Summarize

Atkinson, Kriel top Class A; Scheepers, Muzzulini B & C

With ‘only’ 33 Pabar VW Challenge cars turning up at Zwartkops’ Ford & Friends Regional Festival, it was decided to run all classes together. All of which made for extreme action across the board. Despite several drivers being away overseas on summer vacation and others out due to a variety of reasons, there was little change up front as Rory Atkinson narrowly beat comeback kid Stiaan Kriel to overall and Class A honours. Championship leader Hannes Scheepers continued in his Class B roll and Pierluigi Muzzulini played himself back into Class C title contention with a double win there, too. 

Atkinson and his purple BHIT Industrial Transport Polo cantered to pole position by six-tenths of a second from Keagan Masters driving the CPS car that brother Bevin usually races. Stiaan Kriel’s Design Hut Polo would start third from Performance Master Wayne Masters. Waldie Meintjies lined up on the inside of row 3 alongside Derick Smalberger’s Sabertek machine, with Dewald Theron’s Interceptor car next up from Pozidrive man Chris Dale.

Runaway Class B rookie sensation Hannes Scheepers’ Dainfern Dental Polo was only under a tenth quicker than Elna Croeser’s ATE car. FAST lad Anthony Pretorius continued to show great pace in third ahead of another ever-improving driver, Bevan Williams’ RAM Polo. Karshin Naidoo, Charisse van der Merwe’s Hot 102.7 FM Polo, Stuart Mack’s Creative Ink car, PMD Polo lad Miguel Dias and Mo Karodia’s Fast 5 car followed from Tinahe Ncube, Dean Ross, Jacques Hayes, Mike MacGregor and newcomers Carson Blaauw and Michael Grobler.

With championship leader Ian Walker out of the country, Pierluigi Muzzulini put his FSS Vivo on pole position for class C ahead of Walker’s substitute Ross Butt in the Cycles United car. ATE man Philip Croeser lined up alongside Mark Castel’s Eezi Parts Vivo on row 2 ahead of Dino Smit, Jan Spamers, Charl Andersen's Pabar car, Police man Reno van Heerden and newcomer Ruan Wehrmann in a growing baby class Brat Pack.

Atkinson made short work of the opening race as he opened up an early lead. But Stiaan Kriel was having none of it and fought back to second, just six tenths behind Atkinson, setting the fastest lap en route. Keagan Masters maintained a watching brief en route to third, but dad Wayne had to work for fourth, overcoming Waldie Meintjies for the place with a couple of laps left to race. Derick Smalberger ended sixth from Dewald Theron, Chris Dale, Greg Gossman and Mydi Mfana.

Hannes Scheepers kept Anthony Pretorius in his mirrors to take Class B, while Charisse van der Merwe fought hard to third from Mohammed Karodia and the hard working Mike MacGregor. He came from well back to take fifth from Stuart Mack and Miguel Dias. Those four cars ahead of him all benefited Jacques Hayes’ last lap slip, while Dean Ross beat Elna Croeser, who once again fought back to tenth after being helped off early in the heat. Bevan Williams and Carson Blaauw, Michael Grobler followed after Tinahe Ncube and Karshin Naidoo hit trouble.

Pierluigi Muzzulini enjoyed an easy run to the Class C win ahead of his championship rival Ian Walker's substitute Ross Butt, Philip Croeser and Reno van Heerden. The main Brat Pack action was an entertaining scrap for fourth resolved in Jan Spamers’ favour from Charl Andersen, Ruan Wehrmann, Dino Smit and Mark Castel.

Race 2 proved more entertaining up front. Rory Atkinson got the jump, but Stiaan Kriel was in a combative mood and found his way ahead with a neat move on lap 3. Despite Rory’s best efforts, he could not close much beyond the half second that separated them at the line. Wayne and Keagan Masters entertained in their father and son battle behind, until Keagan stopped to let Waldie Meintjies, Derick Smalberger and Dewald Theron into the top six, with Chris Dale and Greg Gossman next home.

Hannes Scheepers trotted off to another easy Class B double, but the action behind was intense. Bevan Williams fought his way to second ahead of Anthony Pretorius and Charisse van der Merwe. Elna Croeser ended fifth from Jacques Hayes, Stuart Mack, Tinahe Ncube, Mo Karodia and Dean Ross rounding out the top ten. Miguel Dias slipped back to fend of an interesting spat between Carson Blaauw and Michael Grobler after Karshin Naidoo stopped again.

The second class C race was highlighted by Pierluigi Muzzulini fighting back to catch and pass Ross Butt for the win after both were delayed when they came together on the opening lap. Both then fought back as they caught and passed third placed Mark Castel, Charl Andersen in fourth and Dino Smit, with Philip Croeser and Jan Spamers in pursuit.  

Muzzulini’s Class C double win put him back in class championship contention a handful of points behind the absent Walker. Class A winner and log leader Rory Atkinson now moves into second in the overall chase behind the seemingly unstoppable Class B leader Sheepers in the championship. The Pabar VW Challenge visits Phakisa in Welkom next for round 6 of 8 in the championship on Saturday 10 September.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of PABAR VW Challenge

What:PABAR VW Challenge Round 5 Report
Where:Zwartkops Raceway, Pretoria
When:Saturday 13 August 2022
Community:South Africa National

For further information please contact manager@vwchallenge.co.za

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