Summarize

Champion to be confirmed at prize giving after super-close season

Historic Racing South Africa crowned its 2020 Universal Healthcare Saloon Car class champions at a most entertaining and intriguing season finale at the Red Star Raceway on Saturday. So close was the championship at the end of the day however, that HRSA has elected not to confirm the overall 2020 champion until Saturday’s annual prize giving!

Class C runners came to the fore in Saturday’s races as Jannie van Rooyen’s Volkswagen Scirocco and Stuart Konig's similar Northern Bolt & Tool diced early on in the first heat, before Konig was delayed after an early spin. That left van Rooyen to fend off Class D frontrunners Marius Verwey's Mazda R100 and Alan Green’s Escort until Johann Smith JMS Mazda Capella took over in second.

George Avvakoumides' Porsche 911 RSR and Andre van der Merwe’s similar Evapco car meanwhile entertained in a close Class A duel as both followed Smith through to second and third ahead of the combative Verwey's Mazda. He held Andre ten Napel’s TNMC Medical Scirocco off to take Class D ahead of delayed Rene van Rensburg SV Tech Ford Escort Mk II and Alan Green’s delayed similar car.

Riaan Roux's Addfin Scirocco was left to play alone in Class E after Ian Kilburn’s Collectible Wheels Datsun GX Coupé ran into trouble early on, but the Class F dice proved most entertaining. Stewart McLarty’s Big Boss Ford Escort however escaped to win in the end, ahead of the dicing Jaco Roux’s Scirocco and Andre Dannhauser’s Pro Rubber Toyota SR5 after Sean Hepburn’s HiQ Midrand Datusn 1200 Deluxe slowed. Riaan de Ru had Class G to himself in his Vestige Ford Prefect.

Jannie van Rooyen made no mistakes as he sped to a lights to flag second race win but Stuart Konig left it to the last minute to pounce on Johann Smith for second. Behind them, Class A runners George Avvakoumides and Andre van der Merwe’s Porsches emerged fourth and fifth once the race settled down following a furious first few laps in the pack.

Marius Verwey once again beat Rene van Rensburg to Class D victory after Alan Green and Andre ten Napel stopped early on and Riaan Roux sped home to class E honours. Class F delivered another wonderful dice decided in Jaco Roux’s favour from Andre Dannhauser and Sean Hepburn after Stewart McLarty hit trouble. That top three was covered by two seconds at the flag as Riaan de Ru won Class G.

So van Rooyen took the day overall from Class C rival Smith and Class A men Avvakoumides and van der Merwe. Verwey took Class D, Riaan Roux Class E and Jaco Roux F and de Ru Class G.

The upshot of all of that was a most interesting overall and class championship result. So much so that the overall 2020 Universal Healthcare Historic Racing champion will only be revealed at Saturday’s HRSA prize giving! We can however reveal the 2020 class champions.

Willie Hepburn and his famous Opel Rekord V8 had already done enough to wrap up the Class A title. Occasional PE Visitor Rudolf de Vos made it a Chevy V8 double as he took the Class B title in his Can Am and Jannie van Rooyen took the Class C championship in a Scirocco 1-2 over Stuart Konig. Marius Verwey emerged the Class D champion from Alan Green, Riaan Roux took Class E, Jaco Roux E and Riaan de Ru the Class G title. 

The overall champion will be confirmed over the coming weekend.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Historic Racing SA

What:Universal Historic Saloon Cars Wrap
Where:Red Star Raceway, Delmas
When:Saturday 14 November 2020
Community:Gauteng Regional

For further information please contact stewart@bmautogroup.co.za

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