ROUNDS 1 & 2

KILLARNEY GTI CHALLENGE

The time has finally come and the 2009 motor racing season is about to get underway. I'm not talking about F1 or A1 or MotoGP or WSBK but the one and only GTi Challenge, proudly sponsored by POWERFLOW EXHAUSTS in the Western Cape.
 
POWERFLOW TOKAI has built and prepared a Mk1 VW Citigolf to race in Class B of this year's championship. We have secured the services of GREIG EDWARDS (2007 Champion) as our racing driver and are looking forward to an action packed year.
The first race meeting of the season is this Saturday 28 February at the famous and evergreen Killarney Racing Circuit.
 
Gates open early and various formulas fill the program incl POWERFLOW GTi CHALLENGE, SUPERCARS, MOTORCYCLES, CLUBMANS, FORMULA LIBRE AND FINE CARS.
 
GTi Challenge timed practice (qualifying session) is at 08h15 with Race 1 at 10h25 and Race 2 at 14h45
 
BIG THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS FOR HELPING US GET THIS FAR (and in no particular order)
 
MACE Service and Performance for the supply and fitting of the Go-Tech and the mapping and dyno tuning thereof
RENCO Precision Engineering for all the specially machined bits, wheel spacers and wheel studs
AUTO DETAIL CENTRE for the bodywork and re-painting of the car to our colours
STEVE'S AUTO SERVICES for the brakes and their assistance with the fine tuning of the suspension
ROBBY'S MOTOR SPARES for all the oils, filters, spark plugs and other consumables
DRIVELINES for the custom built driveshafts and CV joints
BOSAL INDUSTRIAL TUBE for the steel tubing required to build the roll cage
THE FAMOUS CAR WASH AT ENGEN TOKAI for sponsoring the fuel
SIGNWORX for the signage
 
and to all 3 POWERFLOW store in the Western Cape, namely BELLVILLE, SALT RIVER and TOKAI for their assistance and generous contribution in sponsoring the POWERFLOW GTi CHALLENGE racing series

As you all know this last weekend saw the start of the 2009 GTi Challenge Championship.
 
30 cars entered the race with an even spread of 10 cars per class in A, B and C.
 
There were some big star names in the field with ex-champions Greig Edwards (Powerflow Tokai) and Peet VD Walt (Jonnesway Tools) and other well known names like Robby Ferroli (Ferroli Performance), Andries van Eeden (Manitou Forklifts) and Bessie Bester (APS) to name but a few and a good few new faces have joined this year (very warm welcome to you guys)
 
Robby Ferroli qualified on pole in Class A with a best lap of 1 min 26,5 with Ian Long a close second on 1 min 26,9 and Francois Venter third on 1 min 26,6.
 
Hilary Denyssen would start 1st in Class B on 1 min 30,8 with Greig Edwards just behind on 1 min 31,1 and Chris Murphy 3rd on 1 min 31,8
 
Class C would be led by Gerard Nefdt with a scorching lap of 1 min 31,5 followed by Andrea Bate (1 min 32,7) and Travis Deal on 1 min 33,4.
 
These times are all very good and show you how the power and weight differences affect the lap times.
 
Race 1 saw a lot of action at the head of the field when Andries van Eeden and Bessie Bester made contact on the exit of Turn 5 on lap 2. Bessie was sent into a spin and rolled his car and hit the wall - HARD! Andries also suffered damage to the front end of his Golf. Peet vd Walt retired with a blown motor.Robby Ferroli took line honours followed into 2nd place by Francois Venter and 3rd went to Ian Long.
 
Greig Edwards fought off Hilary Denyssen to win Class B by seven second with Jacques Geldenhuys coming in 3rd.
 
Class C was convincingly won by Gerard Nefdt, followed home by Travis Deal in 2nd and Andrea Bate in 3rd place.
 
Frantic repairs and adjustments were made to several cars between the two races, most notably being some majo work to the front end of Andries van Eeden's Golf that smacked Bessie Bester. A new bonnet was fitted and several metres of duct tape and some serious cable ties were used to secure it.
 
Race 2 got off to a flying start and Robby Ferroli jumped out of the starting blocks like a man on a mission. Further down the field Craig du Toit (Class B) got out of shape and swerved sideways only to be hit hard by Andrea Bate (Class C). Both cars lost several places but managed to rejoin only for Craig to retire a lap later. Andrea fought hard to come back from stone last to finish 4th in class and 3rd overall for the day in Class C - her first trophy - WELL DONE !
 
Meanwhile at the head of the Class A field Robby Ferroli was flying with Andries van Eeden, Francois Venter and Ian Long breathing down his neck. On lap 3 Andries' new bonnet caught the wind at the fastest spot on the back straight and flipped open blockng his view completely - his race was over. On the next lap Robby slowed dramatically and retired due to a broken clutch. Ian Long inherited the lead and went on to win Race 2 followed by Francois Venter and Farhaad Khan in 3rd.
 
Class B had no drama and Greig Edwards of TEAM POWERFLOW TOKAI again took line honours to win and take 1st overall for the day, second place went to Hilary Denyssen and 3rd was Chris Murphy.
 
Class C was won hands down by Gerard Nefdt with Travis Deal second and Tersius van Tonder third.
 
All in all a great start to the 2009 GTi Challenge - well done to all competitors.

Andrea Bate awarded DRIVER OF THE DAY for the 28 Feb race meeting (prize: 1new race tyre which cost R900.00) this will go a long way to helping us with the long season ahead and the rising costs of running a car.

POWERFLOW GTI Challenge now also has two new races for this year.
The first will be the National Pro Tour at Killarney on the 21st March
The second will be an away race at Phakisa in Welkom on the 23rd May.

For the national we are not going to have a race for ourselves, but our Class B&C cars are there by invitation of the Jo’burg Challenge drivers who are coming down for the meeting. Added bonuses are TV coverage on SuperSport so keep your eyes open in the days following the event.. Due to the fact that we are there by invitation, we will have to run with their sponsorship decals having preference over ours. Where possible, the current sponsorship decals will still be displayed or moved to another location.