Drivers go all out to snatch a win in the champs

They provided the customary “door handle to door handle” racing that the series was known for. When all was said and done it was Waldie Meintjies (Marty’s Body & Spray Polo) on the top step of the class-A podium, Darren Nathan (Sex Trader Polo) took class B and Zander Roos (Nathan’s Motorsport Polo) was back to his winning ways in class C.

Qualifying took place on a chilly track just 20 minutes after sunrise. Meintjies signalled his intentions with a lap nearly two tenths of a second quicker than Rory Atkinson (Comsol Polo) to take pole position in class A. Nic Clarke (Central Technical Services Polo) put in a couple of blisteringly fast laps to take the class-B pole.

Class-C defending champion Jacques Smith (Triplicon Construction Polo) was making his first appearance of the season and it was one he would rather forget. An error under braking saw him run into the back of another competitor and his day’s racing was over. Pole position went to Stuart Mack (Goldwagen JHB CBD & Wynberg Golf) who was just five thousandths of a second quicker than Zander Roos.
Francois van Zyl (Jesus Saves Polo) and Shaun Crous (X35 Energy Drink Polo) filled the second row of the grid with Elke van Vledder alongside husband Henry in the third row.

When the lights went out to signal the start of the first race it was Hurley who reacted quickest, leading the class-A pack into the first corner. He had Meintjies and Atkinson hot on his heels but the expected three-way battle did not materialise as
Hurley’s gearbox let go on the second lap. This left Meintjies and Atkinson to fight it out for the lead. Atkinson forced his way past just before the end of the race and took the flag.

In class B Clarke didn’t get the start he wanted but he fought back to fourth place as the flag came out. Nathan had an easy run winning by almost three seconds.  Mack led the class-C field until the halfway mark but could not keep the more aerodynamic Polo of Zander Roos behind his Golf and had to settle for second.

In the second race the anticipated three-way fight at the head of the field materialised as Atkinson led Meintjies and Hurley, the trio opening up a substantial gap over the chasing pack. Meintjies took the flag ahead of Hurley and Atkinson.

Clarke wasn’t going to make another mistake in the second class-B heat and made sure that he had the early lead. The class-C result was the same as the first race with Roos leading Mack and van Zyl home.

The next outing for the VW Challenge is on June 13 at the Aldo Scribante Circuit in Port Elizabeth.