When the Southern African National Endurance Championship connect by Vodacom 4U rolls into the Eastern Cape city of Gqeberha, they’re bringing top-drawer two and four-wheel racing series with them, offering racegoers day long action and more bang for their buck.
The bumper SAES race weekend will also mark the revival of the Gqeberha Motoring Festival where motor manufacturers display their latest models while offering customers the opportunity to test the car of their choice around the Aldo Scribante Raceway.
Sports and GT Cup:
Topping the SA GT Cup scoreboard after the opening round is Charl Arangies who is bringing his Stradale Motorsport Porsche 997 Gen 2 GT3 Cup car to face off against Moshin Mia’s Porsche 991.2 GT3 Cup machine.
The championship log is crowded behind Arangies, who has 90 points from his triple victory last time out in his then new 911 GT3 R which the Vereeniging businessman has entered in the Five-Hours of Aldo Scribante. Mia has 76 points, two more than Nicky Dicks in his Curvent Porsche GT3 Cup car following an exciting race at the opening round.
Roy Obery debuted his GWM/Haval Edenvale Porsche 991.2 MR at Zwartkops in February and will be putting his new car through its paces around the 2.48km Aldo Scribante track. Another Porsche GT3 Cup to debut at Zwartkops last month belongs to Sun Moodley with backing from Bigfoot Express and is just three points behind Obery.
Jay Jay Deysel made a strong impression on his tin-top debut last time out and he will be looking to build on that momentum as he comes to grips with his Stradale Motorsport Porsche 997 GT3 Cup around an unfamiliar track.
Andre van Vuuren has some catching up to do on the points log and should mix it with his rivals in his Porsche 911 Type 996 GT3 Cup car.
Andrew Horne has a comfortable lead in the Sports & GT standings following a double victory at the opening round aboard his Xena Chemicals Ligier-Honda JS49. None of his title rivals are making the trip to Gqeberha but Horne will have to watch out for the hard-charging local ace Aldo Scribante in his Scribante Concrete Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo.
Marius Jackson is no stranger to the Eastern Cape and should give Scribante a hard time as he jostles for points in his MJR Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo. Damian Hammond will once again give his all in his Samlin Racing Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo Evo.
Three races for the Sports and GT Cup are scheduled; the first race takes place on Friday evening starting at 18h35 with races two and three on Saturday at 10h30 and 13h25.
Light the touch paper and stand back as car wars breaks out!
MRSSA Motorcycles:
No less than 59 motorbikes, across seven classes and grouped into two levels of rider experience will be taking to the track for a pair of races per group.
The big guns are in the Senior SBK 1000cc class where the MRSSA overall champion, Adolf Boshoff already has a small championship lead aboard his Honda CBR 1000. Not out of reach at this early stage of the season is Themba Khumalo (Ducati Panigale V4R) who should be chased by Tristin Pienaar (Honda CBR 1000) and Damion Purificati’s BMW S 1000 RR.
Other contenders include Hendrik de Bruin (BMW S 1000 RR) and lady racer Nicole Purificati on her Yamaha YZF-R1.
The 600cc SBK class is Yamaha dominated where Ora Phiri (YZF-R6) has laid down his championship marker after victory at round one. Troy Tonking (YZF-R6) and Ryan van Nieuwkerk (YZF-R6) should chase hard for class honours.
The three-horse race for the Battle of the Twins V4 (BOTTS) is led by Leon Horn, followed by Alan Hulscher and Mick Landi, all aboard identical Ducati Panigale V4R machines and with just nine points separating the trio.
The SBK Masters class is led by Johan le Roux on his Kawasaki ZX10R followed by Robert Ferreira on a BMW S 1000 RR. Five points adrift, Ryan Futter (Kawasaki ZX10RR) is third in the title chase, three points up on Jaco Gouws on a Suzuki GSX-R.
The second group of riders features the Open Superbike class where Clive Turnbull (Suzuki GSXR 1000) has a 14-point cushion over the chasing pack after a perfect opening weekend to his season. Heading the chase is Shaun Pietersen (BMW S 1000 RR) while third and fourth, Simphiwe Mahlobo (Yamaha YZF-R6) and Jhandre Fourie (Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R) are one point apart.
Other top riders include Darius Botha (Honda CBR 1000RR-R), Martyn Parry (Kawasaki ZX10), Yaghya Sahabodien (BMW S 1000 RR) and Senshe Simone Smith (Yamaha YZF-R6).
Siya Shabalala leads the way in the Unlimited Superbike class aboard his Yamaha YZF-R1 having claimed his breakthrough maiden victory at Zwartkops in February. He will be chased hard by Jacobus Visser on his BMW S 1000 RR, Malcolm Govender (BMW S 1000 RR) and Moe Essop also aboard a BMW superbike.
Fergal McAdam heads the Classic bikes class on his Honda VTR 1000, followed, ten points adrift, by Wessel Kruger (Suzuki GSX 750R) and Johan Kosterman on a Suzuki GSX 1100R. Etienne Louw (Kawasaki Z1000J), Robert Coutts (Honda VTR 1000) and Dean Kemp (Suzuki GSXR) are other riders to look out for.
The first race for the 1000 SBK, 600 SBK, BOTTS and Masters is set for 09h55 with the second race scheduled for 11h50.
The Junior SBK and Classic races take place at 11h25 and 14h20.
Tickets cost R50 for Friday entry and R150 for a full day and night of high-octane racing action.
Southern African National Endurance Series connected by Vodacom 4U is supported by Silverlakes Farm Hotel, Dunlop Tyres, Proton and Foton, ATS Motorsport, Adapt Design & Sign, SuperSport, and Africa Race Together.
