The Bridgestone BMW Club Racing Series held their final race event of the 2014 season at the popular Zwartkops Raceway on Saturday 29 November.
With the Overall and individual class championships all still up for grabs, sparks were expected to fly.
Lee Thompson (E82 135i) upset the establishment when he convincingly took pole position with an astounding time of 1:02.859. Sav Gaultieri (F30 335i) had to settle for second with Kris Budnik (E46 M3 GT) taking third. Manny Ribeiro (E36 325i Turbo) would line up on the front row in class B with Lee Jones (E39 M5) taking pole in class C. Once again Johan Dreyer (E46 330i) set the pace in class D.
Race 1
Gianni Giannoccaro’s newly liveried car took him to the 2014 class A Championship
The first race got off to a roaring start with the twenty five car field jostling for position through the first two corners. Thompson emerged through turn three in the lead with Gaultieri, Budnik, Gianni Giannoccaro (E46 M3 CSL GTR) and invitational driver Graeme Nathan (VW Golf 6 GTI) in tow. Budnik’s race came to a sudden end through turn four when the prop shaft on his car broke however.
Ribeiro led the class B field with team mate Jonathan Araujo (E36 328i Turbo) and the rest of the pack in hot pursuit. Ribeiro was on a charge and soon shot past the experienced Nathan on the second lap to grab fourth position behind the leading trio. Jones was showing the class C field the way around the circuit with Justin Robertson (E36 328i) and Daniel Koekemoer (E36 M3 GTR) watching his every move. The class D battle once again saw Dreyer and Mike Salt (E36 323i) fighting it out for honours.
Araujo followed in his team mate’s footsteps and relegated Nathan to sixth position on lap six. The race was turned on its head moments later when Ribeiro retired with differential issues on his car. Race leader Thompson then retired a lap later with terminal engine problems.
When the chequered flag came out it was Gaultieri who took an easy win ahead of Giannoccaro to claim the Overall and class A honours. Araujo took an untroubled victory in class B with Jones taking a comfortable first position in class C. Dreyer was kept honest by Salt once again and had to work hard to take the class D honours.
Dreyer on his way to claiming the 2014 Overall and class D Championships
Race 1 Class Results
Class A
Class B
Sav Gaultieri – Best lap: 1:03.875
Gianni Giannoccaro – Best lap: 1:07.288
Graeme Nathan – Best lap: 1:08.612
Jonathan Araujo – Best lap: 1:08.277
Desmond Bloem – Best lap: 1:08.379
Riaan Woest – Best lap: 1:09.998
Class C
Class D
Lee Jones – Best lap: 1:11.164
Justin Robertson – Best lap: 1:11.861
Dino Fameliaris – Best lap: 1:11.625
Johan Dreyer – Best lap: 1:15.352
Mike Salt – Best lap: 1:15.555
Arri van Heerden – Best lap: 1:15.418
Race 2
Nathan proved to be the wet weather specialist in his front wheel drive Golf 6
The traditional inverted by class grid for race two set the tone for an exciting final race of the year. For the first time in BMW CCG Club Racing history a VW powered vehicle held pole position with Nathan at the wheel. Giannoccaro would line up alongside the 2014 Class T Bridgestone Production Car Champion in his newly livered BMW racer.
The usual rolling start saw the field fan out and jostle for position through the first few corners. Gaultieri used the power and speed of his car to take the lead down the back straight into turn four. Nathan slotted into second position ahead of Giannoccaro. A repaired Ribeiro was leading the class B pack with Araujo and Riaan Woest (E46 M3 GTR) in tow. Robertson grabbed the class C lead ahead of Desmond Bloem (E36 325i Turbo) and the rest of the chasing pack, while series newcomer Ronnie Koekemoer (E46 M3) found himself at the front of the class D field. Budnik was driving like a man possessed as he scythed his way through the field from the back of the grid. He was up to eighth position by lap two before electrical issues caused him to retire to the pits.
