POWER SERIES 3 – KILLARNEY WPMC

Round three of the Power Series Regional Racing at Killarney International Raceway took place on Saturday 27 April 2024. Freedom Day, one of the twelve South African public holidays commemorates the 1994 election date and now the Lime Property Management race meeting heralded a new concept in presenting regional motorsport with a 20 race itinerary including eleven individual categories and a 08h45 start of the first heat. The smaller categories completing both heats before lunch and the “bigger” categories racing after lunch.

Day 118 in what is a leap year indicating that nearly a third of 2024 had already passed and that Dr Helmut Marko, who once raced at Killarney, turned 80 today. Former World Rally Drivers Champion Ari Vatanen turned 72 and the late Roger Swan (motorsport photographer doyen to many) would have been 85 today.

Kaltron Formula Supercars 2×8 Laps
Ryan Kat may be preparing for his rallying debut in the ex-Werner Koekemoer Twin Turbo BMW 1 but he has also remained loyal to the Kaltron Supercars. Title sponsor of the day, Lime Property Management, also represented by Shane Boscombe (18) and Stefan Nortjé (42).

Actual competitor numbers have both benefitted from the Kaltron title sponsorship and showed promising signs of improvement with a much better entry for the day.

Heat one saw Glen Phillips leading Ryan Kat and Kyle Hallick home with Stefan Nortjé fourth, Shane Boscombe fifth and Brad Fenner in sixth spot. Race two saw Glen Philips making it a double with Ernest Page second, Ryan Kat third, Stefan Nortjé fourth, Brad Fenner fifth and Shane Boscombe sixth.

The combined overall result saw Glen Phillips (33 Opel Supercar) leading the much improved (performance and looks) pack with Ryan Kat (11 Kaltron Engineering Opel Supercar) second, Stefan Nortjé (42 Lime Property Management Opel Supercar) third, Shane Boscombe (18 Lime Property Management Opel Supercar) fourth, Brad Fenner (9 Planet Automation / Techni Models Opel Supercar) fifth and André Roe (74 Summit Racing Opel Supercar) sixth.

Kaltron Fine Cars 2×8 Laps
The long awaited return of André Ellis and his 1962 LHD Alfa Romeo Guilietta Sprint 2.0 enjoys a combined age of 140 years (driver 76 and car 64) was well worth the hype as this Springbok based classic car proved everything a perfect as was expected. Another series showing some much needed and deserving improvement with respect variety and numbers.

Overall result with respect to on track performance does not determine the eventual winners for the day as that result is based on Index of Performance but it was Günther Appelgryn who made it two wins in the 13 Appelgryn Trading BMW E36 325i with Dave Alexander second in his neat Piripiri Racing 44 Morgan +4 and Derek Hulse in third with his 19 MGB. Natasha Tischendorf fourth in her 285 VW Jetta Cli and in fourth it was the classic Springbok Motors 61 Ford Anglia of Arnold Lambert. André Ellis taking it very easy on debut in the beautiful Alfa Romeo Guilietta Sprint to finish fifth and the top six completed by Di Dugmore in her Piripiri Racing 80 Austin Healey 3.0.

On Index of Performance the order looked much different with the ever consistent Roger Lewis topping the day on 97.19% in his MGA to lead the Anglia of Arnold Lambert, 97.71%, home from Dave Alexander 96.86% in the Morgan +4. Derek Hulse and the MGB home fourth on 96.22% with Natasha Tischendorf fifth in her Jetta, scoring 97.16%. The top six completed by André Ellis on 95.61% in the Guilietta Sprint. Celebrating the birth of Nicolo Romeo on 28 April 1986 (148 years ago) somehow quite fitting.

BATT Tech STC 650 and SSP300 Motorcycles 2×9 Laps
With the weather more consistent the new tyres in use could truly be put to the test and the smaller bike category running a much closer field. Michael Reifarth falling coming out of Turn 1 on lap 3 and on the final lap two bikers went down hard in the kink between Castrol (Turn 2) and Interceptor (Turn 3).

