Press Release - Goldwagen Challenge

PRESS RELEASE: March 2009

The Cape of Storms

The first round of the 2009 Pro Tour Series saw the Goldwagen Challenge brigade head off to the picturesque Killarney Raceway on Saturday 21 March in a warm and windy Cape Town. A field of thirty five entries braved the long trip to the fairest Cape.

A new year with new car and driver combinations always brings out a few surprises and this year wasn’t going to be any different. An added dose of flavour would see 12 invitational entries from the local GTI Challenge Club join the fray.

Class A

Lee Thompson (Gallardo IT Golf I) brought all of his National and International experience with him and firmly announced his intentions for the season with a solid pole position ahead of 2007 Champion George Economides (Wealth Avenue Golf I). Defending 2008 Class B Champion Carlos Nobre (Golf I) was next up in his first class A race with Waldie Meintjes (Albatros Motors Polo) alongside him.

Race 1

The start of the first race got off to a frantic start with the field charging down through turn one. The red flag was brought out before the race really began after two of the Cape Town locals tangled exiting turn one.

The restart saw Thompson lead the field through turn one ahead of Economides, Wayne Masters (Jonnesway Golf 4) and Ray Wilford (Fuchs Golf II). The battle at the front would continue for the next couple of laps with Masters snatching second place from Economides on lap five, only to lose the place again on the next lap.


The red flag was once again deployed on the seventh lap after a huge accident between Jurgen Pillhofer (Automate / Premier Panelbeaters Polo Playa) and Nobre as the pair fought for fifth place down the start / finish line. Thompson took the win ahead of Economides with Masters holding on to third.

Lee Thompson on his way to his maiden double in Class A

Class P

Jakes Jacobs (Brooklyn Automotive Polo Classic) seems determined to defend his 2008 Class P title as he claimed pole position ahead of Peet Visagie (Time Mining Polo). Clayton Le Roux (Martin Le Roux Motors Polo Classic) claimed the third spot with Ryan Tholet (Prend Properties Polo) alongside him on the second row.

Race 1

At the start Jacobs was off like a scalded cat with the rest of the field jostling for the minor positions. Visagie slotted in behind Jacobs with Tholet and Le Roux in tow.

The first red flag from another incident brought a stop to proceedings but Jacobs was out in front at the restart. Tholet had a great start and took the lead on lap two. Jacobs was not going to take this lying down and the pair swapped the lead over the next two laps. Le Roux was up to third by lap four and had to defend the position from Visagie for all he was worth.

With the Class A incident bringing out the red flag on lap seven it was Jacobs who narrowly took the win ahead of a determined Tholet. Le Roux held Visagie at bay to clinch third spot.

Class B

The Class B Championship will be an interesting affair to watch this year as a number of top drivers have moved to different classes. All bets are on as to who will clinch this popular class. Talented youngster Dean Lester (Lester Properties Golf 1) claimed pole position ahead of Cape Town born Eben Rothman (Freddie’s Autospares Golf 1). A mix of youth and experience filled the second row with Peter Thompson (Thompson’s Motors Golf II) and Greg Gosman (Marty’s Body and Spray Golf I) rounding out the second row.

Race 1

Thompson’s hopes were dashed as he was hit from behind at the start, spinning him sideways into the oncoming traffic. He was tagged by Gosman who was left with no where to go, with the final “kiss of death” being inflicted by hapless young Cape driver Andrea Bate (Powerflow Golf I).

Rothman used the knowledge of his home track to his advantage at the restart and took the lead ahead of a recovered Gosman. Derek Minnie (Demac Auto Golf II) slotted into third place ahead of Quinton Needham (Ultravision / Thrashcorp Golf I) and Lester.

Rothman passing the back markers on the way to the Class B double

Minnie slotted into second place on lap two with Needham relegating Gosman to fourth place two laps later. Rothman held on to take the win ahead of a hard charging Minnie with Needham crossing the line in a comfortable third place.

Class A – Race 2

The second race got off to a clean start with Thompson leading the field through turn one. Economides slotted into second place ahead Quentin Thompson (Thompson’s Motors Golf I) with Masters and Wilford in tow.

Quentin Thompson made his move on the second lap and slotted into second place ahead of Economides. With Lee making his way off into the sunset, a titanic battle started to rage for the minor positions. Masters slotted into third place on lap four with Wilford relegating Economides to fifth place two laps later. The trio continued to fight it out into the closing stages of the race with Wilford snatching third place on the penultimate lap.

Lee Thompson romped home to victory ahead of Quentin Thompson with Wilford crossing the line in third place.

Class P – Race 2

Once again Jacobs got off to a flying start with Tholet ahead of Le Roux and Visagie. Le Roux was fired up for the second race and snatched second place from Tholet on lap two. Tholet had other ideas though and reclaimed the position a few corners later.

The class P battle was the one to watch with the top four contenders all in with a shot of taking the win. Tholet took the lead on the last lap and held Jacobs at bay through the remaining corners to take the win by 0.151 seconds! Visagie and Le Roux traded third place position in the closing stages of the race but it was Visagie who pipped Le Roux to the line by 0.027 of a second to claim the final podium position.

Tholet heading for a well deserved win in race two

Class B – Race 2

Rothman was still fired up after his first race win and snatched the lead ahead of Gosman, Needham and Lester. Electrical gremlins would end Lester’s race before the second lap moving Minnie up into fourth place.

Gossman, Needham and Minnie set about fighting it out for second place as Rothman edged away from the chasing pack. The trio continued to fight it out for position with second place being shared by all three drivers before the end of the race.

Rothman went on to take a comfortable win with Needham getting the better of Gosman and Minnie in the closing laps.

Class C

Defending 2008 Class C champion Elna Croeser (Golf 1) was the only competitor able to make the expensive trip to Cape Town and took maximum points for her efforts in her immaculately prepared Giulio Sabbatini Auto Stylists entry.

The GTI Club Competitors

The difference in technical rules didn’t allow the local GTI Club competitors to compete for Goldwagen Challenge points but there presence in both races was noticed by all. A number of impressive and determined drives saw them mixing it with the various Goldwagen Challenge classes. The most noticeable performances of their drivers were as follows:

Class X – Race 1

1. Francois Immelman (Manitou Golf I)
2. Peet van der Walt (Jonnesway Golf I)
3. Eugene van Zyl (VW Golf I)

Class X – Race 2

1. Peet van der Walt (Jonnesway Golf 1)
2. Francois Immelman (Manitou Golf I)
3. Eugene van Zyl (VW Golf I)

Class Y – Race 1

1. Tertius van Tonder (Dennysen Motorsport Golf I)
2. GB Nefdt (VW Golf I)
3. Andrea Bate (Powerflow Golf I)

Class Y – Race 2

1. Tertius van Tonder (Dennysen Motorsport Golf I)
2. GB Nefdt (VW Golf I)
3. Andrea Bate (Powerflow Golf I)

Report by Greg Reilly
Pictures by Greg Reilly and Sena - www.protour.co.za

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