With the battle for championship supremacy still wide open, the GTC Championship heads this weekend to the fast, shoreline straights of the Border Motorsport East London Grand Prix Circuit as just three rounds remain in 2019

Round 6 of the 2019 season will see Simon Moss and Brad Liebenberg trying to maintain their respective GTC and GTC2 points table advantages as they hit the track for first practice this Friday.

The 3.86km circuit, situated just outside of the East London CBD, is one of South Africa’s oldest motorsport venues despite not being a purpose-built racetrack, and also one the most picturesque. A large portion of the circuit is made up of a section of Molteno Drive which also features the fastest corner in South African racing, Potters Pass. While Cococabana corner is the closest that drivers will get to racing at sea level nationwide, sitting at only 11 metres of elevation and a mere 120 meters away from the beach.

There will however not be much time to take in the scenery with 2019 seeing the closest battle for title honours in the championship’s fourth season. At Round 5, Moss (Moss Racing / Audi / All Power) could only extend his lead to 8 points over Keagen Masters (Volkswagen Motorsport). Moss has celebrated six wins this season to date, while Masters is still out to record his maiden win since stepping up into the top class as reigning GTC2 champion. With both drivers being very equally matched, this weekend could prove to be a high-speed battle for the lead of the championship heading into the final two rounds being held at both Killarney and Red Star raceways.

Daniel Rowe (Volkswagen Motorsport) finds himself a further 11 points adrift in third place, and heads up a trio of drivers only separated by three points; all who regularly produce fierce battles for the midfield honours. Rowe has celebrated a race victory in 2019 and can also not be counted out of the title battle yet. Fourth-placed Johan Fourie (EPS Courier Services BMW) would like to add a third victory to his season tally, especially considering East London is where he took a dominant win during the 2018 season’s inverted grid race.

Like Masters, Michael van Rooyen (Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa) has also been building his championship on consistent results despite no victories. This has been his best season to date and he could well leapfrog the pair ahead into the top-three.

Following his victory in Round 5, Robert Wolk (Chemical Logistics BMW) could also be in contention for third place battle in a strong weekend results. Further back, Tschops Sipuka (Moss Racing / Audi / All Power) would like to put the misfortunes from the previous two rounds behind him; notably after being caught up in accidents during both the reverse-grid races. Niyaaz Modack will be making his second appearance in the WH Auctioneers BMW

In GTC2, Brad Liebenberg (Volkswagen Motorsport) will be eager to reclaim the top step of the podium, especially at East London where he took his maiden class victory during the 2017 season. He finds himself 22 points ahead of Adrian Wood who drives the Kyocera-liveried sister car. Both drivers have been well in control of the first half of the season, but Round 5 saw Charl Smalberger (Universal HealthCare) edge closer to the leaders following his win and second-place finish.

Mandla Mdakane (Transitler MINI John Cooper Works) and Paul Hill (Kalex Volkswagen Golf) have had a host of good on-track tussles in the past few rounds and are separated by five points in the championship. Both drivers have been in solid form of late with Mdakane visiting the podium once in each of the last three rounds while Hill took his maiden victory in Round 5.

Round 6 of the 2019 GTC Championship will be held at East London Grand Prix Circuit from August 30-31. Friday will see three practice sessions taking place to complete setup for the race day ahead. Saturday’s programme will consist of:
09:50 – Qualifying
12:55 – Race 1 (9 Laps)
15:35 – Race 2 (12 laps)

For more information head to www.gtcafrica.co.za

ADRIAN WOOD READIES FOR SECOND GTC2 SEASON FOR KYOCERA

Adrian Wood will be back behind the wheels of his KYOCERA Document Solutions South Africa Volkswagen Golf for the 2019 Global Touring CarsGTC2 season. This was announced by Volkswagen Motorsport_za during their pre-season team launch held at Zwartkops Raceway on Friday, February 2.

VOLKSWAGEN CONTINUES TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF MOTORSPORT

• Volkswagen establishes specialized Motorsport Academy to invest in the future of motorsport.
• Racing legend Michael Stephen joins Volkswagen to head up the Academy.

