Round two of the 2016 Investchem Formula 1600 championship took place in the Western Cape on Saturday. The event saw Dewald Brummer (4 – MAD Racing / Ango Trucks / Fuchs Oils) set the pace early on with a qualifying time more than a half-second faster than the rest of the field.
This put Brummer at the front of the grid to start that first race – where he had to contend with Julian van der Watt (42 – Race Driver SA / Investchem) and Werner Scholtz (6 – Investchem) looking for a way past right from the outset. The fight for the podium was an exciting one with the racers fighting hard throughout the 10 lap race to claim the first chequered flag of the day.
It was Van der Watt who claimed the first win of the day, with Scholtz also finding his way past Brummer who took third place to round out the first podium on the day. Rick Morris (8 – Investchem) put up a tremendous fight against Dean Venter (77 – MAD Racing/Fuchs Oils/Ango Trucks) and Alex Gillespie (50 – Mbotyi River Lodge).
The trio battled throughout the race, with Morris diving past Venter and Gillespie to claim fourth spot. Race two saw the action continue amongst the Investchem Formula 1600 competitors.
Again it was Van der Watt up front, making sure he claimed a second chequered flag for the day. Brummer moved up a spot to finish in second place while Morris continued his fast-paced race day performance by finishing third.
Across the finishing line the gap between the first two cars was just 0.052 of a second. At times during the race the pair were so close Brummer appeared to be pushing his rival Van der Watt around the circuit. The two were balanced on a knife-edge of disaster lap after lap and it was nothing but their determination and car control that kept them racing.
Joshua Dolinschek (17) joined the Investchem Formula 1600 field at Killarney, driving an older Zetec model. Despite the obvious handicap presented by the older car, Dolinschek did well at the event, finishing seventh in each race to claim sixth spot overall.
With two rounds of the championship completed, the battle lines have clearly been drawn for the rest of the season. It is shaping up to be a fight of titanic proportions just getting to the mid-season point, never mind the battles that will take place at the second half of the builds to the finale.
Round three for the Investchem Formula 1600 competitors will see them race at Zwartkops Raceway in Pretoria on Wednesday and Thursday, June 15 and 16. Thursday, June 16 is Youth Day, a national public holiday and an excellent opportunity to spend time watching some good racing from the Investchem Formula 1600 field.