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South African National Formula Vee

Bland Shows The Way

The final round of the 2008 South African National Formula Vee Championship, run at the Pro Tour Investchem Race Day at Kyalami, proved to be the perfect weekend, for Trevor Bland (Office Direct Waxoyl Rhema 2). On Friday afternoon, he qualified on pole position, for the first time in his Formula Vee career and followed that up, with his first win, on Saturday morning. Then for the second heat, the rain came down but even Formula Vee's established rainmeister Peter Hills (Vacuform MLS Brokers Rhema 2), could not prevent Bland, from securing an unblemished, lights to flag victory and first place overall for the day.

In the first heat, Bland had to fight off the challenges, of ex Champion Hills and the newly crowned 2008 National Champion, Dennis Johns (Geyser Attorneys Rhema 2), while toward the back, young Chandre Kruger (Gilus IT SAP Sting) spun at Turn Eleven and got himself stuck in the gravel trap. Some efficient work by the marshals, got him out and on his way again, before the field came through to complete the second lap. Then, during the third lap of the race, small mistakes from both Bland and Hills, saw Johns take both of them in one corner, to take the lead, from Hills and Bland. Soon after that, Johan Gouws (Computer Assemblies Mantis) exited the race in dramatic fashion. Turning into Turn Six, Gouws touched wheels with Symm Grobler (Auto Mecca Rhema 2) and was pitched into the gravel trap, as one of his rear wheels climbed up and over one of Grobler's front wheels.

Already up to fourth place, was the young development driver Courtney Steenveld (Indy Oils NLDTF Rhema 2), who had started from the back of the grid, after missing qualifying due to a matric exam on Friday, which meant that he was only able to fly up from Cape Town, on Friday evening. Ahead of him, Bland was fighting back and passed Hills, just after half distance and then, when Johns picked up a steering problem, Bland moved back into the lead, followed by Hills and Steenveld. A little further back, Ben Pienaar (BJ Pro Welding Rhema 2) was closing in on Grobler, as was Alan Holm (Rhema 1), while a quick spin by Hugo Walendorf (BJ Pro Welding Lantis), at Turn Eleven, saw him rejoin without losing a position. Out front, it was however Bland, in total control, as he soaked up the pressure, from the veteran Hills and he went on to secure his first Formula Vee victory, ahead of Hills and Steenveld. Fourth place, went to the other development driver, Zaahir Essa (NLDTF Rhema 1) and he was followed home, by Johns, Pienaar, Grobler, Holm, Jannie Geyser Snr (Geyser Attorneys Vision), Alan Eustice (Execuline Rhema 2), Walendorf and James Evans (Gilus IT SAP Tasman), after Jannie Geyser Jnr (Geyser Attornies Rhema 2) had disappeared, from ninth place, when he failed to complete the final lap of the race.

The second heat, started in the wet and the rain continued to fall throughout the race. There where a few spins but only Grobler ended his race in the gravel trap, after sliding backwards off the circuit, at Turn Eleven, while running third. Earlier, Gouws had a lucky escape, when he spun coming out of Turn Eleven but managed to keep the car from hitting the pit wall and was able to resume. Pienaar also spun early on and then had a trip through the Turn Eleven gravel trap but kept momentum and was able to rejoin, under his own steam. Out front, Bland was soaking up everything the rainmaister, Hills, could throw at him, looking supremely confident and in total control of the race and the conditions. Earlier in the race, Hills had tried to mount a challenge but could not find a way past. He was being soaked by the spray, coming off the back of Bland's car and then his visor started misting up as well and he was forced to back off a bit.

After his early spin, Gouws set about clawing his way back up through the field, passing car after car and setting the fastest lap of the heat, in the process but had lost too much ground, to pose any sort of a threat to the leaders. Another making good progress, was Essa who had moved up from sixth, at the end of the first lap, to third, while Steenveld was taking a more cautious approach, as he sought to consolidate his trird place, on the Championship log. Another driver on the move, up through the field, was Nico Blignaut (Gilus IT SAP Rhema 2) who had started from the back, after failing to start the first heat and Geyser Jnr followed him through, passing his father in the process. John Lerm (Vision) had a moment, coming into Turn Eleven in the closing stages of the race but the marshals soon had him on his way again and everyone, with the exception of Grobler and Kruger who had pulled in to retire at the end of the first lap, would complete the race.

Out front, Bland still appeared to be totally in control and he romped home, for the second win of his Formula Vee career, as if he had been doing it all his life. Hills, once again, had to be content with a second place finish and he was followed across the line, by Essa, Steenveld, Holm, Gouws, Johns, Blignaut, Geyser Jnr , Geyser Snr, Walendorf and Eustice who in the process, won the 2008 Formula Vee Association Competition, in his debut season.

