Jason Campos
The South African Single Seater (SASS) season got off to a solid start on Saturday at Zwartkops Raceway. Defending Formula Volkswagen (FVW) champion Robert Wolk (1 – Midas / Chemical Logistics / ATE) opened his 2014 championship with two race wins under very different conditions.
Race one was held in dry, overcast conditions and Wolk opened up an early lead, having claimed a pole position start with a qualifying time 0.282 of a second faster than rival Nicholas van Weely (87 – Anglorand) who started his season from second on grid.
Wolk led the field from flag to flag in both races, with the second event a determined driving display in extremely slippery and wet conditions. With the FVW field in the pre-race paddock the weather conditions were on the edge of a wet or dry tyre decision. All but Jason Campos (19 – Hollard Insurance) opted for slicks – and the high speed single-seaters proved a handful to control under these conditions. Campos debuted in the FVW formula this weekend, his prize as the F1600 2013 champion, and he held onto third by just 0.02 of a second ahead of Sebastian Lanzetti (66 – CMC Autobody).
The F1600 competitors contested their own race, separate from the FVW field at this event, as the short circuit is not an ideal environment for the speed differential between the two championship series. In class A Scott Temple (3 – Investchem) claimed pole with a qualifying time of 0.601 of a second ahead of Keegan Campos (2 – Hollard Insurance).
Scott Temple
With the front spot on the grid, Temple was not about to allow a rival past and he held the lead to the finish with Campos taking second and Graham Hepburn (4 – Suburban Body Shop) taking third. It was the same in race two with Temple again the victor and Campos crossing for second – this time though Bevan Williams (36 – Bocal Africa / Rightway Auto Electrical) taking third spot.
Class B saw Rick Morris (8 – Investchem) claim the top qualifying time with Ian Schofield (9 – Investchem) taking second spot. In race one, Morris turned his top starting position into a race win, but Andreas Petrou (17 – Investchem) jumped two places from a fourth place start to finish second, with Schofield in third place. In lap five of the first race Schofield attempted an enthusiastic overtaking manoeuvre on Morris which resulted in Schofield spinning off the circuit.
The second race saw Morris in a display of speed which proved him to be the quickest car in the class B field. In fact, he was quick enough to finish the day in sixth place overall in the SASS field.
It appears that the single-seater field will have to keep a careful eye on tyre wear and use this season as each racer receives just four sets for the year. Race tyres from Zwartkops have to be used at round two in Cape Town at the end of March. Tyre management is therefore going to be a telling factor if drivers wish to maintain good grip levels for both events.
RACE ONE
Formula Volkswagen
1. Robert Wolk (1 – Midas / Chemical Logistics / ATE)
2. Nicholas van Weely (87 – Anglorand)
3. Jason Campos (19 – Hollard Insurance)
F1600 Class A
1. Scott Temple (3 – Investchem)
2. Keegan Campos (19 – Hollard Insurance)
3. Graham Hepburn (4 – Suburban Body Shop)
F1600 Class B
1. Rick Morris (8 – Investchem)
2. Andreas Petrou (17 – Investchem)
3. Ian Schofield (9 – Investchem)
RACE TWO
Formula Volkswagen
1. Robert Wolk (1 – Midas / Chemical Logistics / ATE)
2. Nicholas van Weely (87 – Anglorand)
3. Jason Campos (19 – Hollard Insurance)
F1600 Class A
1. Scott Temple (3 – Investchem)
2. Keegan Campos (19 – Hollard Insurance)
3. Bevan Williams (36 – Bocal Africa / Rightway Auto Electrical)
F1600 Class B
1. Rick Morris (8 – Investchem)
2. Ian Schofield (9 – Investchem)
3. Andreas Petrou (17 – Investchem)
OVERALL
Formula Volkswagen
1. Robert Wolk (1 – Midas / Chemical Logistics / ATE)
2. Nicholas van Weely (87 – Anglorand)
3. Jason Campos (19 – Hollard Insurance)
F1600 Class A
1. Scott Temple (3 – Investchem)
2. Keegan Campos (19 – Hollard Insurance)
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)