Volkswagen Motorsport is starting 2019 with a bang. Besides announcing the line-up of factory drivers that will represent the motoring giant in the various racing categories as well as the good news that South Arica’s longest running and most successful series will have a new title sponsor in 2019, Volkswagen is also proud to announce the establishment of the pioneering Volkswagen Motorsport Academy.

The Volkswagen Motorsport Academy’s main goal will be to ensure the sustainability of motorsport and especially circuit racing going forward. This is further proof of Volkswagen’s commitment to the South African market and its people. The company has always been a responsible investor in the markets where they are represented, and nowhere else has it been more evident than right here on South African soil.

Over the past three years, the company, through its motorsport division and associated Volkswagen Advanced Driving Academy, has successfully unearthed raw driving talent through an innovative talent-search programme. For 2019, Volkswagen is pleased to announce that they have expanded even more through the establishment of a dedicated Volkswagen Motorsport Academy. The Academy will run a number of courses throughout 2019 that will be commercially available to the broader and upcoming motorsport communities. As a bonus, participants in all the courses will also stand a chance to be selected for a final shootout in November where the winner could end up with a chance to join to the official Volkswagen factory team.

“We are also very pleased to announce that our Motorsport Academy will be headed up by local racing legend and multiple champion in various categories, Michael Stephen,” said Mr. Mike Rowe, Head of Volkswagen Motorsport. “Michael comes with great credentials and racing experience and with him as the lead coach, we are certain that participants couldn’t really ask for anything better.”

The multiple South African champion is also upbeat about the new challenge offered by Volkswagen. “Motorsport has given me so much over the years,” said Stephen. “I am very excited to now be able to give something back. South Africa has produced some great drivers over the years and I can’t wait to play a part in finding and developing the next batch,” he concluded.

Volkswagen factory team driver line-up

For Volkswagen Motorsport itself, for 2019 the team will once again have its sights firmly set on both the GTC and GTC2 trophies. Brad Liebenberg will join Adrian Wood in the fleet of all-conquering Golf GTIs in the GTC2 category. “We all know that the GTI is championship winning car. We also know the talent and driving abilities of both Bradley and Adrian, so we hope that we will remain the team to beat in GTC2,” added Rowe. Liebenberg will have backing from Smartcall while the Wood GTI will once again sport Kyocera livery.

Double GTC2 champion Keagan Masters will now make the jump to the premier GTC category where he will join teammate Daniel Rowe in the Volkswagen GTC Jettas. “Keagan has more than earned his drive by dominating the GTC2 category over the last two seasons while Daniel proved to be one of the quickest drivers in the GTC field last year. Between the two of them, we have every reason to believe that we will be extremely competitive during 2019,” concluded Rowe.

Both Volkswagen’s factory teams competing in the Falken Polo Cup and GTC series will be in action during Round One of the 2019 Extreme Festival to be held at the beautiful Dezzi Raceway on the South Coast of KZN over the weekend of 1 and 2 March.

[Issued by Volkswagen Motorsport]

STATEMENT FROM MICHAEL STEPHEN, 3-TIME SASOL GTC CHAMPION

“After 17 years as part of Terry Moss Racing : Engen / Audi, it is unfortunate that due to unforeseen circumstances I will not be defending my Global Touring Cars title in 2019.

“I would like to thank the TMR team and all the associated sponsors (especially Engen Petroleum and Audi South Africa) for an amazing and successful journey over the years and wish them all of the best into the future.

“However, as one door closes many opportunities await and I am excited for the possibilities the future has to offer. So be sure that I won’t be disappearing!

“First up though, keep an eye out for a fast Plymouth Barracuda in the legends of the 9hr at Zwartkops on February 1-2. More info will follow regarding my plans for 2019.”

Everyone at GTC wishes Mike a successful year ahead and thanks him for the dedication he showed towards his team, sponsors, fellow competitors and the category. We hope to welcome him back on the grid in the near future! #SasolGTC

Global Touring Cars (GTC) has today released details of a new-look 2019 championship calendar with two new circuits being introduced to the eight-round season.

