Trofeo Racing Round 6 – 25 October 2014 – Race Report
Greg Reilly
Pottas was in fine form as he took both victories
The sixth round of the 2014 racing season saw the Alfa Trofeo Racing Series head to the rustic Midvaal Raceway just outside of Meyerton in the Vaal Triangle. For the second event in a row the usual handicap format of racing was replaced by two sprint races on the day.
Race 1
Pole man Jannie van Rooyen (Giulia) was under threat from Keagan Pottas (GTV) almost immediately with the pair running side by side down the back straight on the opening lap. James Venter (Guilia Sprint) and Ralph Kernes (Alfetta) were in hot pursuit with the rest of the field in tow.
The mid pack battle was closer than ever
Pottas grabbed the lead coming off the back straight and set about opening up a gap on van Rooyen and the rest of chasing pack. Jason Rodrigues (Sud) was leading the Youth Programme assault as he battled with Barend van der Walt (Guilia) for sixth position. Series newcomer Werner Nortje (Alfetta) also found himself being hassled by second placed Youth Programme contender Kyle Viljoen (145) a bit further behind them.
When the flag dropped on lap eight, it was Pottas who took a convincing victory ahead of a hard charging Venter who managed to slip past van Rooyen in the closing stages of the race. Rodrigues romped home to victory in the Youth Programme class with Viljoen taking a solid second position ahead of Ashley Rodrigues (Sud).
Race 1 – Top 6 Results
Index of Performance Results
Keagan Pottas – Best Lap: 1:22.216
James Venter – Best Lap: 1:22.931
Jannie van Rooyen – Best Lap: 1:23.190
Ralph Kernes – Best Lap: 1:23.836
Barend van der Walt – Best Lap: 1:26.252
Jason Rodrigues – Best Lap: 1:25.952
James Venter – 99.41%
Werner Nortje – 99.34%
Anthony Theobald – 98.97%
Keagan Pottas – 98.82%
Jannie van Rooyen – 98.47%
Ralph Kernes – 97.91%
Race 2
There was an unusual case of déjà vu in the second race. Just as at the previous event held at Kyalami, Kernes’ race ended before it had begun when he collided with Venter at the end of the back straight on the opening lap. Unfortunately neither driver was able to continue.
Van der Walt had good pace in the second race
When the dust had settled it was Pottas who once again grabbed the lead ahead of van Rooyen and the rest of the chasing pack. Van der Walt slotted into third with Rodrigues once again challenging him for position. Series newcomer Christopher Tarboton (Guilia) found himself in fifth position with series stalwart Paul Griffin (Sprint) hot on his heels. Viljoen saw his chances of another good result go out the window when the gearbox on his car failed coming out of turn five on lap four.
The rest of the race proceeded without incident and it was Pottas who took the chequered flag to claim the double victory for the day. Van Rooyen had to settle for second position once again, with Van der Walt only just holding Rodrigues at bay to claim a hard fought third. Rodrigues took top honours in the Youth Programme category as well with Ashley Rodrigues taking second.
