INEX Legends Championship – Round 11 – Red Star Raceway – 2016-11-12 – Race Report

The INEX Legends Championship headed back to the Red Star Raceway for the final round of the 2016 racing season on Saturday 12 November.

The traditional ball draw for grid positions saw Janeske Viljoen (INEX Legends SA) on pole position ahead of Ian Upton (R.U. Racing). Lonika Maartens (Maxtrac / Denmar Steel) would line up in third place with Llewellyn Myburgh (Bamboo Racing) alongside him on the second row. Steve Nel (INEX Legends SA) and Clinton Bezuidenhout (Universal Healthcare) would round out the top six.

Race 1

The first race of the day saw Maartens grab an early lead ahead of Steve Nel (INEX Legends SA), Bezuidenhout and Seef Fourie (Maxtrac / Denmar Steel). Nel ran wide through turn three however allowing the rest of the chasing pack to get past him. Fourie grabbed second before the end of the first lap but Bezuidenhout was still glued to his rear bumper.

The battle behind the leaders was just as close with Shaun Nel (Royal Purple Oil), Anro Stadler (Jentelle Racing) and Justin Robertson (Speed & Sound / Big Boss Auto) involved in a three way tussle of their own. Bezuidenhout slipped into second place coming off the back straight on lap four and then proceeded to take the lead on the penultimate lap of the race. Maartens reclaimed second place on the same lap.

Bezuidenhout held on for the win with Fourie snatching second place from team mate Maartens on the last lap of the race.

Race 1 Results

Race 2

The second race saw Fourie grab an early lead ahead of Robertson, Shaun Nel and the rest of the chasing pack. Stadler scuppered his chances with a spin on the opening lap. Nel grabbed second place before the end of lap two.

Bezuidenhout came through from the mid pack to relegate Robertson to fourth and then proceeded to take second place from Nel as well. Upton and Divan Myburgh (Bamboo Racing) were unfortunate to have to retire to the pits with mechanical issues. Maartens then slowed with a misfire on the third lap, ending any chance of a good result for her.

The battle behind the leading trio was a close run affair once again with a recovered Stadler getting past Robertson to move up to fourth place. Llewellyn Myburgh (Bamboo Racing) was trying to stay in touch with the pair while battling an ailing motor.

Bezuidenhout took the lead on the penultimate lap of the race but Fourie was not about to give up without a fight. The pair ran side by side through the last two corners and in the run down to the line it was Bezuidenhout who only just held on for the win – 0.001 of a second separating the pair across the line! Nel had the best seat in the house as he held on for a comfortable third.

Race 2 Results

Race 3

The third and final race continued the non-stop action early on. Poleman Upton held on to the lead at the start with Robertson, Stadler and Richard van Heerde (Browndeck Roofing) ahead of the rest of the chasing pack. A hard charging Bezuidenhout then ran out of brakes at the end of the main straight while challenging for the lead, having a very high speed off and narrowly avoiding a major impact with the tyre barriers.

Stadler took the lead with Robertson, Fourie and Nel in tow. Fourie inherited the lead on lap three when Stadler retired with suspension failure coming out of turn four. Series newcomer Charl Roux (Master) retired on the same lap with a snapped throttle cable.

A repaired Maartens was on a charge as she got past van Heerde to slot into fourth position a lap later. She was clearly on a mission as she picked off both Nel and Robertson on the penultimate lap of the race to slot in behind her team mate Fourie. Nel followed her example to take third place but Robertson came back at him almost immediately to regain the spot.

Fourie went on to take an easy win with Maartens holding on for second place ahead of Robertson.

Race 3 Results

Fourie’s brace of podium results saw him officially clinch the coveted Overall 2016 INEX Legends Championship as well as the 2016 INEX Legends Pro Division crown. Team mate Maartens secured the 2016 INEX Legends Semi-Pro Division title as well. Robertson wrapped up the 2016 INEX Legends Masters Division title while Bezuidenhout easily won the 2016 INEX Legends Young Lions crown.

Race Report by: Greg Reilly
Event Photographs: www.RacePics.co.za
Media requests can be directed to: media@racepics.co.za
Website: www.legendsracing.co.za
Facebook: INEX Legends SA

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