Engen Volkswagen Cup – Pepper Racing keen on a Zwartkops win

Pepper Racing is all set for the sixth round of the 2017 Engen Volkswagen Cup at Zwartkops’ Sasol Race Day Saturday 12 August. And while its drivers have regularly scored at the sharp end of the race results so far this season, the Edenvale race team is keen to end the dry stretch since its last race win.

“We are short a race win since we cleaned up at Kyalami in April,” team boss Iain Pepper pointed out. “We’ve been on the podium in most races but it’s the top step we are after, so let’s see if Shaun and Tasmin can bring home the bacon and Dan and Giordano can move up the grid too.

Durban-based reigning Polo Cup Masters Champion Shaun La Reservee is a Volkswagen man through and through — he sells them through the week and races his Alpine Motors Pepper racing Polo over the weekend. “I’m really looking forward to getting back in the car at Zwartkops,” Shaun confirmed. “We had a really good weekend in PE, although we never got a result in race 2. The pace up front is really good and it’s so close and this weekend should be much the same. “We are after best results possible, but now I’m also concentrating on a back-to-back Masters title. “Bring it on!”

Tasmin Pepper is the rose among the Pepper Racing thorns and the Edenvale lass certainly knows how to win Engen Volkswagen Cup races. “I’m looking forward to racing at Zwartkops again,” Campos Transport/Alpine Volkswagen pepper Racing polo pilot Tasmin admitted. “We went really well there two months ago and the team has put in a lot of effort into my car and I am more than ready for some action packed racing and hopefully go one better on my second position last time out in Pretoria.”

Pepper Racing’s Junior Team 16-year olds are also most excited about racing at Zwartkops again. Ballito lad Daniel Duminy had a good first race last time out in Port Elizabeth and is keen for better in both races this year and he’s been balancing home schooling duties with the gym to be best prepared for his next outing in his SMD Pepper Racing Polo. “I’m excited to get back behind the wheel — I’m in a good space mentally and physically at the moment and ready to deliver my best results.”

Team rookie, Franschhoek Bridge House School Grade 11 lad Giordano Lupini is focussed on maintaining his recent run of better luck. “We had a tough start to the season, but PE was good and I’m looking forward to improving again this weekend,” Giordano pointed out. “I’ve been working on my fitness and spent a lot of time on simulator racing, but I can’t wait to strap into my Pepper Racing Polo. “Special thanks to my sponsors, Iain, Shane, my dad and the team — and to everyone else who does what they do to make it possible for us to race!”