jurie took a chance which paid off for them and they took a well-deserved win. PE was another good race, we had no issues, the car felt brilliant and we had great pace too.”
“You can’t win them all!” Graeme Nathan grinned after the race. “We were a little unlucky with our strategy calls today, while our rivals were a bit more fortunate with theirs, so we ended up behind them at the flag. “Well done to Karah, Jurie and their team, and thanks so much to Volkswagen Motorsport for our great car and another brilliant effort”
Volkswagen Motorsport and its SupaPolo will be back in South African Endurance Series action at the 30 September Spring Festival.
by Motorsport Media - 7 Aug 2023 15:00:00
| What | South African Endurance Series Round 3 Report |
| Where | Aldo Scribante, Gqeberha EP |
| When | Saturday 5 August 2023 |
| Community | South Africa National |
Volkswagen SupaPolo second in class in Scribante 4 Hour
Volkswagen Motorsport continued its 100% finishing record in the South African Endurance Series Championship with a strong second in the Gqeberha 4 Hour at the Aldo Scribante racetrack on Saturday.
Daniel Rowe and Graeme Nathan qualified the Volkswagen Motorsport SupaPolo on pole position in Class D and led the way in class early on. The team took advantage of a Safety Car period to make its first pit stop earlier than planned. The Safety Car did not stay out as long as expected, which lost Rowe and Nathan time in the pits.
From there it was a game of catch-up on fresh tyres, which rivals Karah Hill and Jurie Swart responded to by risking to remain on older rubber and rely on less time in the pits in their Kalex Volkswagen SupaPolo. Their gamble paid off, for despite Rowe’s furious late race pace, it was not enough to catch the victorious Hill and Swart in the end.
“The Volkswagen Motorsport team prepared a great, fast car, and the lads took pole position for Class D,” Head of Volkswagen Motorsport Mike Rowe explains. “Our first stop was slightly earlier than planned when the team took advantage of a safety car period. Unfortunately the Safety Car came in earlier than expected, and we lost a little time.
“We then made a second stop for tyres and fuel, which allowed Daniel to do a double stint at a very fast pace. Our rivals however opted for a riskier strategy by not taking tyres at their second stop. That saved them time and they were able to hang on for the win. Well done to them, and to Daniel and Graeme.
Daniel’s charge after the second stop was very impressive, pulling back an enormous amount of time to finish on the same lap as the opposition, just 41 seconds behind. It was a great race and we are satisfied with our 100% finishing record and two wins and a second in class so far in 2023.”
“That was a close one!” Daniel Rowe admitted. “We qualified on pole and led the first hour or so. We were then unlucky with the Safety Car, while our rivals Karah and Jurie took a chance which paid off for them and they took a well-deserved win. PE was another good race, we had no issues, the car felt brilliant and we had great pace too.”
“You can’t win them all!” Graeme Nathan grinned after the race. “We were a little unlucky with our strategy calls today, while our rivals were a bit more fortunate with theirs, so we ended up behind them at the flag. “Well done to Karah, Jurie and their team, and thanks so much to Volkswagen Motorsport for our great car and another brilliant effort”
Volkswagen Motorsport and its SupaPolo will be back in South African Endurance Series action at the 30 September Spring Festival.