Starting in early March with the Extreme Festival, GTC will head to Port Shepstone to race for the first time at Dezzi Raceway, a circuit quickly becoming a feature on national racing calendars. The championship will then head to a mix of circuits including Zwartkops Raceway (Gauteng), Killarney Raceway (Cape Town) and Aldo Scribante (Port Elizabeth) before breaking away with the tour in August to be part of the SA Festival of Motoring at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit once again. The calendar will then finish the year with an additional visit to Cape Town followed by the finale in late October at Red Star Raceway (Delmas).

While seven of the eight rounds are part of the Extreme Festival, the standalone event at the Johannesburg International Motor Show returns after the huge success of racing in front of tens of thousands of people at Kyalami from all around South Africa in 2018.

“Last year was another huge step up for GTC with us racing in front of so many new fans at the SA Festival of Motoring and we knew last year that we wanted to make sure it was part of our calendar again,” said GTC director Gary Formato.

“Plus starting and ending the season at two completely new circuits, where no-one has raced these cars or done any form of testing, will add an exciting element to our championship fight which we expect to go down to the final races like the last few seasons.”

Last year, Engen Audi’s Michael Stephen claimed his third consecutive Sasol GTC Championship title at the final round at Zwartkops Raceway last October, ahead of title rival and teammate Simon Moss and Gennaro Bonafede from the Sasol GTC Racing Team in third.

In GTC2, Volkswagen Motorsport’s Keagan Masters took his second title in the production class, ahead of Signature Motorsport’s Devin Robertson and Brad Liebenberg. More information about GTC in 2019 will be announced in coming weeks.

2019 Calendar

Round 1: March 1-2 – Dezzi Raceway, Port Shepstone
Round 2: April 5-6 – Zwartkops Raceway, Gauteng
Round 3: May 10-11 – Killarney Raceway, Cape Town
Round 4: June 14-15 – Aldo Scribante Circuit, Port Elizabeth
Round 5: July 26-27 – Zwartkops Raceway, Gauteng
Round 6: August 23-25 – SA Festival of Motoring, Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit
Round 7: September 27-28 – Killarney Raceway, Cape Town
Round 8: October 25-26 – Red Star Raceway, Delmas

Sandton, South Africa – The Sasol GTC Racing Team workshop has been a hive of activity as the team prepares for round two of the Sasol GTC Championship at Killarney Raceway in Cape Town on Saturday, 21^st April. The aim is to defend and grow championship leader, Gennaro Bonafede’s points gap.

Bonafede, behind the wheel of his #32 BMW GTC racing car has a five point lead over Simon Moss (Audi) after the opening race where he claimed one victory and a second place finish.

“I expect the other guys, especially Michael Stephen, to come back strongly,” Bonafede predicts. “I had tremendous pace at Kyalami, so I’m confident of a good performance as I have traditionally done well at Killarney. I claimed my first GTC victory and started last season with a double win, which makes Killarney a special race track for me.  Given the new power we have, it will be like driving on a new track.  The fast back straight will be a “hair raising moment” as we are likely to top 250km/h before hitting the bumpy braking zone into Cape Town Corner.

Bonafede continued: “Cape Town race fans can look forward to some great racing and I hope to be right at the front of it. I doubt it will be a two-horse race as the Volkswagen team has benefitted from significant improvements and will be fielding two highly competitive race cars.  . Johan (Fourie) is always a threat at his home track, so I expect any us to be racing for podium honours. The front of the grid is going to be a very busy place!”

Robert Wolk will have his work cut out for him after his #41 Sasol GTC racing car required a complete rebuild after Kyalami, following a massive accident that saw the driver experience in excess of 4G.

“It was a big one”, admitted Wolk, who walked away unharmed. “The team has worked day and night to rebuild my car. I am really looking forward to a competitive car which will give me the edge to challenge for the lead as I did at round one. I enjoy racing at Killarney in front of a large crowd of enthusiastic motorsport fans and hope to put on a good show for them.”

