|
Shelby Can-Am, South Africa’s
only national sports car series enters the home
stretch of the 2009 championship, but without
recently crowned 2009 champion Darryn Lobb.
The popular Shelby Can-Am series
moves to Gauteng’s friendliest venue, the tight 2.4
kilometre Zwartkops circuit just west of Pretoria.
On top of the points table is
former champion Darryn Lobb (DK Woodcraft) who has
an unbeatable 90 - point lead over veteran Rui
Campos (Hugo Boss). Lobb has had a brilliant season
but his car will be driven by Shelby Can-Am debutant
Andrea Cavalieri under the banner of new sponsor
Imperial Motors.
The battle for the remaining
podium positions in the championship has become a
fascinating battle. Campos (aka Basil Fawlty)
currently lies second but a non-finish at the last
round in East London means his position is anything
but secure. Only seven points behind him is the most
experienced driver in the field, Alan Eve (Hugo
Boss).
A further ten points adrift is
Brian Algar (Thuthuka Welding) who has proved
consistently fast and is overdue for a win this
season. His goal is to end the season in the top
three.
Coming on strong is Durban’s JP
Bredenhann (PanelRite/Bigfoot Express) who took a
superb win in East London.
Although Thomas Reib (Coolstar
Beverage) has looked threatening, he’s only won a
single race so far this year. He has a ‘Zwartkops’
specialist tag and besides his win at Zwartkops
earlier in the year, he also won at the same track
last year.
There’s a close battle for eighth
between Sean Greve (Vulcania Reinforcing). He’s a
steady driver, but has been known to make a few
mistakes although it wouldn’t come as a surprise if
he notched up a win. Not far behind him is Bertil
Hofmann in the colourful GP Energy Drink entry.
Although 2009 is his
first season of racing, Durban based Andrew Strike
(Strike 1) has been consistent and put in some good
performances to hold eighth place. Just behind him
is Hanno Pengilly (Azura Retreats) who has turned in
some impressive performances, but Lady Luck hasn’t
always been at his side.
Capetonian Greg Walker (Bizfone) is in his debut
season of Shelby Can-Am and has a spectacular all or
nothing approach to racing, but seems to have
settled down and become a reliable driver. Along
with Strike, he won the Border 100 in July.
The ever enthusiastic Sun Moodley (Bigfoot Express)
is quietly getting into a position where top six
finishes are within reach. One of the unluckiest
drivers this season is Dave
Beattie (Dura) who has been an innocent victim in a
number of on track incidents.
Colin Frost (Strocam), Richard Wood and Harry
Roscoe (Protea Playing Cards) are stalwarts of the
Shelby Can-Am scene and have been in the series
since its inception and are also reliable finishers
who enjoy the thrill of close racing.
Can-Am Masters is a separate championship within the
championship and Alan Eve is at the head of the
table with Walker and Moodley filling the medal
positions. |
