Summarize

The PABAR VW Challenge returns to familiar territory as it holds thumbs for good old Gauteng spring sunshine for its sixth round at Zwartkops on Saturday 14 September. That, following its adventures at a cold, wet and miserable Killarney in Cape Town last time out. And without a dozen Cape wildcards running interference too.

Best of all, it’s all even up front in the overall championship on the march to Pretoria. Fifteen year-old Chris Tait has had an exceptional run in his  Class C Sportex Vivo. He finds himself sharing the title lead with experienced Class B man Stuart Mack’s Nathan's Polo. Tait’s closest Class C rival, Andy Gossman sits third and within shouting distance in his Goose Motorsport Vivo, with Class A leader Bevin Masters’ CPS Warehouse machine a little further back.

There are class position battles and personal vendettas all the way down the 45-car championship log. So with three more meetings left to race, it certainly is all to play for. Bevin Masters’ biggest class competition comes from brother Wayne’s Performance Masters car but there’s more to it than just that in the top class. Miguel Dias’ PMD version, Clean Renewables lad Mydi Mfana, the ever-improving Nicole Lombard and Norbrake Polo lad Dean Ross are all fully immersed in their own private title fight.

Don’t forget the Class X turbo lot, who run alongside the Class As this year. Luigi Ferro’s Eco Simply Solar car, Chris Dale in his Blue Belt Pozidrive car, young Bjorn Bertholdt’s Sizani Polo and hopefully Mike Barbaglia’s PABAR entry back in action, and all up to speed in the thin Zwartkops air.

Stuart Mack holds a sizeable Class B lead in his unique 3-cylinder one-litre turbo Polo. His nearest 2-litre aspirated rival is Dubcorp driver Shiren Rajpaul, but he has some pretty capable competition all over his back too. Ethan Coetzee sits just two points behind in his JRT Polo hatch, with Fast 5 Polo sedan driver Mo Karodia a similar distance behind. Ian Walker’s Mellow Velo Polo, Dewald Theron’s Ardfin version and Csol lad Anthony Lessing are close enough behind to be wary of. And Jacques Hayes, Josh Wilford,  Francis Aldrich and Charisse Piazza Musso are all in their own fight for glory. 

Behind Christopher Tait and Andy Gossman in Class C, another youngster, Kyle Petersen has been building a strong title case for himself in third in the title chase in his Insurisk Vivo. He too sits on even points with ATE veteran Philip Croeser, with Sizani youngster Judd Bertholdt another point adrift, although he has missed a few rounds. JRT Racing dad Mitch Coetzee follows from Michael Zapheriou, who is still recuperating from his injuries, Dino Smit, Dimitri Zapheriou, Tyron Pillay and Cody Petersen.

PABAR VW Challenge runs as part of the full Gauteng Regional Racing Festival, which makes it a brilliant prospect to lap up the Pretoria sunshine on Saturday. See you at Zwartkops!