What Investchem Formula 1600 Round 6 Report
Where Killarney International Raceway
When Saturday 9 September 2023
Community South Africa National
Dominant Dolinschek thrills home crowd with wins, title
Cape Town youngster Troy Dolinschek thrilled his home crowd as he wrapped up the 2023 MSA South African National Investchem Formula 1600 championship with a dominant double victory at home at Killarney on Saturday. Dolinschek had already wrapped the title up with his first race victory, with three races still to run in the championship, while compatriot Jason Coetzee made it a double home success as he clinched the runner-up title with second overall on the day.
Local hero Troy Dolinschek started on the front foot and duly added another point to his title tally as he put his Sujean Property Investments Mygale on pole position Saturday morning. He would start ahead of Jozi lad Gerard Geldenhuys ‘Abacus Divisions entry and Cape compatriot and main championship rival Jason Coetzee’s Mint Wrapworks version. Jason lied up alongside a sprightly Andrew Schofield on the second row in his Fly Safair version of Investchem Formula 1600’s 1600cc Ford-powered wings and slicks Mygale chassis.
Alex Vos’ Investchem DV Building Supplies car shared the third row with Shrien Naidoo, showing some good form in his Production X car. They lined up ahead of rookie KC Ensor-Smith’s Vitro Frameless Glass entry and Antwan Geldenhuys in the second Abacus Divisions Mygale. F1600 veteran Nicholas van Weely in his Magnificent Paints & Hardware car and Investchem driver Siyabonga Mankonkwana suffered tough qualifying sessions to line up ahead of AMD lad Storm Lanfear.
Troy Dolinschek then made no mistakes as he led from lights to flag to wrap the 2023 Investchem Formula 1600 title in the same manner he had commanded it from the outset in front of a delighted Cape Town home crowd. Gerard Geldenhuys and Jason Coetzee followed in formation, but it was perhaps Nicholas van Weely who put in the drive of the race as he stormed back to fourth from his lowly grid slot. He picked fellow veteran Andrew Schofield off for fourth in the dying stages.
Alex Vos held KC Ensor-Smith, Siyabonga Mankonkwana and Storm Lanfear off for sixth as Antwan Geldenhuys spectacularly exited with a blown engine and Shrien Naidoo likewise failed to make the distance. Gerard Geldenhuys’ fastest lap not only grabbed him an extra championship point, but it also put him on pole position for the second race ahead of Dolinschek, van Weely and Coetzee.
Dolinschek however made short work of the second race as he sped off to another lights to flag win over Coetzee, who had to work his way past Gerard Geldenhuys and van Weely early in the race. Van Weely however ran into trouble and stopped on lap 6, leaving third to Geldenhuys, but Gerard was docked 30 seconds for a jumped start and tumbled to ninth. Not only did that promote Alex Vos to third ahead of Andrew Schofield and Siyabonga Mankonkwana, but it also allowed Jason Coetzee to secure second in the title chase.
Antwan Geldenhuys’ team worked wonders to replace his blown engine in race 2 and he rewarded them by climbing to sixth by the flag ahead of Storm Lanfear and KC Ensor-Smith. The penalised Gerard Geldenhuys was classified ninth ahead of Shrien Naidoo, who similarly lost his eighth place to a jump start penalty.
So, a dominant Troy Dolinschek not only took another double win off pole position, but he also wrapped up the Investchem Formula 1600 championship at home at Killarney. He will take R200,000 home for his efforts along with a Global Touring Car test. Jason Coetzee ended second overall for the day as he claimed Investchem Formula 1600’s R100,000 prize for the runner-up slot as Andrew Schofield emerged third from Alex Vos, Siyabonga Mankonkwana, KC Ensor-Smith and Storm Lanfear.
All of which leaves the rest to fight over the R50,000 prize for third in the title chase, when the Investchem Formula 1600 championship wraps up at in at Zwartkops Raceway’s Extreme Festival National Finals Saturday 14 October.
Issued on behalf of Investchem Formula 1600
Photography by: Abri de Bruyn
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