Sandton, South Africa. Round six of the Sasol GTC Championship is the start of a frenetic stage of the season with three rounds in the next six weeks, starting with the Sasol Race Day at Zwartkops on 18th August.
For Gennaro Bonafede, currently in second place on the championship table and level on points with Simon Moss (Audi), the Sasol Race Day offers the first opportunity to extract himself from the points tie and chase after his championship rival Michael Stephen (Audi). Robert Wolk is aiming to convert his race-leading form into solid results at the team’s home race while gaining several places on the championship standings.
Bonafede has powered his BMW GTC racing car to two victories so far, along with three additional podium places and is looking forward to competing at the Sasol Race Day. “The next six weeks represents one third of the championship. I am going to have to push hard without suffering any mishaps; I had a good weekend at Zwartkops in May, but it is going to be a tough challenge, as the top four are usually only a tenth of a second apart in qualifying, which can mean the difference between pole and mid-grid.”
Wolk, behind the wheel of the #41 BMW GTC racing car, is buoyant ahead of the Sasol Race Day, having resolved the handling issues he has experienced all season long. “I had a productive test session which resulted in a better balanced car. Zwartkops is all about qualifying and I’ve shown strong pace there in the past. The field is very close, where a fraction of a second can be the difference between the front row or the back row of the grid.”
Team Manager Vic Maharaj is excited ahead of the Sasol Race Day: “Port Elizabeth was an unfortunate set-back for the team; the reality is that our cars have the pace to win and we remain very motivated for the rest of the season. We have found a good set-up for Zwartkops, where 50% of the remainder of the season takes place. The key to good results at Zwartkops lies in qualifying and getting through the first two corners without incident. The Sasol Race Day is commercially very important for the team. We love the interaction with the fans and especially the engagement with Sasol staff and management on the day, given it is Sasol’s flagship motorsport event.”
Sasol Energy Marketing and Corporate Affairs, Christopher Kabosha says he’s confident Sasol’s GTC racing team will deliver during the remainder of the season, “When one reflects on one’s past challenges, a refocused new cycle begins. Sasol Energy is firmly behind our team for the remainder of the Sasol GTC Championship. I am certain that we are all in for an exciting time as drivers will be pulling all their aces out of their hats to claim victory. The Sasol GTC Championship remains our premier motor sporting event where Sasol employees, their families, fans and members of the public can enjoy world class motorsport racing.”
The Sasol GTC Racing Team will be on-track at 09h05 for the crucial qualifying session, followed by the first 12-lap race at 12h10. The second 12-lap race is scheduled to start at 15h05.
Fans can mingle with the cars and drivers on the track during the popular fan grid-walk, which takes place at 12h00 just before the first race.
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