Summarize

Kyalami proves a tough nut to crack

Kyalami’s inaugural race meeting proved a baptism of fire for leading Comsol Volkswagen Challenge team Lee Thompson Racing, which endured a tough weekend on track and off. The races themselves were hectic and dramatic as team boss Lee Thompson explains: “Our second race started in the dark and unfortunately it was red flagged due to some incidents and the race was then cancelled and replaced by a non-championship race on Sunday.”

The weekend started disastrously for Tasmin Pepper whose Alpine Motors Campos Transport Polo blew an engine in practice; “This weekend didn’t go as planned,” the Greenstone lass confessed. “I had the pace in first practice on Friday, but I made a mistake with a gear shift in practice 2 and over revved my engine, which badly affected the rest of my weekend.

“Fortunately the team did a great job to put it all back together, but I wasn’t able to make qualifying which put me at the back of the class grid for race 1.  "I came up nicely through the field even though I was struggling for pace that we later discovered came from a seized rear bearing and I still finished 6th. The second race in the dark did not count in the end, but I had made it up to third in the lap we had and Sunday did not count - that was so hectic!

“We go into the last round at Zwartkops at the end of November behind in the championship chase, but I will try my best to do what I can, but after a dismal weekend at Kyalami, the title chase it not looking good. “Disappointing, but we will keep fighting - thanks to the lads for all their efforts to get me back onto the grid for the race - we tried our best!"

It was not a happy weekend for Waldie Meintjes, who led the Class A title race into Kyalami either. “I struggled with power this weekend and just had no chance to compete up front,” Waldie conceded. “Fortunately we only raced one points race so that limited the damage and I did score a couple of points in seventh to keep a one-point title advantage, so hopefully those will also count most when it matters. "We have a month to right the ship before Zwartkops, but I have the best team to make that happen - let's do this.”   

Lee Thompson Racing new recruit Wayne Crous ended up eighth behind Pepper and Meintjes on Saturday, but he’s ready to improve: “The weekend went okay; the car is still in one piece after all that action and Kyalami was a great experience - I truly love the track,” Wayne admitted. “Special thanks to Lee - he did a great job with the car — now its time to get the driver on the same level — driver training here I come!”

The race that counted worked out pretty well for two of Thompson’s Class B trio, with Daine Stewart’s RCS Security Polo Vivo involved in a brilliant race-long scrap with Michael Harris’ Petro SA version. “That was such a great dice, Daine admitted. “I thoroughly enjoyed it. “That was what I would call my most enjoyable race of the year,” Harris added. “A great battle with my teammate side-by-side through quite a few corners - it was awesome, clean racing, but he managed to keep me behind and I ended up ninth - next time bud!”

Neither of his teammates had brother Milé Stewart’s pace in his RCS Polo, but the younger Stewart ended up a few places behind his tussling LTR brethren, while Shaun Crous was happy with a solid fourth in Class C following the frantic rush to re-shell his Arco Polo Vivo after it was written off in the previous Cape Town race.

“We so looked forward to Kyalami, but sometimes too much anticipation can end up being disappointing,” Lee Thompson admitted. “”Now it’s time to regroup and prepare for the season finale at our home track - bring on Zwartkops on 26 November!

Fans can watch the points paying first race, the aborted second race in the dark and the non-points paying third race on Facebook - simply follow the bold blue links in this sentence.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Lee Thompson Racing

What	:	Race Preview
Where	:	Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit
When	:	22-23 October 2016
Community	:	Lee Thompson Racing

For further information please contact thompsonlee01@gmail.com

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