East London 4-Hour – GP Circuit to crown new SA champions

Eastern Cape race fans are in for a treat when the Mopar South African Endurance Series comes to a dramatic climax at the East London 4-Hour at the Grand Prix Circuit outside the Border town Saturday 27 October. Just eight points separate the top six drivers in the overall championship race, while as many as fourteen men are still in with a mathematical chance of stealing the hallowed Mopar MSA South African Endurance title.

Cape duo Nick Adcock and Michael Jensen’s AidCall247 with Rico Barlow Racing Ligier-Honda JS53 Evo leads the overall championship on 204 points, just four clear of another Cape Town team, Autohaus Angel Ferrari 458 GT3 father and son duo Marcel and Dayne Angel, while Gauteng pair Charl Arangies and Kishoor Pitamber sit another four points adrift in third aboard their similar Stradale Racing Ferrari 458 GT3.

The ultra consistent James Forbes and Fritz Kleynhans and their Comenius Ligier-Honda JS53 EVO are next up on 192 points with a 7-point advantage over tin-top leaders Bradley Scorer and Theo Van Vuuren’s Arnold Chatz Cars Alfa Romeo Giulietta, who in turn hold a 9-point lead over GT5 leaders Trevor Graham and Brian Martin’s factory-entered Durban-built factory Backdraft-Lexus BDR4000, so it certainly is all to play for at the Grand Prix Circuit.

It’s even closer in the Index of Performance Championship, which scores cars against their own pace and it’s the Scorer/van Vuuren Alfa Romeo that leads the Adcock/Jensen Ligier by all of six points there, with the Graham/Martin Backdraft and the Angel Ferrari very close behind.

Looking ahead to Saturday’s 4-Hour, expect the battle up front to rage between championship leaders Adcock and Jensen’s Ligier and their championship challenging Ferrari rivals, with the Kleynhans/Forbes Ligier and championship newcomers, dad and daughter duo Trevor and Shannon Frost’s Strocam Mining Ligier-Honda JS49 bringing a touch of the unknown to the lead fight.

Also expect entertainment throughout the field with an interesting smaller sports car dice between Eric Salomon and Dave Sinclair’ Lessons ELF S06 S and a fleet of Nash Motorsport entered Nash-Volkswagen MVW3s for Polo Cup brothers Keegan and Jason Campos, Class V championship leader Peter Schmidt-Loffler driving with Dean Wolson and Gavin Rooke and Brett Fleming and Gerald Wright in a Wright MotorsportSports 2000-Opel.

The GT5 tussle is another season-long epic that will continue to play out between a trio of Backdraft-Lexus BDR4000s, a factory pair for overall title fighters Graham Martin and Mike McLoughlin teamed up with PE rising star Chassen Bright and a Bateleur Motorsport entered car for Mike Schmidt and Bruce Avern-Taplin .The Scorer/van Vuuren Alfa Romeo will fight it out for saloon car honours with the likes of Northern Bolt Tool Konig Racing VW Golf 2 trio Stuart Konig, Gerhard Henning and Jannie van Rooyen.

The main event will be backed by a trio of regular East London Modified and Historic Saloon and Open Top races. The Modified Saloons will share the track with Endurance Series IPC entries where Bevan Scwartz is the man to beat in his mighty Corvette, pursued by the likes of Gary Marais (Nardini), Richard Clarke’s Civic and Shaun Gradwell’s BMW, while Craig Borges (Kadett), Bevan Choudree (Golf) and lady racer Ashton Nel (Golf) will entertain in the smaller classes.

The Historic saloons are bound to entertain with the likes of the Gudmanz family, dad Darron and sons Alec’s Capri Perana V8s and Matthew (Mazda rotary) taking on Danian Staffen’s similar Perana and Derek Boys’ V8 Chevy CanAm V8s; Tiny Botha’s Escort, Christopher Radloff (Toyota) and Quentin Lessing’s Anglia among others. Gary Marais’ Nardini will face a horde of Lotus 7s in the hands of the likes of Jeff Hall, Bruce Butler and Cherne Marais in Open Top action.

The East London Grand Prix Circuit is situated at the end of Potters Pass off the R72 Settlers Way. Locals can purchase early bird tickets from the BMSC Office, at several outlets in the city or at the gate on raceday. Contact 043 736 4024, office@bmsc.co.za or visit bmsc.co.za for more.