Brilliant racing, close competition and varied results typified round eight of this year’s Extreme Festival at the Zwartkops Raceway near Pretoria on Saturday (August 8). The Sasol Raceday attracted a large crowd, to be royally entertained by nine separate racing disciplines.
Meanwhile a large flea market, live musical entertainment and varied off-track entertainment ensured a carnival atmosphere.
Raceday sponsor Sasol were pleased when Sasol Audi S4 drivers Gennaro Bonafede and Hennie Groenewald finished first and second in the day’s opening National Production Car race. They led home Michael Stephen
(Engen Xtreme Audi S4), Gary Formato (Turn 1 Ford Focus ST), Simon Moss (Engen Xtreme Audi S4) and Graeme Nathan (Genuine Parts VW Golf GTI).
Race two, from a reverse-order grid, had Bonafede spinning early on, while Simon Moss and Michael van Rooyen (Williams Hunt Chev Cruze) made contact coming into the pit straight, causing Van Rooyen to retire a lap later. That left Graeme Nathan to win from Hennie Groenewald, Gary Formato, Michael Stephen, Gennaro Bonafede and Simon Moss. Bonafede made no mistakes in the third and final race, leading from start to
finish. He was followed by Graeme Nathan, Gary Formato, Michael Stephen, Hennie Groenewald and Michael van Rooyen.
National Production Cars
National Production Cars
Engen Volkswagen Cup
Engen Volkswagen Cup
Both the Engen Volkswagen Cup races were won by defending champion Sheldon van der Linde (Champion Polo). In the short opening heat he led home Tasmin Pepper (PG Glass Polo), Daniel Rowe (Ferodo Polo) and Chris Shorter (Hollard Polo). The second time around – run over 20 laps, Mathew Hodges (Makopano Polo), Daniel Rowe and Brad Liebenberg (Ferodo Polo) filled out the top four places. Daniel Rowe and Brad Liebenberg (Ferodo Polo) filled out the top four places.
The day’s quickest lap time of 62 seconds was set by Thunderbike racer Daryn Upton (Turn-Skill Kawasaki ZX10R), en route to victory in the category’s opening race. He was chased to the finish line by Anthony Shelley (ARS Kawasaki ZX10R) and Garrick Vlok (BMW S1000RR). In race two, Upton led home Vlok and Ivan van Niekerk (Kawasaki ZX10R). Dirk Stols (MIK Services Kawasaki ZX10R) and Kevin Redman (Coral Tree Yamaha R6) took turns to win the two Sub 10-Second class races, respectively.
Thunderbikes
Thunderbikes
Hankook Formula Vee
Hankook Formula Vee
Brad Beningfield (Nashua Vee) won the first Hankook Formula Vee race ahead of Gert van den Berg (BP Nantes Rhema) and Alan Holm (Office Direct Rhema). The race provided one of the day’s most spectacular crashes when the Black Steer Vee of Jaco Schiks and the Reflex Solutions Vee of Michael Mastnak came together at around 140km/h, causing Mastnak’s car to roll. He was not injured, but the car came apart. Alan Holm won the second race from Greg Wilson (Reflex Solutions Rhema) and Beningfield.
Graeme van Breda (IVID ZX10R) took both the Red Square Kawasaki Masters Cup races. In the opening event he was chased to the flag by Tony Klem (Frontier Diamonds ZX10R) and Pieter de Vos (Jongingozi ZX10R).
The next time out, Kyle Robinson (Fantech ZX10R) took the runner-up spot, ahead of Tony Klem.
Red Square Kawasaki ZX10R Masters Cup
Red Square Kawasaki ZX10R Masters Cup
Leisure Grass SuperHatch
Leisure Grass SuperHatch
Brett Garland (Jonnesway Honda Civic) Took the overall Class A victory in the Leisure Grass Super Hatch category, with Morne Human (X35 Energy VW Golf) and Melanie Spurr (Castrol G & H Transport Opel Corsa) the winners in Classes B and C, respectively.
Rory Atkinson (Comsol Polo) won the overall Class A prize of the Comsol VW Challenge races, with Darren Nathan (Sextrader.co.za polo) and Jody Robertson (VW Polo) the winners of Classes B and C, respectively.
Sean Powell (Dirtstyle Suzuki) won the Silverton Bolt & Nut Challenge overall, ahead of Henk Schuiling (Air Systems Kawasaki) and Deon Smith (Mec Lec BMW).
Comsol VW Challenge
Comsol VW Challenge
Silverton Bolt & Nut Challenge
Silverton Bolt & Nut Challenge
The TV highlights package will be on SuperSport 8 on Friday the 28th of August @ 18h30.
The next rounds of the 2015 Extreme Festival Series will take place at the Free State Phakisa Raceway on Saturday, August 22. And at Dezzi Raceway in Port Shepstone on the 29th of August.
Story courtesy of Andre De Kock - The Citizen.
Pictures courtesy of RacePics.co.za.
