Tag: Inland Championship

Inland Championship – Kyalami – 2014-08-23

Paul BlackburnInland Championship, Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit
Photographs from the Inland Championship event held at Kyalami on 23 August 2014.
[album id=144 template=extend]

Trofeo Racing Round 5 – 23 August 2014 – Race Report

Greg ReillyInland Championship, Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, Race Reports
Alfa Trofeo - 2014-08-23 - Kyalami The Alfa Trofeo Racing Series assembled en-masse at the historic Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit on the 23rd of August for the fifth round of the 2014 racing season. An impressive twenty six car entry saw the young guns and old guard in the field eagerly anticipating the two races scheduled on the day. With the usual handicap format shelved in favour of two sprint races, the qualifying format would see the field start from fastest to slowest for each heat.

 

Race 1
Pole man Craig Kidgell (GTV6) got the holeshot off the line to take the lead ahead of Giuseppe Martini (GTV6), Warren Ewart (GTV6) and the rest of the chasing pack. Shaun Cabrita (Giulietta ti “Spirit of Streepie”) was the best of the rest with Carlo Marengo (GTV) and Keagan Pottas (GTV6) in tow. With a stampede of other cars jostling for position behind them, the race was developing into an action packed event. [singlepic id=240449 w=320 float=center]
Martini held on for the victory

[singlepic id=240338 w=320 float=center]

Viljoen was in dominant form in the Youth League ranks
Jason Rodrigues’ (Sud) race ended before it had begun when an electrical short put paid to his chances. Mechanical gremlins also forced race leader Kidgell into retirement shortly thereafter. With new race leader Martini and leading contender Ewart breaking away from the pack, a number of individual battles had started to develop. Cabrita and Marengo were involved in a titanic struggle – challenging each other through almost every corner, with Marengo eventually picking up third position on lap four.
The battle between the Youth League contenders was also developing well. Kyle Viljoen (145) had broken away into an early lead, but it was Angelique Griffin (Sud), Port Elizabeth visitor Shane Coetzer (33) and Ashley Rodrigues (Sud) who were fighting it out for the rest of the podium positions. Unfortunately Amy Vernon (Sprint) was battling with a seriously underpowered car but soldiered on admirably none the less.
When the flag dropped after eight laps of hard racing it was Martini who took the victory ahead of Ewart. Marengo was only just able to hold Cabrita at bay to claim third position.
Viljoen romped home to victory in the Youth League class with Rodrigues battling his way into second position ahead of series newcomer Coetzer.

Race 1 – Top 6 Results
  1. Giuseppe Martini – Best Lap: 2:07.125
  2. Warren Ewart – Best Lap: 2:07.411
  3. Carlo Marengo – Best Lap: 2:07.509
  4. Shaun Cabrita – Best Lap: 2:09.391
  5. Jan Jacobs – Best Lap: 2:10.336
  6. Keagan Pottas – Best Lap: 2:11.299

Race 2
The second race ended before it had begun when a number of large incidents on the opening lap brought out the safety car. [singlepic id=240465 w=320 float=center]
Coetzer made a promising debut in the series

[singlepic id=240479 w=320 float=center]

Theobald claimed the Index of Performance victory
A clash between Ralph Kernes (Alfetta) and Gerrit Faling (156 2.0l Twin Spark) through turn four saw both cars make heavy contact with the wall.
In an even bigger incident Natal visitor George Adalis (Berlina) lost control of his car through the tricky Esses, pitching his car into a series of violent rolls. His car eventually came to a stop when it landed on top of the helpless Viljoen who tried desperately to avoid the tumbling car in front of him.
With the carnage eventually cleared by lap five it would be an all-out sprint race over the last few laps. When the chequered flag came out it was Kidgell who had blasted his way from the back of the field to take a well-deserved victory ahead of Martini and Ewart.
With Viljoen out of the running it was Jason Rodrigues who took the victory in the Youth Programme class. Ashley Rodrigues claimed second position with PE visitor Coetzer taking an impressive third in his first outing at the formidable Kyalami circuit.

Race 2 – Top 6 Results
  1. Craig Kidgell – Best Lap: 2:01.473
  2. Giuseppe Martini – Best Lap: 2:08.192
  3. Warren Ewart – Best Lap: 2:07.937
  4. Carlo Marengo – Best Lap: 2:07.886
  5. Shaun Cabrita – Best Lap: 2:10.538
  6. Jan Jacobs – Best Lap: 2:12.418

Index of Performance Results

Class A

Class B
  1. Anthony Theobald – 89.11%
  2. Jacques Baartman – 87.56%
  3. Keagan Pottas – 87.02%
  4. Shaun Cabrita – 86.72%
  5. Giuseppe Martini – 86.67%
  6. Warren Ewart – 86.63%
  1. Werner Nortje – 88.67%
  2. Jaco Taylor (Jnr) – 87.86%
  3. Ashley Rodrigues – 87.47%
  4. Jan Jacobs – 86.77%
  5. James Venter – 86.64%
  6. Cuan Helen – 86.31%

Class C

  
  1. Shane Coetzer – 87.15%
  2. Shane Baartman – 85.79%
  3. Carlo Marengo – 85.74%
  4. Amy Vernon – 76.43%
  
Report by: Greg Reilly
Photographs by RacePics.co.za

View Photographs on our website.

The great racing action would not be possible without our valued sponsors:
SA Mechanical Seal Importers
Powermods ATS Motorsport Supplies LAPACE
Nolands   Metal Used Spares & Rebuilds