What CompCare Polo Cup 2023 Round 3 Report
Where Zwartkops Raceway, Pretoria
When Saturday 20 May 2023
Community South Africa National
Lupini’s great trek delivers maiden away pole, win
Giordano Lupini trekked up to Zwartkops on Saturday looking to consolidate his dominant home victory aboard his Tork Craft Polo at Killarney last time out. Not only was the Franschhoek racer’s upcountry mission accomplished, but Lupini also scored his first away race win as he came home a close second overall in the Pretoria CompCare Polo Cup triple header.
After showing good pace throughout practice, Gio made it work by topping another super tight qualifying session by a hundredth of a second on Friday afternoon. His second quickest lap was good enough for pole position in Saturday’s third race. Superpole however proved tricky and Giordano lined up fourth on the first race grid. “I was a bit startled by the setting sun, but no excuses, all six of us had the same issue in Superpole!
“That however put us on the back foot for the first race, which was compounded by the car ahead of me stalling on the grid. Still, I made it through turn one and two well enough and was third. Charl Visser found a way past on the second lap, but I fought back and I was happy with that podium.” Fighting for position through the quickest part of the race however scuppered the chance of a fast lap and Giordano lined up fifth for the second heat.
“That was a bit too far back for comfort and it got pretty rough in the beginning, and I had to make a few passes through the race and happily both Dean Venter and Nathan Victor played fair as I fought back to third. After that, I just put my head down, but there was never enough time to catch Charl and Dawie van der Merwe up front. But we were on pole for the final and that was a perfect lights to flag win under pressure from Charl!
“Most importantly our great trek to Zwartkops not only delivered precisely what we aimed to do in consolidating our title position after that great weekend at Killarney, but we also took pole, won a race, ended second overall and moved up to third in the championship chase despite us missing the first round.
“If you win too much at home and nowhere else, they classify you as a one race wonder. So to put it on pole and score our first away race win at most of our rivals’ home track, certainly is a feather in our cap! Congratulations to Anthony Pretorius on his first win, and Charl in race 2 and huge thanks to Nian du Toit for a perfect car and to my dad for running our little team so efficiently.
Now we head to neutral ground for the next two races at Aldo Scribante in Nelson Mandela Bay, and then again at the East London Grand Prix Circuit, before we come back home. All three of those races are crucial to our chase from behind. We cannot wait, bring it on!”
Issued on behalf of Giordano Lupini
Photography by: Colin Windell
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