The fourth round of the 2014 BMW CCG Club Racing Series saw this popular racing formula return to a cold and windy Zwartkops Raceway on Saturday 9 August, this time joining the popular Extreme Festival Roadshow. An impressive thirty seven car field turned out in force, which included a number of new and old faces. Once again the fast paced action on the track certainly heated things up.
True to form Kris Budnik (E46 M3 GT) promptly put his car on pole position ahead of Lee Thompson (E46 M3 Ti GTR) and the rest of the field. Carlo Garbini (E46 M3) claimed the top spot in class B with Dino Fameliaris (E36 M3) claiming pole position in class C. Daniel Koekemoer (E36 M3) put in a great effort to put his car on the front row in class D.
Race 1
Thompson impressed in Thouca Mechanicos’ car…
The rolling start for the first race saw the impressive field charge across the start line in a cloud of dust and exhaust fumes. Invitational driver Mike McLoughlin (Backdraft Roadster) blasted through from the second row of the grid to grab the lead with an impressive move around the outside of turn one! Unfortunately he was found to have jumped the start and was given a 30 second penalty. He was closely followed by Thompson, Budnik and the rest of the determined field.
Duane Galloway (Nissan Skyline R32) ruined his chances when he ran wide through turn four on the second lap. A determined Budnik grabbed second position on the same lap and set about chasing the race leader.
With the leading trio off into the distance, the battle behind them was closer than ever. Ricky Giannoccaro (E46 M3 GTR) had his hands full keeping Kishoor Pitamber (E90 i) and Garbini at bay. Jonathan Araujo (E36 328i Turbo) was being kept honest by Brian Penney (Nissan 350Z) and a low flying Fameliaris. Gianni Giannoccaro (E46 M3 CSL GTR) was unfortunate to retire to the pits with gearbox gremlins on lap four. Araujo also saw his challenge end three laps later when he slowed with turbo issues.
Fameliaris did some low flying to claim the class C victory in both heats…
The battle at the front of the field looked to be sewn up, but McLoughlin made an uncharacteristic mistake and spun out after locking up the brakes heading into turn eight on the penultimate lap of the race. Budnik managed to keep Thompson at bay to claim the Overall and class A victory, while Pitamber crossed the line to take a respectable third position. Ricky Giannoccaro took the class B honours ahead of Garbini and a motivated Penney, driving in honour of his son Dale who is recovering from major brain surgery.
Fameliaris picked up where he left off at the previous event as he claimed a narrow victory in class C ahead of Desmond Bloem (E36 325i) and Warren Dodd (E36 325i). The class D brat pack saw some really close and competitive racing once again with Mike Wentzel (2002 Turbo) repeating his impressive performance from the previous event to claim the top honours. Mike Salt (E36 323i) took a well placed second position with Shane Grobler (E36 328i) taking a comfortable third.
Race 1 Class Results
Class A
Class B
Kris Budnik – Best lap: 1:05.072
Lee Thompson – Best lap: 1:06.765
Kishoor Pitamber – Best lap: 1:08.608
Ricky Giannoccaro – Best lap: 1:08.042
Carlo Garbini – Best lap: 1:08.494
Brian Penney – Best lap: 1:10.775
Class C
Class D
Dino Fameliaris – Best lap: 1:11.135
Desmond Bloem – Best lap: 1:10.925
Warren Dodd – Best lap: 1:11.255
Mike Wentzel – Best lap: 1:15.070
Mike Salt – Best lap: 1:14.806
Shane Grobler – Best lap: 1:14.5823
Race 2
Giannoccaro drove brilliantly to win the second race…
A reverse grid for the second heat would certainly set the cat amongst the pigeons. The large field stormed through the first few corners and it was Gianni Giannoccaro who emerged in the lead through turn three with Thompson, Pitamber and the two Backdraft Cobra’s of Tony Martin and McLoughlin in tow. The experienced Martin saw his chances come to nought though when he spun out in turn two on the third lap. Penney slowed on the very same lap with an intermittent misfire putting paid to his chances of another good result.
Budnik was on the comeback trail and slotted into fourth position behind the leading trio by lap four. Fifth placed Pitamber had his hands full as Garbini, Fameliaris, Mike Grobler (E90 330i) and Justin Robertson (E36 328i) were all fighting for the same piece of tarmac. After a lacklustre first race Manny Ribeiro (E36 328i Turbo) was scything his way through the field and soon joined the party, relegating both Grobler and Robertson to ninth and tenth positions respectively. He then shot past Fameliaris on the sixth lap to claim seventh and was gifted sixth position two laps later when Pitamber retired with mechanical gremlins.
