Midvaal report

*********************************************************** Colin Windell <colin.windell@digitec.co.za> CyberRace Inc (c) 1995. All rights reserved ************************************************************

JURGENS HOLDS LEAD AFTER MIDVAAL THRILLER

Morne Jurgens (Multirent/Linjay Swift) held onto his championship lead in the NGK Spark Plugs Formula GTi series at the Midvaal track on Saturday claiming a third place in the first race and a victory in the second.

His main opposition for the South African Drivers Championship title, Hennie Groenewald (WAP/SKF Swift) looked set to score a double. Having won the first race after a major tussle with schoolboy Etienne van der Linde, he went out to lead the second until the final corner of the last lap.

Approaching the finish the charging Van der Linde attempted to dive under Groenewald and the cars touched, launching Van der Linde into a roll over the sliding Groenewald car. This let Jurgens through to take the chequer and stay two points clear in the series.

In the first race Groenewald took control soon after the start with Jurgens, Barry Ingle (Acme/Motori Swift) and Graham Donker (Mini- Panelbeaters Swift) in tow.

Etienne van der Linde, now under tutelage from Trevor van Rooyen, opted for a four-speed gearbox setup and was slow off the line, but soon started scything his way through the field to be second a couple of laps from the end. However, all his efforts were in vain and Groenewald held on to take the win with Jurgens third follwed by Ingle and Donker, the latter also the first of the Class B cars.

The second race was largely a mirror of the first with Van der Linde coming from behind through the field into second place. The last corner collision left the Van der Linde Ray badly damaged, but fortunately without injury to the driver.

Jurgens claimed the victory from Groenewald with Ingle third and Class B log leader Malcolm Cochrane fourth ahead of Donker and Stuart McNicol.

SOUTH AFRICAN FORMULA GTi CHAMPIONSHIP, ROUNDS 11/12, MIDVAAL (ZA), 2x12 laps - 2x18,75 miles, MAY 13

Race 1

1, Hennie Groenewald (Swift 92), 13m53,26s; 2, Etienne van der Linde (Ray), 14m00,86s; 3, Morne Jurgens (Swift 92), 14m05,13s; 4, Barry Ingle (Swift 92), 14m08,70s; 5, Graham Donker (Swift 91), 14m21,79s; 6, Max Corte (Swift 91), 14m23,33s; 7, Stuart McNicol (Swift 91), 14m28,15s; 8, Stephan Bosman (Swift 91), 14m29,20s; 9, Mal Arend (Swift 90), 14m39,28s; 10, Carlo Sartor (Swift 91), 14m42,59s

Race 2

1, Morne Jurgens (Swift 92), 14m05,02s; 2, Hennie Groenewald (Swift 92), 13m07,29s; 3, Barry Ingle (Swift 92), 14m09,25s; 4, Malcolm Cochrane (Swift 91), 14m22,10s; 5, Graham Donker (Swift 91), 14m22,40s; 6, Stuart McNicol (Swift 91), 14m31,62s; 7, Max Corte (Swift 91), 14m23,33s; 8, Mal Arend (Swift 90), 14m34,45s; 9, Ron van Weely (Swift 92), 14m34,95s; 10, Anton Nel (Ashley MkII), 14m38,50s.

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS CLASS A CLASS B

Jurgens         58              Cochrane       54
Groenewald      55              Donker         46
Van der Linde   33              Corte          40
Formato         33              Bosman         35
Ingle           35              Montgomery     23

=========================================================== *********************************************************** Colin Windell <colin.windell@digitec.co.za> CyberRace Inc (c) 1995. All rights reserved ************************************************************ ---- Digitec Online - South Africa Telnet: bbs.digitec.co.za