The smaller capacity machines a real challenge on the limit as there simply are no remaining power to compensate for slight errors in judgement but also a very entertaining category as these machines are normally quite well matched in performance.
Jamie Hall (65 MGA Racing Kawasaki ER650) just seems to have the 650cc edge currently and led Matthew van Niekerk (92 Bulldog Racing Suzuki SV650) home from André Symes (52 Genasys Kawasaki ER6) in heat one with Reinhardt Burnett 54 Kawasaki ER650) fourth, Lance Jonas (83 Samurai Racing Yamaha 690) fifth and Abdul Essack (2 HSC Racing Suzuki SV650) sixth.

Mark Roos (16 Suzuki SV650) excluded from third spot for being underweight by 2kg)

Matthew van Niekerk timed his attack supremely to win heat two by 0.037sec with Jamie Hall second and André Symes third. Lance Jonas moving into fourth with Abdul Essack fifth and Stavro Michel (24 Ballistic Uniforms & Apparel Suzuki SV650) sixth.
Reinhardt Burnett found himself disqualified from fourth spot as his Kawasaki ER6N exhaust system did not comply to the class rules. Overall the STC650 order was Jamie Hall, Matthew van Niekerk, André Symes, Lance Jonas, Abdul Essack and Stavro Michel.
The SSP300 category going the way of Adrian Solomon (4 Pool King Kawasaki Ninja 400) with Abigail Bosson (51 Ateka Yamaha YZF R3) second and Max Munto (14 SunScan KTM390RC) third. Mitch Robinson (71 Mag Workshop Kawasaki Ninja 400) fifth and Raymond Alexander (11 Rayder Cycles Kawasaki Ninja 300) fifth.

Formula Libre 2×8 Laps
Only nine entries made the start of Heat 1 and race distance was shortened from 10 to 8 laps. Damian White (29 draKen racing Ray FGTi) retired in Pertamina Fastron (Turn 5) on lap 2 and Byron Mitchel (21 Dolphin Engineering Forza FVee) only lasted four laps.

Storm Lanfear (27 Mantelli’s Reynard FVW) took a commanding lead and kept Dee-Jay Booysen (20 Dico / The Burner Factory Reynard FVW) at bay for the opening heat. The two Formula VW Reynard cars simply the class of the field and Dee-Jay probably not too bothered as Storm have not contested every event. Kelly Fletcher (22 Dolphin Engineering Forza FVee) a strong third with 15 year old Joshua Smit (83 S&S Racing Rhemw FVee) fourth, Ricky Anderson (96 Forza FVee) fifth and Haydn Ellwood (76 Swift SF92F FGTi) sixth.

Race two their normal 10 lap distance and once again it was Storm Lanfear ahead of Dee-Jay Booysen, Kelly Fletcher, Joshua Smit, Ricky Anderson and Donovan Ramsay (95 Kerston Foods Sting FVee) in sixth spot. Damian White thumped Joshua Smit into the scenery in Hoals Hoek, but both managed to finish the race. Overall order for the day the same as the Heat two result.

MGA Racing Clubman, Classic and Breakfast Run Motorcycles 2×9 Laps
Hilton Redelinhuys (87 888 Motorcycles Kawasaki ZX7R) won heat one on the Classic Superbike entry with Clubman racer Dyllan Anderson (42 Suzuki GSXR750) second and Jamie Hall (65 MGA Racing Suzuki SRAD) third on another Classic Superbike. Fourth place going to the first Breakfast Run entry of Sarel Haasbroek (Yamaha YZF R1) and in fifth it was Wessel Kruger (163 Angry Teddy Racing Suzuki Slingshot) on his Classic Superbike. The top six completed by Rob de Vos (36 Yamaha R6) on his Clubman machine.

Levarne Sobotker unfortunate in crashing his (56 Yamaha YZF R) on entry to Catsrol corner. Both Sobotker and Hilton Redelinghuys failing to start heat 2.