Giannoccaro found a way past Nathan to snap up second position on the third lap, only to have Nathan return the favour a lap later with an impressive move around the outside of turn three. Class C front runner Jones then retired to the pits with suspected brake failure.
The race was thrown completely on its head when the heavens opened three laps from the end. The circuit became water logged within minutes and traction for the competitors had changed drastically. Wet weather talent and experience would now come to the fore.
Gaultieri could no longer get the power down and the rest of the rear wheel drive cars had similar problems. Nathan in the front wheel drive VW Golf now started closing in on the race leaders and took the lead through turn three on the penultimate lap of the race, only to run wide through the very next corner. He recovered quickly and set about opening up a gap on the rest of the field. The monsoon like conditions had everyone slipping and sliding through the corners.
With conditions well and truly in his favour Nathan took the Overall and class A victory ahead of Giannoccaro with Gaultieri slipping back to third. Ribeiro held on for a narrow victory ahead of his team mate Araujo in class B, with Robertson showing his skill in the wet to take the class C honours ahead of young Julian Fameliaris (E36 328i). Dreyer romped home to victory in the wet conditions to claim the class D honours.
Gaultieri found the worsening conditions rather tricky
Race 2 Class Results
Class A
Class B
Graeme Nathan – Best lap: 1:09.041
Gianni Giannoccaro – Best lap: 1:08.356
Sav Gaultieri – Best lap: 1:05.622
Manny Ribeiro – Best lap: 1:08.792
Jonathan Araujo – Best lap: 1:09.829
Riaan Woest – Best lap: 1:10.899
Class C
Class D
Justin Robertson – Best lap: 1:12.453
Julian Fameliaris– Best lap: 1:12.156
Dino Fameliaris – Best lap: 1:12.558
Johan Dreyer – Best lap: 1:15.737
Mike Salt – Best Lap: 1:16.384
Bruce Turner – Best lap: 1:16.342
Despite mechanical issues, Ribeiro came back to claim the 2014 class B Championship in race 2
Johan Dreyer’s victory in the final race of the year saw him claim not only the hard fought class D title but the Overall BMW CCG Club Racing Series title as well – and this in only his first season of racing in this very competitive series!
Gianni Giannoccaro took the 2014 class A title by a narrow 3 point margin. Manny Ribeiro took the 2014 class B honours by an equally small margin. Justin Robertson’s consistency throughout the season saw him rack up a comfortable 16 point gap over his nearest rival to comfortably take the 2014 class C title.
2014 BMW CCG Club Racing Series Class Championship
Class A
Class B
Gianni Giannoccaro – 57 points
Sav Gaultieri – 54 points
Kris Budnik – 52
Manny Ribeiro – 95 points
Carlo Garbini – 92 points
Ricky Giannoccaro – 62 points
Class C
Class D
Justin Robertson – 102 points
Dino Fameliaris – 86 points
Julian Fameliaris – 83 points
Johan Dreyer – 107 points
Mike Salt – 98 points
Bruce Turner – 70 points
2014 Overall BMW CCG Club Racing Series Championship
Johan Dreyer – 107 points
Justin Robertson – 102 points
Mike Salt – 98 points
Manny Ribeiro – 95 points
Carlo Garbini – 92 points
Dino Fameliaris – 86 points
Robertson battled his way to the line to claim the 2014 Class C title and second overall
The 2014 racing season has been the closest one yet in all the years that this popular series has been running, and the 2015 season promises to bring even more excitement going forward. New rules and a new class for more standard entry level cars will no doubt see this successful series continue to grow from strength to strength.
The Bridgestone BMW Club Racing Series will return to the Zwartkops Raceway for the final round of the championship.
The 2014 racing season has seen one of the closest championship battles in series history – in both the individual and overall class battles.
The Individual class battles
Budnik will be keen to take the class A laurels
Kris Budnik (E46 M3 GT) currently leads the class A ranks by eleven points over Gianni Giannoccaro (E46 M3 CSL GTR). Jimmy Giannoccaro (E82 135i) finds himself in third position – a further eleven points behind his son.
