Press Release - Altech GT Challenge



	PRESS RELEASE: MAY 2009

	All Round Altech GT Action
	Round 3 of the national Pro Tour brought excitement to Kyalami this weekend with top flight saloon, GT, single seater and bike action. While all put on a spectacular show the Altech GT Challenge brigade once again stood out with some impressive lap times, good clean racing and an acoustic mix made up of wailing Ferraris, brutal Porsches and the pop of a turbo charged Lotus. A new and very welcome exhaust note came from the tailpipes of Justin Robertson's M3 – decked out to look like an iconic M3 GTR.

	image: Tony Alves - www.tracksidepics.co.za

	As expected Toby Venter provided the fastest lap time for the day and romped to another double with his Porsche 911 GT2R. With the Bus Stop chicane now replaced by a deceptive right hand kink Venter improved the Altech GT Challenge lap record by a few seconds and finished the day with a 1 minute 40.5 on the clocks. For those who think Venter isn't on the limit it is well worth watching him exiting the new blind rise corner with an eye-watering tail wiggle.

	Charl Joubert's deceptively fast Lotus Exige was the next fastest of the Altech GT Challenge bunch but unfortunately a race 1 last lap mechanical failure, while lying second, saw him forced into retirement for the rest of the day. Joubert's demise handed second place on track and first in Class B to the Ferrari 430 of Sharl Parsad. The Porsche GT3 Cup Car of Jon Wilson crossed the line second in class and Jeremy Pougnet brought his Ferrari 360 Challenge in third.


	image: Tony Alves - www.tracksidepics.co.za

	Rod Cole-Edwardes scooped race 1 victory in Class C, bringing his Porsche 911 RSR ahead of a hard charging magenta coloured John Greve Porsche 911 RSR. Charl Arangies’ 944 Turbo Cup was the first front engined Porsche home in a very credible ninth overall. Heated action wasn't limited to the sharp end of the pack with many spectators giving the mid-field battle between Dillon Miller's Porsche 911RS and Pierre Martins Porsche 928 the thumbs up as the dice of the day.

	Race 2 saw the Altech GT Challenge combine forces with the Shelby CanAm crowed. Venter remained unchallenged at the front of the field with a lap time averaging around five seconds faster than anyone else. Class B Altech GT Challenge competitors weren't as lucky however and found themselves in the thick of things. From the grandstand this provided a magical spectacle where genuine Sports and GT cars go hammer and tongs. A safety car period, to recover a Ferrari from the bottom of the Mineshaft, bunched the field up for a bit but at the green Venter blasted off and stole the show.

	The two Altech Porsche Club 924 heats were impressive to say the least. Both final laps were chaotic with finishing positions changing by the metre. Wendy Dicks led the handicapped start away in race 1 and 2. In both heats it looked like Dicks had victory in the bag but the final lap mayhem saw her dropping from first to ninth and seventh respectively. Paul Moss was the eventual race 1 victor, with Mark Harvey and Robert Scott following closely. Martin Liebenberg nabbed the race 2 honours, Harvey continued his good form to come in second and Colin Maine stepped up to the plate and secured the final podium position.

	Altech GT Challenge competitors were generally very positive about the new kink at Kyalami, feeling that the high speed entry, blindness and adverse camber added a bit more skill and bravery to the track. Unfortunately this section and the close proximity of a tyre barrier caught out one Ferrari with heavy repercussions. For the rest the Kyalami round of the Altech GT Challenge and Altech Porsche Club 924 championships was a brilliant day out.

	Round 4 takes place at Phakisa on 20 June. The fast flowing circuit is a natural place for the Altech GT Challenge cars to stretch their legs.

	Issued by Stuart Grant and Tony Alves on behalf of Altech GT Challenge and Altech Porsche Cup Challenge.

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All Round Altech GT Action