Dyllan Anderson beating Jamie Hall and JP Schermers (63 Bad Bee Honda CBR1000RR), Wessel Kruger, Rob de Vos and Sarel Haasbroek to the line in the second heat.

After two heats the overall result in Clubmans swa Dylan Anderson ahead of Rob de Vos, Willem Louw (86 Kawasaki ZX6R), JP Schermers, Willem Binedell (25 Melkbos Motor Spares Triumph Daytona 675) and Wayne Gresse (95 Tony’s Motor Spares Kawasaki ZX10R)

Classic Superbikes going to Jamie Hall from Wessel Kruger, Sharief Reynolds (7 Ducati) and John Kosterman (81 Suzuki GSXR1100).

Breakfast Run going to Sarel Haasbroek from Alexander Flay (21 Suzuki GSXR750), Ruan Smuts (30 Honda CBR1000), Juan Momberg (9 Suzuki GSXR750) and Brandon Hendricks (61 Honda CBR600RR).

Sealpro Winelands Superbikes / SBK Challenge / Masters / 600cc M/C 2×9 Laps
Slade van Niekerk (111 Project Sixty SA Kawasaki ZX10R) simply was not taking any prisoners on the day and set a fastest lap of1min11.842 enroute to a first heat victory from Kewyn Snyman (19 Missile Motorcycles Honda CBR1000RR) and Tristin Pienaar (50 BMW S1000RR). Jason Linaker (93 RST Honda CBR1000RR) home in fourth with Ronald Slamet (68 RSRA Kawasaki ZX10R) fifth and Gerrit Visser (43 Yamaha R1) in sixth spot. Mike Hunter (37 LLG Properties Kawasaki ZX6R) taking the 600cc category from Keana Strode (70 Strode Racing Kawasaki ZX6R Ninja) and Lubabalo Ntisana (53 LB Auto Honda CBR600). The Superbike Challenge category had Daniel Frost (28 CHW Design Honda CBR1000) leading Wayne Arendse (33 Kawasaki ZX10R) and Wesley Hendricks (29 Maxicool & Motorwise Kawasaki ZX10R) home.

Gerhard Vrey (21 Sealpro Winelands Kawasaki ZX10R) taking a scary tumble into Hoals Hoek when the front wheel locked up and the rider very fortunate to escape with light injury. Heat two a repeat result in every class except SBK Challenge where Wayne Arendse put one over Daniel Frost with Wesley Hendricks third.

Overall it was victory for Slade van Niekerk in the Suprbike categrory with Kewyn Snyman second, Tristin Pienaar third, Jason Linaker fourth, Ronald Slamet fifth and Gerrit Visser sixth. Mike Hunter claiming the 600cc class from Jeana Strode and in the SBK Challenge it was Wayne Arendse from Daniel Frost and Wesley Hendricks.

APi Property Group GTi Challenge 2×8 Laps
The APi Property GTI Challenge saw some heated exchanges as drivers vied for property ownership of the circuit and positions in each of the three classes. Despite the absence of some regular names each of the classes enjoyed great support and on track the action was extremely intense.

Heat one saw Marco Busi (41 Simtech / Summit / Goeie Hoop Onderdele) take victory by 0.566 sec from pole starter Schalk Geldenhuys (10 G&A Motorsport) and Dillon Joubert (44 TAC Steel / Powder Coating World). Jeandré Marais (95 Summit Racing) fourth and Ian Kapp (65 Hydracor Hydraulics) fifth.

Ryan van Eeden (28 RVE Digital Marketing / VW Claremont) claimed class B from Mohammed T Khalfey (14 Mad Performance) and Mario Roux (17 Automar Automotive Selling), John-Henri Vaughan (32 VW Polo Classic), Nur Abass (8 Spice Mecca) and Marc Thompson (81 Polo 6R).

Class C was war between the Brat Pack members but Mark Fontin (31 Goch &Cooper) led Dylan van Eeden (55RVE Digital Marketing) and Daniël Munna (33 APi Property Group) home from Zac Laden (64Angri / Incledon), Ross Schroeder (16 APi Property Group) and Adriano Ferroli (4 Automan).