The battle at the sharp end of the field was closer than ever with Giannoccaro having the race of his life as he held the experienced Thompson behind him. Budnik finally got past McLoughlin on the penultimate lap and tried in vain to reel in the leaders.
When the chequered flag dropped it was Giannoccaro who claimed a well deserved Overall and class A victory ahead of Thompson, with Budnik having to be content with third position. Garbini didn’t put a foot wrong and cruised home to take a comfortable class B victory ahead of Ribeiro. A tight class C battle saw Fameliaris take the double as Robertson was chased all the way to the line by a determined Lee Jones (E39 M5). Wentzel showed the rest of the class D field that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks as he took yet another victory in his historic racer. Johan Dreyer (E46 330i) claimed second position, with young karter Jordan Sherratt (Mini Cooper S) taking an impressive third in his first main circuit tin top event.
Sherrat’s transition from karting to tin tops was impressive…
The Bridgestone / BMW CCG Club Racing Series will return to the Zwartkops Raceway on Women’s Day – 9 August for the fourth round of the 2014 racing season. The series also has the privilege of joining the popular Extreme Festival, which has quickly become the fastest growing motorsport Road Show in the country.
While all the drivers will be hard at work in their race cars, all will no doubt be thinking of fellow competitor and friend Dale Penney while he recovers from severe illness. His father Brian is coming up from Pinetown to race Dale’s car in honour of his son, a token of the very close friendship they share.
The Overall title chase
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Budnik will be looking to blow away the competition once again…
The overall and individual class titles have really started to develop into a close run affair after the first three events of the year. The top six drivers in the Overall Championship title race are separated by less than ten points! Carlo Garbini (E46 M3) has jumped to the top of the leader board with Manny Ribeiro (E36 325i Turbo) only two points behind him. Hein Strohm (E36 M3 GTR) is a further two points behind the leading pair with Julian Fameliaris (E36 328i) a solitary point behind him. Bruce Turner (E36 328i) is a further two points adrift with Warren Dodd (E36 325i) an equal number of points behind him.
With at least another two dozen regular competitors in the series expected to take to the track in anger, the racing should be closer than ever!
The Individual class battles
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Garbini will be looking to increase his lead in class B…
Kris Budnik (E46 M3 GT) made a welcome return to the series at the previous event to absolutely dominate proceedings, taking the class A points lead in the process. Sav Gualtieri (E46 328i Turbo) is a mere two points behind the leader however, with Mishal Sing (E92 M3) and Jimmy Giannoccaro (E82 135i) a further eight points behind them.
Carlo Garbini (E46 M3) jumps to the top of the class B leader board with 38 points. Manny Ribeiro (E36 325i Turbo) is a further two points behind him with Jonathan Araujo (E36 328i Turbo) in third position. Ricky Giannoccaro (E46 M3 GTR) is a further three points behind Araujo with his team mate Thouca Mechanicos (E46 M3 Ti GTR) only two points adrift. Gianni Giannoccaro (E46 M3 CSL GTR) rounds out the top six.
The class C battle has closed up again with Hein Strohm (E36 M3 GTR) now grabbing the lead ahead of Julian Fameliaris (E36 328i) albeit by a single point. Warren Dodd (E36 325i) is four points behind the leading duo, with Justin Robertson (E36 328i) only three points behind him. Dino Fameliaris (E36 M3) keeps the family flag flying high on equal points with Robertson. Riaan Woest (E36 328i) drops down to sixth position but is still well within striking distance of the rest of the top six. With at least another half a dozen contenders in the field the action is sure to be fast and furious.
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Wentzel will be looking for a repeat performance of the previous event…
Bruce Turner (E36 328i) still manages to hold onto the D class lead despite some mixed results at the previous event. Shane Grobler (E36 328i) is now five points behind the leader, with series newcomer Johan Dreyer (E46 330i) jumping into third position ahead of Mike Salt (E36 323i). A strong showing from Mike Wentzel (2002 Turbo) at the previous event sees him move into fifth position ahead of Daniel Koekemoer (E36 M3). With a string of other contenders in this competitive class all able to make a points scoring result, the action is sure to be as competitive as always.
Dale Penney (Nissan 350Z) still leads the Invitational Challenge Class on 11 points with Steven Platt (Nissan Skyline R33) a solitary point behind him. Duane Galloway (Nissan Skyline R32) is a further two points behind his fellow Skyline racer while Adam Starostecki (Mazda MX5) is hoping for better results at this event.
If you are interested in joining or attending this event please forward your details to Click-to-Reveal@bmwcarclub.co.za. Further correspondence will then be sent to you.
