Chemical Logistics Racing’s five charges heads to Zwartkops’ midseason South African Touring Cars bash with five different objectives, when the country’s premier circuit racing category fights over its fourth round bragging rights at the Pretoria Extreme Festival presented by Coca-Cola on Saturday 21 June. With three of its cars second, third and fourth in the chase, the team is also keen to annex that top championship position sooner, rather than later…
Second in the chase, Jagger Robertson is looking to escape his crunching season so far aboard his Chemical Logistics Sparco WCT Volkswagen Golf GTI and all that will do for the 2024 Investchem Formula 1600 champion, is to stand on the top of the Zwartkops podium. “I have had a few seconds and third places so far this season and it’s about time that I broke through to that top step,” Jagger smiled. Where better to do just that than Zwartkops!”
Another Touring Cars rookie, 2024 SATC SupaCup runner up Keegan Campos missed the first race before he took the helm of his Campos Transport FAST Racing BMW 328tc, but he’s been right on it ever since, with two wins in four starts. “I’m pretty chuffed to be sitting third in the chase despite missing one third of the championship so far,” Keegan owned up. “Now we need to continue that momentum at Zwartkops to eliminate as much of my nineteen-point deficit to the leader as possible. Can’t wait!”
South African Touring Cars veteran Julian van der Watt is however simply looking for a good, clean weekend after a troubled run so far this season in his Chemical Logistics Sparco WCT Volkswagen Golf GTI. “I don’t know where I was when they were handing out the good luck at the beginning of the season,” Julian frowned. But I got none of it. Maybe I should visit a sangoma to throw some bones on my way up to Gauteng this week, but I really do hope for a little better fortune on Saturday.”
If Julian has been short on luck, then Andrew Schofield has had none at all in his FlySafair Chemical Logistics FAST BMW 328tc. But the Franschhoek Boeing pilot in his day job, is more focussed on continuing his steady progress to being right on the pace. “Slowly, slowly catch the monkey!” Andrew admits. “Yeah, we’ve had a bit of a tricky run so far this season, but that’s also hidden my gains in pace, so let’s see if I can show that off for once, at Zwartkops!”
Last but very much not least, Formula 1600 alumna Siyabonga Mankonkwana is starting to come to grips with his Investchem FAST Toyota Corolla after his giant leap into South African Touring Cars for the second race in of the season: “It’s been a bit of a voyage of discovery and the learning curve has been so steep, but I’m getting there!” Siya explained. “I’m looking forward to learning much more at Zwartkops this weekend, so let’s just keep out of trouble and see where we end up by Saturday evening…!”
“The lads all have rather different objectives and ambitions for this weekend, but Zwartkops being Zwartkops, the action should be extreme from the second those lights go out,” team principal Ian Schofield concludes. “Each to their own and best of luck one and all. This should be another great weekend of racing!
Gauteng South African Touring Cars fans have a lot to look forward to trackside at the Zwartkops Extreme Festival presented by Coca-Cola, while out of town racing enthusiasts can follow the action via live streaming on the Extreme festival social media on Saturday 21 June.