No less than five drivers found themselves excluded from the results. Nathan Victor (71A Summit Racing from 2nd overall for failure to secure oil filter), Brent van der Schyff (69B WKA / Magmaster / PG Autoworx), Ismail Davids (36C), Mogamat Gamieldien (37C ) and Zubayr Robinson (38C).

Heat two was as hotly contested with Marco Busi leading Nathan Victor and Schalk Geldenhuys past the flag from Dillon Joubert and Ian Kapp. Class B had Mohammed T Khalfey leading Mario Roux and Ryan van Eeden home from Kyle Wiltshire (54 Alpine Autohuas / Battery Lab / Bloomsbury Investment Cars), Nur Abass and Marc Thompson. Class C had Mark Fontini ahead of Zac Laden, Ross Schroëder, Tristan Joubert (90 Powder Coating World), Reza Levy (45 Jive)and Flashman Finneran (25 Blockkoin). Dylan van Eeden excluded from the race and many more sustaining damage.

Thirty cars started the day but only 23 made the final results with two heats completed and the overall order was
Class A Marco Busi, Schalk Geldenhuys, Dillon Joubert, Ian Kapp.

Class B Mohammed T Khalfey, Mario Roux, Ryan van Eeden, Nur Abass, Marc Thompson and Jonty Vice (22 Dolphin Engineering).
Class C Mark Fontini, Zac Laden, Ross Schroëder, Adriano Ferroli, Flashman Finneran and Tristan Joubert.

Le Joubert Sports & GT Cars 2×10 Laps
Steve Humble was back in the Judd powered 91S Pilbeam MP91 and set a 1min08.848 time enroute to Heat 1 victory from a rather subdued Craig Jarvis (68S Ginetta G57) and the rapid Clinton Thorne in his 93A Fulloutput Toyota Lotus 7. Divan Luzmore returned in fourth spot with his 99B Nissan 350Z and in fourth it was Phillip Booysen in his bright 14B Origin Oils Lotus Exige 2.4. Renzo Torrente sixth in his new 86D BMW M2 GT4.

Connor Kilbride (42 Spirit Racing BMW E30 M3) and André Brink (48 SSB transport Porsche 991 GT3 Cup) assisted each other into the kitty litter on the outside of Hoals Hoek.

Steve Humble looked a certain winner of Heat 2 but then had a suspected rear suspension failure entering Pertamina Fastron on the final lap and finished his race against the tyre barrier. Craig Jarvis taking the win from André Brink, Clinton Thorne, Steve Humble (retained fourth spot), Gavin Gorman (16C VW Nardini Sports 2.0) and Divan Luzmore.

Overall the order for the top six was Craig Jarvis, Clinton Thorne, Steve Humble, Divan Luzmore, Renzo Torrente and Eric Salomon (23 ELF S06).

Laude Classic Cars 2×8 Laps
Franco Donadio led the Ford domination personally after having taken the left front corner off his Little Chev Can Am V8 in Turn 3 (Interceptor Shoes), returning with his trusty Donadio Plant Hire Ford Escort MkI.

Michael Hitchcock (67A Cross Cape Forklift Services Ford Mustang V8) utilising the opportunity to take victory in Heat 1 from Franco Donadio and Trevor Momberg in his rapid 73B Supergas / All Scale Ford Capri V6. Ferdi Mouton fourth in the 68B Cross Cape Forklift Services Ford Mustang V8 and Jeandré Botes placed the legenadary Wesbank Nissan Skyline GTX 2.8 fifth with Wayne Lötter sixth in his 120B Lotspeed Ford Escort MkI.

