BMW CCG Club Racing Series – Round 3 – Zwartkops – 28 June 2014
Paul Blackburn
The third round of the 2014 BMW CCG Club Racing Series saw this popular racing category head to a cold and windy Zwartkops Raceway on Saturday 28 June. The action on the track however would certainly heat things up.
Kris Budnik (E46 M3 GT) made a welcome return to the series after his big accident at Kyalami earlier in the season. He promptly put his car on pole position ahead of the rest of the field. Manny Ribeiro (E36 325i Turbo) claimed the top spot in class B with Lee Jones (E39 M5) putting in a great lap to grab the number one spot in class C. Mike Wentzel (2002 Turbo) surprised his fellow competitors when he planted his historic racer on the front row in class D.
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Race 1
The first race of the day saw the twenty three car field charge through turn one in a cloud of dust and exhaust fumes. When the dust had settled it was Budnik who blasted through turn three ahead of Ribeiro and Carlo Garbini (E46 M3), with the rest of the field in tow. With Budnik already opening up an impressive lead, the real battle was between Ribeiro and Garbini. Ribeiro ruined his chances however when he ran wide coming out of turn eight on the fourth lap. He did however manage to catch a spectacular “Gary Formato” style moment in the process as well though!
Budnik roared to victory in both races…
The class C battle was just as close with Dino Fameliaris (E36 M3) grabbing the class lead from Jones on the fifth lap. Jonathan Araujo (E36 328i Turbo) saw his challenge disappear out of the window on the very next lap when the left rear brake calliper on his car broke, forcing him into retirement. Warren Dodd (E36 325i) also succumbed to mechanical gremlins when his car lost oil pressure on the same lap.
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Budnik romped home to an unchallenged victory, with Garbini taking the class B honours. Fameliaris took a triumphant victory in class C, while Wentzel surprised all when he took a light’s to flag victory over the more technologically advanced machinery in class D.
Ribeiro and Garbini couldn’t have been closer…
Race 1 Class Results
Class A
Class B
Kris Budnik – Best lap: 1:04.028
Carlo Garbini – Best lap: 1:08.051
Manny Ribeiro – Best lap: 1:08.055
Class C
Class D
Dino Fameliaris – Best lap: 1:11.336
Nick Smythe – Best lap: 1:12.471
Mike Grobler – Best lap: 1:11.577
Mike Wentzel – Best lap: 1:13.521
Hein Strohm – Best lap: 1:13.254
Andries Greyvensteyn – Best lap: 1:13.547
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Race 2
A reverse grid for the second heat would set the tone for some enthralling racing.
Once again Budnik got the hole shot off the front row with class B contenders Ribeiro and Garbini in tow. The real action was happening behind the leading trio though, with the class C and D contenders all jostling for position. Justin Robertson (E36 328i) grabbed the class C lead ahead of Riaan Woest (E36 328i) and a hard charging Araujo. The ultra competitive class D competitors were still kicking up the dust as they fought for class honours.
Fameliaris drove like a man possessed…
Araujo grabbed second position in class C on lap two and then proceeded to grab the lead two laps later. Fameliaris was also scything through the field after starting from the back of the grid. He slotted into third position behind the leaders on lap four.
Series newcomer Greyvensteyn led the class D field by the half way point in the race. Second placed Bruce Turner (E36 328i) was driving on the limit to keep the more powerful competition behind him. Hein Strohm (E36 M3 GTR) and Wentzel were hot on his heels, but Turner took the pressure in his stride. Unfortunately horsepower over came race craft a few laps later. Johan Dreyer (E46 330i) added insult to injury when he also passed the hapless Turner on the seventh lap.
With Budnik once again pulling away out in front, the class B contenders were left to fight it out for the remaining podium positions. Ribeiro was robbed of a decent result when he slowed with brake issues on the penultimate lap.
Budnik cruised home to victory, with Garbini grabbing second position from Ribeiro in the closing stages of the race. Araujo held on for a well deserved victory in class C with Greyvensteyn taking his first win in the series in class D.
