What Southern African Endurance Series Round 4 Report
Where Zwartkops Raceway, Pretoria
When Saturday 21 October 2023
Community South Africa National
Rowe & Masters’ SupaPolo third in Zwartkops 4 Hour
Volkswagen Motorsport came home smiling following a giant killing effort to finish third overall at the fourth round of the 2023 MSA Southern African Endurance Series at Zwartkops Raceway on Saturday. Driven by Volkswagen Motorsport drivers Daniel Rowe and Keagan Masters, Rowe is on the verge of clinching the Class D championship after three wins and a second place in four races so far this season.
“We have enjoyed a brilliant run in the Southern African Endurance Series so far this season, topped by Daniel and Keagan’s giant killing third overall in Pretoria over the weekend,” Head of Volkswagen Motorsport Mike Rowe pointed out. “The team really shone as a unit at Zwartkops, with our drivers delivering the goods, while the crew did an exceptional job in pit lane and our Polo SupaCup performed perfectly.”
“Saturday was an awesome race and to land up on the overall podium a massive bonus,” Daniel Rowe acknowledged. “I started and handed over to Keagan, who gave me a perfect car in an ideal position to race to the finish. Our crew, Michael, Cameron, Steve, Marcel, and Philip delivered two incredible pit stops. The first was done in two minutes flat, for fuel and two front tyres, and the second was two minutes and twelve seconds to refuel and fit three tyres. “Well done guys, we’ve got this!”
“It was great to come back to South Africa and step into Volkswagen Motorsport’s Endurance Polo SupaCup alongside Daniel,” Keagan Masters admitted. “The guys did an excellent job on the car and in the stops, and we enjoyed a great outing on track to score an overall podium third. Now it’s down to the big one and the final at the Kyalami 9 Hour. None of us can wait!”
The Volkswagen Motorsport Polo SupaCup may have dominated Class D of the Southern African Endurance Series through the season, but the team is not ready to make a championship call at this stage. “We are not sure if Daniel has wrapped up the title yet, as the Kyalami 9 Hour in December is a double points race, which could bring others back into play,” Mike Rowe concluded.
“Our main rivals competitors are also dropping a zero score, where we must drop 29 points as things stand, so let’s just say we have one hand on the title and it’s all to play for at Kyalami!” Daniel Rowe has driven all four races so far this year, while Keagan Masters and Graeme Nathan have shared out the co-driver roles while Masters was away racing in the international Porsche Cup. Rowe and Masters have won both their races together, while Nathan and Rowe scored a win and a second.
The 2023 Southern African Endurance Series wraps up with the 9 Hours of Kyalami Summer Festival at the Grand Prix Circuit on Saturday 16 December.
Volkswagen Motorsport thanks its partners CompCare Medical Scheme, Dunlop, Ferodo, Motul and VW Genuine Parts.
Issued on behalf of Volkswagen Motorsport
Photography by: Andre Laubscher
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