Heat 2 and Michael Hitchcock is forced to retire the Mustang V8, relinquishing victory to Franco Donadio in the Ford Escort. Trevor Momberg second, Jeandré Botes third, Ferdi Mouton fourth, Wayne Lötter fifth and Jarryd Evans (414B Cape Eye Laser Ford Capri V6) sixth. Class A Franco Donadio, Michael Hitchcock, Class B Trevor Momberg, Jeandré Botes, Ferdi Mouton, Wayne Lötter, Jarryd Evans, Bryon Bedien (46 Bedien Racing Datsun P510 SSS) Class C Wynand Nell (1C Harkers Automotive Ford Anglia), Robert Rowe (11C Veldt Reared BMW E30 325iS), Dion Valentine (38C Leyland Mini 1275), Deon Conradie (86C Garge 86 Toyota Conquest RSi) Class D Theo Claasen (55D Yesterday’s Heroes Nissan Skuline 2.8 GTX), Herman de Kock (59D Ford Escort MkI GT), James Matthee (700D Augusta Motors Honda CRX 1600), Dave Rowley (148D Flat Four Racing VW Beetle), Malcolm Pheiffer (195D Intellibus Alfa Romeo GTA Replica). Class E Robert Senekal (50E EMI group Ford Escort MkI)

Pirelli V8 Masters 2×8 Laps
Power is nothing without control, something that the Pirelli V8 Masters tend to forget once those lights go out and they head for Hoals Hoek. Fabio Tafani (1 Club Refrigeration APV 347is) found himself demoted to second spot in heat 1 having passed cars under yellow flag conditions and Marcel Angel (14 Autohuas Angel APV 347is) claimed victory with Sean Moore (73 Ziegler Logistics APV 347is) third.

Barry Ingle fourth in the Alister Brown (22 NAC Helicopters APV 347is) and in fifth it was Gary Thomson (17 APV 347is). The top six completed by Denis Gaiduk (9 Knorhoek APV 347is).

Heat two saw Fabio Tafani winning from Marcel Angel, Sean Moore, Barry Ingle, Menno Parsons (69 Master Power Technologies APV 347is) and Gary Thomson.

Jason Ibbotson (46 Autohuas Angel APV 347is) and Denis Gaiduk (9 Knorhoek APV 347is) removing each other in Hoals Hoek on the second lap.

Overall the order for the day Fabio Tafani, Marcel Angel, Sean Moore, Barry Ingle, Gary Thomson and Brendan Dean (7 APV 347is).

Thermo Fires Clubman Saloons 2×8 Laps
Nian du Toit (73A NDT Racing BMW E30 Turbo) beat the Steven Heydenrych (10A Origin Oil Nissan Skyline GTR RB25) convincingly in heat one with Jaco Lambert (29B Lawntech VW Polo 1.8) third, JP Share (102B Bester Tegniese Dienste BMW E36) fourth, Graeme van Rooijen (149B VW Golf MkI) fifth and Gary Smith (68D Truckport Logistics BMW E36) sixth.

Heat two and it was Steven Heydenrych first with Michael le Sueur (64A New Engineering VW Golf MkI) second, Jaco Lambert third, JP Share fourth, Nian du Toit fifth and Yusuf Hendricks (61B MYHAuto BMW E36 Turbo) sixth.

Overall results per class
Class A Steven Heydenrych, Nian du Toit, Michael le Sueur
Class B Jaco Lambert, JP Share, Graeme van Rooijen, Yusuf Hendricks
Class C Steven Gouws (34C Thermo Fires VW Jetta III), Gary Smith, Eugen Gasperl (95C BMW E46), Dexter Bruce (143X A&K Auto BMW E36).
Class D John da Silva (142D Ezi Group VW Golf MkI), Charl Opperman (89C Excelsior Airbrakes VW Golf MkI)
Class E Jemma Olen (36E BMW E36), Zahir Phillips (107EMRP Auto Racing VW Jetta III), Evert du Toit (651E New Engineering Ford Falcon), David Vermaak (27E BMW E36)
Class F Ruan Gouws (9 VW Golf MkI), Ley Fielding (67F BMW E36), Michael Flynn (97F Flynns Detailing VW Golf MkI), Adam Omar (24F VW Golf MkI).

Summary
Strange weather brought serious action and incidents on a pretty busy raceday. The new format of raceday open to debate.

Published by: Patrick Vermaak

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