Summarize

Chemical Logistics Racing enjoyed a spectacular weekend of racing in the South African Touring Cars at Saturday’s Kyalami’s blockbuster Extreme Festival presented by Coca-Cola. BMW squad driver Keegan Campos led Volkswagen duo Jagger Robertson and Julian van der Watt to a team clean sweep.

Debutant Campos arrived in South African Touring Cars in spectacular style aboard his Campos Transport FAST Racing BMW 328tc. After showing good pace in practice, Campos put his Beemer on the second row of the grid, but a sticky gearbox cost him a little pace in the opening race where he ended up fifth. That saw him onto the front row of the reverse race grid, as Keegan explains: “I made a great start, got into the lead and was able to stay there to take the flag for a debut win.”

“Even better, that was good enough for the overall win to make it a dream start to my top class South African Touring Cars career,” 2024 SATC SupaCup runner-up Campos concluded. “Thanks so much to Ian for this opportunity and to Freddie and the FAST team for a super-quick Campos Transport BMW this weekend. Now we simply cannot wait for the rest of the season!”

South African Touring Cars rookie and reigning Investchem Formula 1600 champion, Jagger Robertson was delighted with another positive weekend in the Chemical Logistics WCT Engineering Sparco Volkswagen Golf. “I had good pace, but I was a little disappointed with qualifying and I only gridded fifth,” Jagger owned up. “But from there the weekend went pretty well. 

“I made a decent start to jump to third and held on for a podium in the first race. The reverse race went even better when I took advantage of a little chaos around me to move up to second. “I couldn’t do very much about Keegan, so settled for second. That turned out to be second overall after a few rivals picked up penalties on the way. Thanks to Stuart and my great WCT Engineering team for a brilliant car. Now its onward and upward to Aldo Scribante!”

Jagger’s Chemical Logistics WCT Engineering Volkswagen Golf teammate Julian van der Watt’s weekend started on the front row and ended on the podium. “That sounds a lot easier than it was, but for once the results looked a bit better than they may have been!” Julian admitted. “I qualified second but my start was a bit iffy and I found myself fighting to fourth. “I was fourth again in heat 2, but gained a place when another car was penalised, to end up third for the day. Thanks to Stu and the team for all the effort, now to move up a couple of places in PE!”

The weekend was a huge learning curve for Formula 1600 graduate Siyabonga Mankonkwana on the Investchem FAST Racing Toyota Corolla. After qualifying eighth on Friday afternoon, Mankonkwana kept out of trouble to come home sixth in the first heat. “That meant I was on pole position for the reverse grid second race,” Siya pointed out. “Rather than getting involved in a fight, I slipped back on the opening lap and then settled for fifth, which became fourth. That was good enough for sixth overall. Thanks to Ian for the opportunity and the team for a great car, it was a huge learning curve, but I am very happy with the outcome!”

Andrew Schofield’s weekend started on the third row of the grid after a decent qualifying effort in the FlySafair Chemical Logistics FAST BMW 328tc, he dropped to the back early in the first heat before fighting back top seventh. Andrew moved up to sixth early in the second heat and stayed there to claim seventh for the day. “It’s a pity about the first race because we had reasonable pace this weekend, but we had two points finishes in the end. Thanks to the guys for a great car as always!”

“That was a very good weekend,” team principal Ian Schofield concluded. “Well done to Keegan, Jagger, and Julian on a brilliant team sweep, to Siya on a solid debut, and a decent effort by Andrew in spite of his challenges on Saturday. Now we prepare for Aldo Scribante, which is always a spectacular weekend. Bring it on!”