Summarize

South Africa’s oldest racing class (in terms of driver age, not how long the 10-year old series has run, that is!) the V8 Masters are preparing for a busy August starting at Killarney on the tenth, before heading up to Kyalami for the Festival of Motoring races two weeks later.

Don’t think it's all a bed of roses among racing’s galloping grandpas who all race identical Mustang-like Ford V8-powered APV347is — there’s little love lost between them and it’s starting to show as the championship heats up. Also, while the series is run out of Cape Town, it is attracting a growing number of competitors from the other side the Boerewors Curtain, with yet another Jozi driver joining the fray this weekend.

One thing for sure however, is that Pretoria driver Fabio Tafani remains the man to beat, but with a wet weekend predicted at Killarney on the 10th, the championship leader is taking nothing for granted aboard his dayglo-striped turquoise machine, even if he holds a 40-point advantage over his closest rivals. A wet track can very well shake it all up. 

The fight for second is ultra-close though with Sean Moore just two points clear of Worcester man Richard Schreuder (TRS Construction), with Brian Evans (Cape Eye Laser) next up, but anxious to teach the two ahead of him a lesson too. There’s a close three-man battle raging behind Evans between Mark Ridgway, Rob Warrington and Brad Hall. 

Two more veteran racers, Jo’burg driver Paolo Cavalieri and Marcel Angel, who is always a threat for overall honours in his black and yellow Autohaus Angel machine, are next up ahead of Clinton Thorne and another regular top Gauteng visitor, Rui Campos (Campos Transport).

The action is far closer at the top of the Silver Class championship chase, where just seven points split Mike Brooks, Charl van Sittert (Serr Synergy) and Harry Taylor, while Killarney stalwarts Rhoderick Simpson and Tim Reddell are in a tight tussle for fourth, ahead of Martin Bensch (Compact Robotics). This weekend sees Fanie Theron return to V8 action, while another Johannesburg driver, Alister Brown makes his debut at Killarney.

So, with a considerable amount of chirp flying around between the old men of racing, V8 Masters prepares for a busy couple of weeks on track and travelling too, with Cape fans in for a treat at Killarney this coming weekend and Gauteng set for a great show over the 24 August weekend.