Team Manager Vic Maharaj said: “It is always our intention to race as competitively as we can and enjoy a trouble-free weekend. I am confident our cars will be on pace as we continually strive to seek a competitive advantage within the regulations.  It is then up to the drivers to make the best use of their cars on the day. I have seen the GTC field close up considerably and expect bumper-to-bumper racing.”

Join the conversation on social media using #SasolGTC and visit www.sasolmotorsport.co.za for the latest #SasolGTC Championship news, broadcast schedules and so much more.

[ISSUED BY SASOL GTC RACING TEAM]

Sasol Preview: It’s showtime as the Sasol GTC Championship heads to Cape Town

Sandton, South Africa – The second round of the Sasol GTC Championship heads to Killarney International Raceway on Saturday 21 April and if the opening round at Kyalami is anything to go by, Western Cape fans are going to be thrilled by the new generation GTC cars.

The cars now feature engines producing up to 500 bhp in qualifying trim which should see the cars slash around 1.5 seconds a lap from their previous time around the 3.2km long circuit while hitting around 250km/h down the long back straight.

Such is the competitive nature of Sasol GTC racing, motorsport fans can expect entertainment from the top drawer as the early championship leader Gennaro Bonafede aims to extend his form at a track that has been kind to him in the past. After banking the first win of the season, the Sasol BMW GTC driver added a second place to his scorecard to open up a marginal five point gap over Simon Moss in his Engen Audi GTC, who ran out the winner of race two at Kyalami last month.

Michael van Rooyen lies third in the standings after pulling out all the stops to take his best qualifying position in his GTC career and taking his third-ever podium result which suggests both he and his team have come to grips with his RSC BMW GTC.

The ‘other’ Michael, Stephen – the double Sasol GTC Champion – is a further three points behind thanks to a second place finish in the first race at Kyalami. He was an innocent victim of a spectacular accident which befell Capetonian Johan Fourie and was classified a non-finisher. Stephen, the team leader in the Audi squad, has 13 championships to his name and will pull out all the stops to close the gap to Bonafede.

Fourie, Cape Town’s favourite son, will be back with a vengeance in his EPS Couriers BMW GTC with a point to prove and points to earn around the challenging track. Volkswagen will be well in the mix as seen by Mathew Hodges’ superb performance last month. He raced through to second place in his VW Jetta GTC while Daniel Rowe, in the second factory Jetta GTC, drove his heart out to catch the leaders after being tipped into a spin in the first race. The Volkswagen’s pace is up with the rest of the pack so expect the sparks to fly as the top drivers in SA’s premier touring car series do battle against the backdrop of table Mountain.

After qualifying on the front row of the grid and racing away in second place, Robert Wolk (Sasol BMW GTC) will be on a mission to get his scorecard ticking over after a mechanical gremlin put him on the sidelines at Kyalami.

GTC2:

The front-wheel drive class has already produced its share of paint-swapping racing as the Volkswagen versus MINI battle rages unabated.

While Keagan Masters drove his factory Golf GTi to victory in race one at the first round, it was the turn of Bradley Liebenberg (Ferodo MINI John Cooper Works) to cross the line first in the second race and take a five point log lead with Mr. Consistency, Trevor Bland in his Universal healthcare Golf GTi, slotting into second place in the standings.

Charl Smalberger (UniChip Golf GTi) is feeling the heat with Masters lurking four points adrift, in turn two points ahead of Devin Robertson in the Champion-backed MINI JCW. With all five drivers proven race winners, the hot-hatch war is getting hotter.

Newcomer Reno van Heerden (Hot Wheels Ford Focus ST) earned a workmanlike 24 points on his debut, to lead the second factory Volkswagen and Kyocera-backed driver, Adrian Wood, by two points, tied with Capetonian Dayne Angel (Angel Autohaus Honda Civic Type-R) who raced to a career best fourth last time out.

Join the conversation on social media using #SasolGTC and visit www.sasolmotorsport.co.za for the latest #SasolGTC Championship news, broadcast schedules and so much more.

[ISSUED BY SASOL]