Sav Gaultieri (F30 335i) is once again expected to challenge for overall honours on the day but hasn’t competed in enough events during the course of the year to be a title hopeful.
Kris Budnik – 52 points
Gianni Giannoccaro – 41 points
Jimmy Giannoccaro – 30 points
The class B battle has literally been a two horse race during the course of the year. Carlo Garbini (E46 M3) was able to come away from the last event with a narrow seven point advantage over championship rival Manny Ribeiro (E36 325i Turbo). Ricky Giannoccaro (E46 M3 GTR) could still be a threat to the leaders if either of them has a bad result at the final event.
Jonathan Araujo (E36 328i Turbo) will be looking to end the year on a high after being plagued by reliability issues during the season. On a good day Thouca Mechanicos (E46 M3 Ti GTR) could very well challenge for a podium position as well, while class B newcomer Riaan Woest (E46 M3 GTR) will be looking for a better result than his first race a few weeks ago.
Carlo Garbini – 92 points
Manny Ribeiro – 85 points
Ricky Giannoccaro – 62 points
Sav Gaultieri (F30 335i) is once again expected to challenge for overall honours on the day
Robertson will be looking to trump the Fameliaris boys for class C honours
Class C has consistently been one of the biggest and most competitive classes in the series with various winners throughout the year keeping the class championship chase very close. Justin Robertson (E36 328i) goes into the final event of the year with a ten point advantage over closest rival Dino Fameliaris (E36 M3). Julian Fameliaris (E36 328i) is only three points behind his cousin and could very well cause an upset between the leading duo.
Lee Jones (E39 M5) will be hard pressed to catch the leaders but does have some peace of mind after taking a double victory at the very same circuit at the previous round. Hein Strohm (E36 M3 GTR) was the championship leader earlier in the year and will be looking to get back to winning form again. Warren Dodd (E36 325i) will be hoping for better luck at the final event of the year after a string of mechanical failures has seen him falling further behind the class leaders. With more than half a dozen capable contenders in the field the action is sure to be closer than ever.
Justin Robertson – 84 points
Dino Fameliaris – 74 points
Julian Fameliaris – 71 points
Class D has been another hotly contended class with at least a dozen entries throughout the year keeping things interesting. The latter half of the season has seen two contenders emerge at the front of the field. Johan Dreyer (E46 330i) finds himself leading the class by a mere five points in only his first year of competitive racing. Mike Salt (E36 323i) will be as determined as ever to turn the tables on Dreyer with a possible championship title staring him in the face. Bruce Turner’s (E36 328i) fighting spirit has seen him hanging onto third position in the class despite missing an event due to budget restraints.
Shane Grobler (E36 328i) has moved into fourth position. Mike Wentzel (2002 Turbo) has seen his chances blow out of the window after a string of mechanical failures have put paid to his chances of a decent season. Trevor Long (E36 328i) has shown consistency in his first year in racing and will be looking to finish the season on a high.
Johan Dreyer – 87 points
Mike Salt – 82 points
Bruce Turner – 59 points
The Dreyer / Salt battle will go down to the wire
The Overall title chase
Garbini will be determined to take the Overall and class B titles
The overall championship title chase couldn’t be closer with the top five contenders only separated by 10 points!
Carlo Garbini (E46 M3) finds himself at the top of the leader board with Johan Dreyer (E46 330i) only five points behind him. Manny Ribeiro (E36 325i Turbo) is a further two points behind Dreyer with Justin Robertson (E36 328i) a solitary point behind him. Mike Salt (E36 323i) is only two points behind Robertson as well.
With everything and more on the line the racing action is expected to be fast and furious!
Carlo Garbini – 92 points
Johan Dreyer – 87 points
Manny Ribeiro – 85 points
Justin Robertson – 84 points
Mike Salt – 82 points
Dino Fameliaris – 74 points
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.
