SAFV: Series Phakisa preview

2010 Execuline National Formula Vee Battle Moves To Phakisa

The battle for the 2010 Execuline South African National Formula Vee Championship, resumes at the Phakisa circuit, outside Welkom, on the 7th August 2010. The event incorporates the fifth round of the Historic Tour and also includes Regional Championship races and Club Championship races, for the Aucor Lotus Challenge, plus the various well supported, Historic Saloon and Historic Sports and GT categories.

The 2010 South African National Formula Vee Championship, still has a way to go but the congestion at the top of the log, a couple of races ago, has eased a bit and depending on what happens at Phakisa, the battle for the title could end up, as a two horse race. The leading contenders, at this stage, are the veteran 1999 National Champion Peter Hills (Renexcon Rhema 2) who goes into this event, with a narrow two point lead over development driver Zaahir Essa (Reflex Solutions Rhema 2). The other veteran ex Champion in the field, 2004 title holder Symm Grobler (Auto Mecca Rhema 2), is still in the hunt, while the young gun Nicholas Tenant (Tennant Life Benefits Rhema 2), ,now has a lot of catching up to do, after his Lichtenburg mishaps saw him score very few points, at that event. Paul Venter (Nashua Mobile Rhema 1), also suffered a non finish, in the second heat at Lichtenburg and any aspirations he had, of challenging for the title before the Lichtenburg event, have all but evaporated. The Phakisa races are therefore crucial, for both Tennant and Grobler. With only two more events, after this, they desperately need to try and close the gap, on Hills and Essa, at Phakisa.

The victory at Phakisa, should end up going to, Hills, Essa, Grobler, or Tennant but not far behind, the usual battles will rage on, for the remaining points scoring positions. Those involved, should include, Venter, Nico Blignaut (Gilus IT SAP Rhema 2), Greg Wilson (Reflex Solutions Rhema 2), Ben Pienaar (BJ Pro Welding Rhema 2), Jannie Geyser Snr (Vision), Johan Gouws (Indwe Risk Services Mantis), Keegan Campos (Campos Transp0rt Carrera Sunglasses Rhema 2), Alan Eustice (Execuline Rhema 2), Henk Swanepoel (Renexcon Rhema 2), Hugo Wallendorf (BJ Pro Welding Lantis) and Mile Stewart (Direction Group Rhema 2).

The 2010 rookies Shaun Van Der Line (Len Schoen Estates Rhema 1) and Mariaan Brits (Nedbank MFC Women in Motorsport Panel Rhema 1), are getting quicker all the time and although Brits has less experience in the category, than Van Der Linde, she does at least know the circuits, having previously raced on most of them, in the Proton bakkie. Others in the field, at Phakisa, could include Jannie Geyser Jnr (Rhema 2), Andrei Overbeek (Rhema 1), Hano Van Der Spy (Vision). and Tasj Van Dyk (Body Art SA Omega).

-source: safv