Summarize

Chemical Logistics Racing dominated the second round South African Touring Cars at Red Star Raceway’s Extreme Festival near Delmas in Mpumalanga on Saturday. Volkswagen Golf trio, Julian van der Watt, returning multiple champion Robert Wolk and KC Ensor-Smith dominated qualifying before van der Watt raced to a lights to flag race 1 victory. Keegan Campos then drove his Investchem BMW 128ti to the reverse grid second race win as van der Watt took the day from rookie Ensor-Smith.

“That was a very good day at the races,” team boss Ian Schofield, who himself dominated the day’s Formula Ford Kent races, confirmed. “It may have been a little rough around the edges with some incidents and accidents along the way, but Chemical Logistics Racing was on pole in a top 4 grid lock-out, we won both races and we took the overall 1-2 too. That’s how we go racing! Congratulations to the entire team on a job brilliantly done, once again.”

Julian van der Watt was delighted with his performance. “My Investchem WCT Volkswagen Golf was on rails throughout the weekend, I was able to convert that great pace to pole and then drive to a lights to flag double points feature race win,” Julian explained. “Winning race 1 means starting the heat 2 at the back of the reverse grid, but I was able to work through the pack and chase KC all the way to third. That was almost a perfect weekend and so much better than all the sort of luck we’ve had over the past two seasons. Thanks to the team for a brilliant car and all the support as always!”

KC Ensor-Smith’s weekend started third on the grid in his African Heating Investchem Volkswagen Golf GTI. “I fluffed my start and got involved in a three-way turn 1 incident,” KC reported. “I must apologise to Robert and Keegan, but there was nowhere to go. Somehow after that I ended up third and the damage to the car looked worse than it was, so I was able to pressurise Jason Coetzee all the way for third. A lucky escape, I suppose! The second race was far simpler, from fourth on the grid I made my way up to second and fought Julian off to also take second for the day. Thanks team!”

Perhaps the secret weapon of the team, Andrew Schofield kept out of trouble to bring his facelifted FlySafair Chemical Logistics FAST BMW 128ti home fourth overall. “I managed to avoid the first corner chaos in front of me to bring it home fifth in the first heat,” Andrew pointed out. “I was delighted to take the holeshot and lead the second race for a while before slipping back, but that was good enough for fourth for the day and another decent points hauls. So all good in the end and thanks to the team for another great day at the races.”

Keegan Campos got straight down to business on his South African Touring Car return after missing the opening round in his new-look Veloce Automobili Campos Transport Chemical Logistics FAST BMW 128ti. “Fourth on the grid wasn’t quite what the doctor ordered as that’s always where the trouble is and guess what, it happened!” Keegan reported. “It was probably just a racing incident, but I had to pit and rejoined to be sure of a good starting position in race 2. That turned out to be pole position, which we converted to the race win, so a great comeback after all. Great job team!”

Multiple Touring Car champion Robert Wolk’s return aboard the team’s brand new Chemical Logistics Volkswagen Golf GTI started well with a front row start after qualifying second. “Unfortunately the first race never went too far after that, but let’s just leave that one there,” Robert growled. “That also meant I started race 2 from the back, but I was able to rescue fourth. Despite all that, it was really good to be back in the car after over a year away and my new Golf was red hot out the box. We have some work to do, but let’s do it. Thanks to the team for a great effort, as ever.”

Chemical Logistics Racing stays close to home base on the highveld for the third round of the National Extreme Festival at Zwartkops Raceway in Pretoria on Saturday 23 May. Diarise it now!