Summarize

Jurie ‘Umpie’ Swart’s Burly Pro GTi Challenge weekend started where the last one ended, with a stunning pole position for the Philadelphia Alpine Autohaus Polo Vivo driver, before he led seven of the eight laps only to be pipped at the post. Sadly his chance to take revenge on arch rival Nian du Toit was not to be, when his second race was hampered from the outset by a gear selector problem.

“The weekend started wonderfully with a great pole position,” Umpie explained. “Our Alpine Autohaus Polo Vivo is getting quicker and quicker thanks to the efforts of Gozzi, Zak, my dad and GAP Motorsport and my pole time showed that. “The first race started wet and I got ahead - the car was great, but Nian's set-up came better as the track dried, so I knew it was going to be a challenge. "He stalked me and made a move through Turn 3 and 4 on the last lap.

“But the flag never came out when it should have and we kept on racing for another lap, but that one did not count, so we went back to plan my revenge in race 2. “Sadly that did not happen because I picked up a gear linkage problem and could not select third from the first lap and by the time I'd figured it out, I was right at the back. “So I stuck it in fourth and drove it as quick as I could to make it back up to sixth and salvage a few points. "We ended up fifth for the day, so I was happy with that save!

“Thanks to the guys for all the effort — I will make up at the national next month.” Umpie returns to Polo Cup action next at his home track Saturday 11 May: “I can't wait to race Polo Cup at Killarney — that is going to be a special weekend!” The next round of the WP GTi Challenge is a month later on Saturday 8 June.