What Chemical Logistics SATC 2024 Round 1 Report
Where Killarney International Raceway
When Saturday 16 March 2024
Community South Africa National
Wolk & Julian 1-2 as new SA Touring Cars Era dawns
Chemical Logistics WCT Racing enjoyed a brilliant dawn to the new South African Touring Car era when Robert Wolk and Julian van der Watt emerged first and second overall at Saturday’s Extreme Festival season opener at Killarney in Cape Town. Robert qualified on pole from Julian before storming to a lights to flag opening race win, with van der Watt third. Wolk then came from sixth and was only just unable to catch the leading Toyotas in third, ahead of van der Watt in race 2.
“That was an almost perfect start to the season,” Chemical Logistics WCT Racing BMW 128ti pilot Robert Wolk admitted. “We were quick all weekend and I was happy to be on pole for the first race of the new era. “I had to work a bit to keep Nathi Msimanga’s Toyota at bay early in the race, but I settled down and converted pole to a most satisfying race win. “Which meant I was sixth on the race 2 grid and enjoyed a few clean dices as I made my way up to third. “I ran out of time to catch the Toyotas up front in the end, but still, that’s an overall win, and we’ll take it with pride!”
Julian van der Watt was only handed his brand new Investchem WCT Volkswagen Golf right before the weekend, so he was delighted to celebrate that with second on the grid before two solid races to snatch second overall for the day. “I‘m pretty happy with my first race of the new South African Touring Cars era,” Julian explained. “We had to start from scratch with the new Investchem WCT Volkswagen Golf, but it was like a rocket out the box and I was so happy to start on the front row. The races went well too, with a third and a fourth, which was good enough for second overall. Thanks team!”
Andy Schofield enjoyed a slightly more challenging debut weekend aboard the team’s second FlySafair Chemical Logistics WCT BMW 128ti. “My South African Touring Cars debut was a bit of a baptism of fire!” Andy owned up. “I’m on a huge learning curve out of Investchem Formula 1600 and its proving quite a challenge, but I made good progress at Killarney and now I can’t wait for the next round at Kyalami on 13 April. Thanks so much to the team for all its effort and patience!”
“That’s the way I like it!” team manager Stuart Thompson grinned. “A great 1-2 to start a new era with essentially two brand new cars, what more can we ask for?” Team principal Ian Schofield was similarly delighted: “All I can do is congratulate the entire Chemical Logistics WCT racing team on a job brilliantly done. Roll on Kyalami!”
Issued on behalf of Chemical Logistics Racing
Photography by: Abri de Bruyn
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