INEX Legends Championship – Round 5 – Midvaal – 2016-06-25 – Race Report

The fifth round of the INEX Legends Championship saw this popular series make their way to the Midvaal Raceway in the Vaal Triangle on Saturday 25 June for yet another action packed event. An added bonus to this particular event was the fact that the races would be run in an anti-clockwise direction.

The traditional ball draw for grid positions saw Lonika Maartens (SP) draw pole position with Johan Jooste (M) pulling second. Steve Nel (M) would line up in third position with Anro Stadler (SP) joining the veteran on the second row. Johan van de Venter (M) and Justin Robertson (M) would round out the top six starting positions.

Race 1

The first race of the day saw the large field charge down through the first corner. Lonika Maartens (Semi-Pro) took the lead ahead of Steve Nel (Master) and Anro Stadler (Semi-Pro). Jordan Larsson (Semi-Pro) slotted into fourth place with Cousins Llewellyn (Pro) and Divan Myburgh (Pro) hot on his heels. Maartens threw her chances away with a spin coming out of turn two on the next lap however.

Stadler grabbed the lead with Llewellyn and Divan moving up to second and third respectively. With the rest of the faster drivers making their way through the field there was action aplenty. Seef Fourie (Pro) was up to fourth place with schoolboy Clinton Bezuidenhout (Young Lion) glued to his car’s rear bumper. Divan took the lead on lap three but still had to worry about the rest of the chasing pack. The battle behind the leading trio was just as close with Larsson fending off Bezuidenhout and Shaun Nel (Pro). Fourie grabbed second place a lap later and started putting the pressure on the race leader.

A collision between Altan Bouw (Young Lion) and Janeske Viljoen (Semi-Pro) brought out the safety car on lap six. Divan Myburgh held the lead at the restart with Fourie and Bezuidenhout right behind him. Fourie grabbed the lead heading into the last three corners on the final lap but drama struck through the last turn when Divan was tagged into a spin by Bezuidenhout, dropping him back to tenth position. Fourie held on for the win with Bezuidenhout taking second place ahead of Larsson.

Race 1 Results

Race 2

A reverse grid for the second race saw the action get off to another frantic start. Fourie took an early lead with Divan Myburgh and Anton Repsold (Master) in tow. Justin Robertson (Master) was on a charge after a DNF in the first race and grabbed third position on lap two. Larsson was also making his way through the field and slip streamed his way past Robertson down the back straight on the next lap to claim third.

The battle behind the leading trio was just as close with Robertson fending off Repsold and Stadler. Once again young Bezuidenhout was scything his way through the field from the back of the grid and soon passed Stadler to move into the top six on lap four. He shot past Robertson a lap later to pick up another position. The battle for the lead couldn’t have been closer with Fourie and Myburgh side by side lap after lap.

Maartens was also on a charge as she first got past Stadler and then her team mate Repsold to move into the top six. Myburgh eventually took the lead on lap six but still had Fourie glued to his rear bumper. Fourie made his move with two laps to go and regained the lead coming off the back straight.

An all-out fight to the flag saw Fourie claim a narrow victory ahead of Divan – 0.321 of a second separating them across the line. Larsson had the best seat in the house as he took a comfortable third place behind them.

Race 2 Results

Race 3

The final race of the day got off to a dramatic start when early leader Richard Upton (Semi-Pro) had the engine of his car seize in front of the chasing pack. The rear wheels locked up and sent him into a smoke induced spin. Steve Nel and Johann van de Venter (Master) were right behind him and had to take avoiding action, landing up in the outfield and dropping them to the back of the field by the time that they got going again.

When the dust had settled and the safety car returned to the pits it was Robertson who grabbed the lead ahead of Stadler and Divan Myburgh. Myburgh got past the pair to gain the lead on lap three with Stadler dropping Robertson back to third place as well. Robertson then lost further positions to Larsson and Fourie who were also scything their way through the pack. Larsson then muscled his way past fourth placed Bezuidenhout as well. Larsson was on an absolute charge and grabbed second place on lap six with Fourie grabbing third a lap later.

Larsson and Fourie were almost in a carbon copy of the second race as they too lapped side by side down the back straight. Unfortunately a broken side shaft slowed Larsson’s challenge in the closing stages allowing Fourie to focus on catching the race leader. Bezuidenhout slotted into third position with Stadler and Robertson getting past Larsson as well.

A titanic battle over the last lap saw the leaders neck and neck but it was Myburgh who pipped Fourie to the chequered flag to take the win – 0.201 separating them across the line. Bezuidenhout only just held Stadler at bay to claim third position as well.

Race 3 Results

The next round of the INEX Legends Championship will visit the Zwartkops Raceway in Pretoria on the 16th of July.

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: LegendsRacingSA

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