Nailbiting race action was the order of the day for the South African Single-Seater competitors at Killarney on Saturday. Each of the categories saw tough battles taking place for track position.
In the Formula Volkswagen series, all eyes were on four-time World Karting Champion Wesleigh Orr (130 – Hollard). Qualifying set the stage when just 0.03 of a second separated Robert Wolk (1 – Midas / Chemical Logistics / ATE) and Orr.
Wolk was the favourite for another strong performance after his round one success. An oil leak in race one, however, spoiled a good qualifying session result and saw him black-flagged, eliminating him from the first race result.
Wolk’s elimination opened the door for to Nicholas van Weely (87 – Anglorand) take the win, with Orr in second, a lack of seat time and race car set-up slowing him down. Werner Scholtz (3 – Motorvia / Investchem) claimed third in that first race.
Race two provided some of the closest racing yet seen in Formula Volkswagen. Van Weely, keen to repeat his race-winning finish got involved in a tough battle with Wolk. The pair duelled throughout the race, each pushing hard for the lead and cornering side-by-side to the delight of race fans. It was eventually Wolk who emerged victorious by the narrowest of margins, 0.3 of a second ahead of Van Weely.
Jason Campos (19 – Hollard Insurance) capitalised on a solid performance with two fourth places to claim third overall for the day. Ahead of him in the standings was Orr in second and Van Weely claiming a hard-won first.
The Formula 1600 class A saw a monumental battle taking place between Keegan Campos (2 – Hollard Insurance) and Scott Temple (3 – Investchem). The hair-raising 10 lap race saw the lead change a dozen times with Campos the victor after a drag race to the finish – 0.053 of a second the winning margin. Graham Hepburn (4 – Suburban Body Shop) put in a strong performance to claim third in each race.
In race two, Campos put his Dur Campos put his Duratec Formula 1600 in front and thought he had the race win sewn up. Temple had other plans and lap after lap he stayed close. With just two laps left Temple started his move down the main straight, out-foxed Campos grabbed the lead by turn two. It was enough, at the right time to ensure he claimed the chequered flag ahead of his F1600 rival.
Class B of this series saw the battle taking place between Rick Morris (8 – Investchem), Ian Schofield (9 – Investchem) and Andreas Petrou (17 – Investchem). Morris proved the quickest in each of the races, even duelling for track position with some of the class A cars, followed by Schofield and then Petrou. The races were marked by committed racing and numerous tense moments as the racers challenged for track position.
The single-seater competitors have stepped up their level of competition this season – and the results show out on track where the battles for honours see them racing right at the very edge of handling and proximity tolerances.
RESULTS
Race one
FVW
1. Nicholas van Weely (87 – Anglorand)
2. Wesleigh Orr (130 – Hollard)
3. Werner Scholtz (3 – Motorvia / Investche p>
F1600 Class A
1. Keegan Campos (2 – Hollard)
2. Scott Temple (3 – Investchem)
3.Graham Hepburn (4 – Suburban Body Shop)
F1600 Class B
1. Rick Morris (8 – Investchem)
2. Ian Schofield (9 – Investchem)
3. Andreas Petrou (17 – Investchem)
Race two
FVW
1. Robert Wolk (1 – Midas / Chemical Logistics / ATE)
2. Nicholas van Weely (87 – Anglorand)
3. Wesleigh Orr (130 – Hollard)
F1600 Class A
1. Scott Temple (3 – Investchem)
2. Keegan Campos (2 – Hollard)
3. Graham Hepburn (4 – Suburban Body Shop)
F1600 Class B
1. Rick Morris (8 – Investchem)
2. Ian Schofield (9 – Investchem)
3. Andreas Petrou (17 – Investchem)
Overall
FVW
1. 1. Nicholas van Weely (87 – Anglorand)
2. Wesleigh Orr (130 – Hollard)
3. Jason Campos (19 – Hollard)
F1600 Class A
1. Scott Temple (3 – Investchem)
2. Keegan Campos (2 – Hollard)
3. Graham Hepburn (4 – Suburban Body Shop)
F1600 Class B
1. 1. Rick Morris (8 – Investchem)
2. Ian Schofield (9 – Investchem)
3. Andreas Petrou (17 – Investchem)