Morgenrood consolidates championship lead

Randfontein racing legend, Ben Morgenrood is now unstopable after consolidating this year’s SA Sports and GT Championship win at Killaney Raceway.

With Morgenrood’s huge lead in the championship he is set to win yet another championship.

The cold and blustery weather which assailed the mother city on 5 October did not deter the Killarney faithfuls, nor indeed the SA Sports and GT contingent, who once again delivered two eventful races, despite officialdom’s efforts to control noise across the full spectrum of Super Series categories.

Ben Morgenrood in his Indy Oil Mustang rose above the distractions to put his car in pole position during the qualifying round on 4 October.

Darryn Lobb (Hollard) had made a welcome return to the fold and promptly qualified in fourth spot, behind Franco di Matteo (Varta Batteries Jaguar) and Terry Wilford (Fuchs Titan/Hot Wheels Mustang).

At the start of race one on Saturday morning the bigger V8-GT’s soon pulled a lead on the Shelby Sports with Morgenrood leading the race, and with Terry Wilford, Franco di Matteo and Larry Wilford (Fuchs Titan/Hot Wheels Corvette) in hot pursuit.

Lobb was running in fifth place and led the Sports Shelby’s.

After 10 laps, Morgenrood crossed the line first with Di Matteo second and Larry Wilford third.

Terry dropped back with fuel feed problems to finish fourth.

Rui Campos (Liqui Moly) finished sixth overall, and second in the Shelby ranks behind Lobb, with Ferdi van Niekerk (Motorola Cordless Phones) in third.

The inverted grid in race two saw Alister Brown (NAC Helicopters) lead the race for a few laps ahead of van Niekerk, but before long Terry and Larry Wilford had passed the pair, bringing Di Matteo with them.

Lobb was also keen to get on terms with the frontrunners but ran off the road at turn one, leaving himself with a lot to do thereafter.

Brown was doing a superb job of leading the Shelby Sports, but Campos then got by him, and before long Lobb was on his case again after clawing his way back.

At the front Terry Wilford was leading comfortably when he slid off the road after losing his left rear wheel.

That left Di Matteo in front with Larry second and Morgenrood coming from behind to settle in third place.

Lobb set off after Campos and passed him in the latter stages of the race, crossing the line first in the Shelby Sports and fourth overall.

For Campos second place in Shelby Sports virtually assured him of the title in this class, while in the overall standings Morgenrood looks a sure bet on a championship victory.

The last race of the season will take place at the Kyalami Raceway on 2 November.

The Sports and GT Series is proudly co-sponsored by The Rose Foundation, Hollard Insurance, Compendium Insurance Group and Dotsure.co.za.