Summarize

Sarel back to thrill PE race fans

Port Elizabeth race fans can look forward to the Aldo Scribante Race Track stepping up to host a few national championship races over the coming month or so, starting with the second round of the 2019 Mopar South African Endurance Series joining the regular spectacular Eastern Province championship race action Saturday 25 May. 

Battle lines will be drawn both sides, with some national Mopar Endurance scores to be settled after the Cape Town opener, while local attention will no doubt be focused on the EP Modifieds following a dramatic previous meeting…

One of the highlights of the weekend has to be Sarel van der Merwe's return behind the wheel of a Ligier Honda sports prototype alongside Riaan Botma. That duo enjoyed an impressive run together last time out, but they have some serious competition to take care of in Port Elizabeth.

That includes reigning Mopar SA Endurance champions Nick Adcock and Michael Jensen taking up where they left off at Killarney in March, driving their nimble AidCall247 RBR Ligier JS53 Evo Honda to a 4 second victory over GT3 winners, Charl and Harry Arangies' Stradale Lamborghini Gallardo GT3. Those crews benefited Stuart White and Craig Jarvis’ rudely quick Maui Motorhomes Ginetta-Corvette hitting trouble, but they'll be back for revenge at Aldo, backed up by Gavin Cronje and Simon Murray’s similar car.

PE fans can also look forward to tight sports car action between the likes of Fritz Kleynhans and James Forbes Point Blank and Trevor Frost and Johannes Botma’s similar Strocam Ligiers, as well as a fleet of smaller machinery including Dean Wolson and Gerald Wright's S2000 Opel, Hennie Trollip and Clinton Thorne’s Full Output, Lotus Seven Eric Salomon and Dave Sinclair Team Lessons Elf-Toyota 23 and a fleet of little SA-built Nash Volkswagens.

Look out for GT5 winners last time out, Kishoor Pitamber and Kris Budnik's Bucket List Ferrari F360 Challenge and Dayne Angel and Jarryd Evans' giant-killing tin-top Autohaus Angel Honda Civic Type R. The Ferrari will have a PE home hero to deal with as Chassen Bright teams up with veteran Tony Martin, backed up by Brian Martin, Trevor Graham and Mike Mcloughlin in a pair of Backdraft-Lexus Cobra Roadsters.

That quick Honda will have Theo Van Vuuren and Keegan Ward’s Alfa Romeo to deal with for tin-top honours and there’s a another couple of dark horses in the form of Alfa refugee Bradley Scorer and Darren Winterboer Baron Motor Spares BMW M3 and Paul Hill’s similar Kalex device.

The Mopar PE 4 Hour Endurance race of course only goes down after another spectacular full day of two heats each of hometown racing fuelled by some fresh rivalries in the EP Modified Saloon Car races too. Upstart Bryn High will be back to continue his newfound spat with Aldo Scribante’s similar Audi S5 and expect Silvio Scribante to run interference in a third S5, while co-championship leader Deon Slabbert will be there as usual to pick up all the pieces in his rapid Class B Polo.

Bryn’s dad Steve High’s Chevy Cruze and Kevin Kelly’s Mitsubishi are other strong B entries, while Rufus Neethling's BMW is the Class C car to beat, Stephen Aukamp (BMW) and Jeff Guscott's Porsche 928 will fight for Class D and the other-co-championship leader, Daniel Bright has the similar Class E Golf of Ryan Britton to deal with as Wickus Basson (Golf) and Theo Scholtz (Polo) dice in Class F.

Port Elizabert legend Arushen Moodley should be back in action to thrill the home crowd en route to EP Unlimited Superbike honours, with 600 action set to go down between Chris Webster (Honda), Ivor Vermaak (Yamaha) and Melt Koekemoer (Kawasaki). Paul Jansen (Kawasaki 650), Chad Bilsbury (Honda 400), Historic riders Johan Anker (Yamaha) and Ian Meaker (Historic Ducati), Breakfast Run rider Gerrie Koen and Ashton Heidemann (KTM 300) will be out to entertain in the smaller motorcycle races.

Shaun Rudolph and his Escort have proven the AMSC Classic Saloon combination to beat so far this season, but Neil Van Eyk’s similar car, Deon Gouws’ Kadet and Anton Ehlers Escort will be out to stop him. Add Darryn Vice (Anglia), Rane Berry (Skyline), Andrew Greenland's Alfa and Ronald Scott and Robert Halgreen's Escort among other classic car racers out to entertain, as much as they will evoke racing memories from yesteryear.

A pair of EP Sports & GT races will see the usual variety as Garth de Villers' Formula VW takes on Gordon Nicholson (Skyline GTR) and a gang of Lotus 7s pedalled by Patrick Hanly, Kean Barnard, Jeandre Marais and Alwyn Kretzmann. If racing variety really gets your attention, watch for the EP Fine Cars where the likes of Robin Venter, Francois and Tertius Wium, Tom Hugo and Duncan Lethbridge take to the track in everything from BMW to a Nissan 350Z and even a Ford Ranger bakkie!

So, pack your kids, the kit and the rest and head off to a full day’s top drawer motor racing at Aldo Scribante on Kyalami Road, Coega — that’s just off the N2 on the R335, on Saturday. Entry is R50 per adult and kids are free; good food and refreshments will be available and qualifying starts 8am, with two races per class from mid-morning and then the PE Four Hour running into the dark from 4pm. 

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Aldo Scribante Racetrack

What:Mopar PE SA 4 Hour & EP Regionals 4 Preview
Where:Aldo Scribante Racetrack, Port Elizabeth
When:Saturday 25 May 2019
Community:South Africa National, Eastern Province

For further information please contact sparkyb@vodamail.co.za

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