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1900

Zwartkops Heats Up

Zwartkops Heats Up

Author: Vaughn Williams
Date: 2012-08-29
The mercury soared to over 30 degrees around the Pretoria-West circuit this past weekend and visitors would never have believed that just 2 weeks ago there was snow over 90 percent of Gauteng. The ambient temperature wasn't the only intense heat to be felt though, as the on track action made tempers flare and new winners emerge. The WesBank Super Series was back in town.

Class T was a humdinger with the Mini Cooper dominance quite apparent. Thompson botched the start, confusing all around him and in the resultant melee he and van Rooyen touched, sending the Chev pilot into the kitty litter, rejoining in last place. Cronje took up second place with Formato third. Cronje then slowed with a water pump problem giving Formato and Nathan the right to fight for second. Fight they did, lap after lap until Nathan managed to get the better of his wily rival in the dying stages. Duminy finished fourth, holding off Cronje, Joubert and van Rooyen. Robertson and Levy both pitted with burst boost pipes.

With the top 4 reversed for race 2 an entertaining battle for the lead resumed between protagonists, Formato and Nathan. The racing was hard but fair with Nathan once again getting the better of Formato. Duminy took 3rd with van Rooyen 4th and Joubert a distant 5th. Both Minis retired with overheating problems.

Race 3 saw Lee Thompson take a lead from pole position and never look like relinquishing it. Nathan had a brief tussle with Formato who held onto 3rd until the last lap when a front tyre cried enough and he limped home. Third place went briefly to Shaun Duminy who, within metres of Formato, had a fuel pump problem and lost the place to a surprised Gavin Cronje. Fourth place went to a very grateful Michael van Rooyen who was expecting to have a dismal point's haul after his Cruze lost power. Duminy was classified 5th ahead of Joubert and Formato. Devin Robertson burst another boost pipe and limped home 8th.

It was a wonderful day in Pretoria with the large crowd being treated to some excellent and robust racing. The on track action was fierce and looks set to continue at Killarney on the 22nd September. The top three points positions are Nathan on 191, Formato on 143 and Joubert on 116.