SAFV: Series Kyalami preview

Battle Resumes at Kyalami

The battle for the 2010 Execuline South African National Formula Vee Championship, is reaching that critical stage, where every point gained, or lost, will influence the eventual outcome of the championship. With only two events to go, there is very little opportunity, to recover from a poor result, or worse still, a retirement. The seventh round of the 2010 Championship, will be held at the Historic Tour race meeting, at Kyalami on the 18th September 2010 and it will be a tense day, particularly for the two top contenders, veteran ex Champion Peter Hills (Renexcon Rhema 2) and ex NLDTF development driver, Zaahir Essa (Reflex Solutions Rhema 2).

Hills goes into this race, with an eight point lead but it could so easily have been a different story had Essa not incurred a thirty second penalty, for passing under a yellow flag, in the second heat of the previous event, at Phakisa. In recent years, Hills appears to be enjoying working on the cars, more than actually racing his car but as the possibility of a second title has increased, he has become more focused on his own fitness and losing some weight, as well. It seems that Hills has set his sight's, on this year's title but with many years of racing experience, he knows that anything can happen and that the outcome of the 2010 title, will more that likely only be resolved by the final Checkered Flag of the season and Hills is becoming more and more nervous, with each event..

Essa on the other hand, appears to be totally relaxed, almost as if he does not really care one way or the other. He is however a very private person and my suspicion is, that although the outward signs are not there, for all to see, inwardly Essa is feeling as nervous, as Hills. On the grid, alone in the car, the drivers feel that the outcome of the race is up to them and yet secretly know, that so many other factors could come into play, which are totally out of their control. A mechanical failure, the actions of another competitor, a change in track conditions etc, could all influence their fate and the eventual outcome of the race and the Championship.

Other contenders for race honors, at Kyalami, include Symm Grobler (Auto Mecca Rhema 2), Johan Gouws (Indwe Risk Management Menlyn Motor Services e- Car Mantis) and Nicholas Tennant (Tennant Life Benefits Rhema 2). There is also the possibility, that the reigning Champion and the only man in the forty five year history of the category, to secure four National titles, Alan Holm (Lasersprint Rhema 2), may be back for this race, further complicating the permutations, at the head of the field. Improving all the time, the likes of Keegan Campos (Campos Transport GP Energy Drink Rhema 2), Nico Blignaut (Gilus IT SAP Nashua Mobile Rhema 2) and Paul Venter (Nashua Mobile Rhema 1), may also stir things up at the head of the field, as well.

Formula Vee racing, has always been renowned for good, close battles all the way down the field and the likes of, Alan Eustice (Execuline Rhema 2), Greg Wilson (Reflex Solutions Rhema 2), Ben Pienaar (BJ Pro Welding Rhema 2), Hugo Wallendorf (BJ Pro Welding Lantis) and Henk Swanepoel (Renexcon Rhema 2), can all be counted on to give a good account of themselves but may also find themselves fending off the 2010 rookies, Mariaan Brits (Nedbank Women in Motorsport Panel Rhema 1) and Shawn Van Der Linde (Len Schoen Estates Rhema 1), along with relative newcomer Mile Stewart (Direction Group Rhema 2). Brits in particular, produced an impressive performance at Phakisa and should soon start making her presence felt, among those ahead of her.

Others who may be in the Kyalami field, include Jannie Geyser Snr (Vision), Jannie Geyser Jnr (Rhema 2) and Hano Van Der Spy (Vision)

-source: safv