Bridgestone BMW Club Racing Series – Round 05 – Phakisa – 2021-09-18
The Phakisa Freeway once again hosts the Bridgestone BMW Club Racing Series on Saturday 18 September, 3 months almost to the day since a wheel was last turned in anger. In the interim, the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic have left motorsport tragically bereft of many wonderful friends and contributors, but in their memory, it must carry on as strongly as ever.
A strong field lines up at the former famed Grand Prix venue, headed in Class A by William Einkamerer (BTAS BMW E92 335i) the last winner at Zwartkops in June. Rick Loureiro is also back in the fearsome Combined Racing BMW F30 335i Production, as is the evergreen Adrian Dalton (Xtra Clothing and Shoes BMW E46 M3 CSL). After a long absence, Stefano Martinelli makes a welcome return in the Dalucon Insulated Panels BMW E90 335i.
In Class B Andreas Meier (#TrainedAmateurs BMW E36 STC) will go up against the usual suspects, Jagger Robertson (Viking/Big Boss Auto BMW E46 M3), Oz Biagioni (Bio Pool Maintenance BMW E46 M3), Carlo Garbini (Kimbo Coffee BMW E46 330 Turbo), Salvi Gualtieri (SavSpeed/Eataly Foods BMW E36 328i Turbo) and Fabio Fedetto (BMW F82 M4). Jan Eversteyn is overseas and will miss this round unfortunately.
Class C will be as busy as ever with Nek Makris (BMW E46 328i Turbo) looking forward to another epic battle against Renier Smith (BMW E36 M3), and Matthew Wadeley (BMW E36 M3). Troy Cochran (Arrow Automotive/ATE BMW E36 M3), Lyle Ramsay (FUCHS Lubricants/Rich Racing BMW E36 330i), Alan Hilligenn (C3 Shared Services BMW E46 328i Turbo) and Trevor Long (Roof Surgeon/Big Boss Auto BMW E36 M3) will likely join the trio in what is an extremely competitive mix.
Neil Reynolds heads Class D (Valve Hospital BMW E36 M3), with father and son duo Craig and Nicholas Herbst again sharing the Greenhouse Solar BMW E46 330i. Bernard de Gouveia (de Gouveia Accountants BMW E36 328i), Manny Ribeiro (Bridgestone/BMW Club E46 325i Touring), Varish Ganpath (Prodigy BMW E46 325ci) and Shane Grobler (Mayfair Gearbox BMW E30 325i) are the others chasing points and outright victory.
In Class E, Thomas Potgieter (Stonehill Properties BMW E87 128i) who scored his first win in class at this venue is ready to face off against Arri van Heerden (VTech Motorsport BMW E30 325i), Mike Grobler (Grobler Motorsport BMW E36 328I) and Nicholas Fischer (Inside Active Group BMW E36 328i).
Also racing at Phakisa at the BMW Car Club Gauteng Track and Race Day will be the PoziDrive VW Challenge. The weekend will also see the inaugural round of the newly formed GTI Cup. The action will be interspersed with Time Trials featuring entries such as Leon Loubser (BMW E92 335i), Sav Gualtieri (BMW F30 335i) and Phillip Smit (Porsche 911 GT3 RS). The weekend will be concluded with a 45-minute endurance race where the Beemers will face a tough challenge from VW and GTI power.
Story by Tony Alves
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