Steenveld Takes First Win

The eighth round of the 2008 Pro Tour South African National Formula Vee Championship, wrote another chapter in the long and illustrious history, of this forty three year old single seater racing category. Run at the Phakisa Freeway, between Welkom and Odendaalsrust, the event saw seventeen year old Courtney Steenveld (Indy Oil NLDTF Rhema 2) become the first Motorsport South Africa, National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund development driver, to win a National Championship Formula Vee race. Steenveld's first victory came in the second heat of the day, when he beat ex Champion and current log leader Dennis Johns (Geyser Attorneys Rhema 2) to the line, by 0.287 of a second. The victory came, after a race long three car battle, which included the other NLDTF development driver, Zaahir Essa (NLDTF Rhema 1), who recorded the best finish of his Formula Vee career, in third place, a mere 0.381 of a second behind Johns. The Phakisa event was also the first time that both development drivers have finished in the top three, together.

Steenveld has come of age, as a driver and in a field, which included four ex Champions, he was the only driver to challenge a rampant Johns, in the first heat. Born and bred in Welkom, Johns knows the Phakisa circuit backwards but he had to fight off an early challenge from the young Fairbairn College Matric Student, who headed Johns across the line, at the end of the second lap. Johns soon, retook the position and although Steenveld hung on for a while, Johns was eventually able to break the tow and start opening a bit of a gap. Behind them, Essa was successfully keeping Trevor Bland (Office Direct Rhema 2) at bay and they where soon joined by ex Champion Trevor Smith, deputizing for Alan Eustice, in the Execuline Rhema 2. Smith would however not go the distance and retired with a loose back wheel, when the studs started pulling out of the hub. Peter Hills (Prolantic Rhema 2) had run with them as well, in the early stages of the race but just over half distance, the car started coughing and spluttering and he dropped back down the field, eventually picking up the final point, for twelfth place, a lap down on the leader.

The other battle of the first heat, involved Johan Gouws (Computer Assemblies Mantis), Ben Pienaar (BJ Pro Welding Rhema 2) and Jannie Geyser Jnr (Geyser Attorneys Rhema 2), who fought a race long battle. In the end, it was however Johns, who stormed home, to secure the victory, by just over five and a half seconds, from Steenveld. Another five seconds behind Steenveld, Essa recorded his first third place finish, after a race long battle with Bland and they were followed home, by Symm Grobler (Auto Mecca Rhema 2), Pienaar, Gouws, Geyser Jnr, Jannie Geyser Snr (Geyser Attorneys Vision), Nico Blignaut (Gilus IT SAP Rhema 2), Hugo Wallendorf, in his new BJ Pro Welding Lantis and Hills, a lap down on the rest of the field, along with James Evans (Gilus IT SAP Tasman and Chandre Kruger (Gilus IT SAP Sting) who would take no further part in the day's proceedings, due to a leaking main oil seal.

The second heat was a much closer affair, with Johns, Steenveld and Essa, locked in battle, at the head of the field and swapping places all around the circuit, lap after lap. This time Johns could not shake them off and just when he thought he would succeed, in doing so, he missed a change to forth gear and followed that up, with a brief off course excursion and put them both, right back in contention again. Behind them, Bland, Grobler and Hills where also locked in battle, for fourth place, while Pienaar, Gouws and Geyser Jnr had resumed their first heat battle and seemed to be virtually inseparable, on the day.

Well out of contention, where Wallendorf and Geyser Snr. Wallendorf had tried to go into Turn 2, with Smith on the first lap but neither he, nor the car, where up to the challenge and he spun, rejoining just in front of the doctors car, which had to wait for him to get going again. Geyser Snr also spun, early on, when he also tried to mix it with company, that was quicker than him. Both of them rejoined, behind Evans who later retired in the closing stages of the race but was still classified as a finisher. Smith was not so lucky and retired with a faulty cut out switch, after only completing two laps of the race.

Out front, the battle for the lead continued unabated. Even Essa led across the line, on a couple of occasions, for the first time in his racing career. Such was the intensity of the battle, that positions where at times, changing from corner to corner but in the end, it was an ecstatic Steenveld who led the field across the line, to claim this historic first Formula Vee victory, ahead of Johns, Essa, Bland, Hills, Grobler, Gouws, Pienaar, Blignaut, Geyser Jnr, who had lost time with spin, late in the race, Geyser Snr and Wallendorf.

After the Phakisa event, Steenveld has now moved up to third, on the National Championship log and may even improve on that, before the season comes to an end!

High Drama at Kyalami

The seventh round, of the 2008 South African National Formula Vee Championship, produced a number of dramatic twists of fortune. The drama began to unfold, on Friday and for some, continued through to the race day as well. On Friday, log leader Alan Holm (Lasersprint Rema 2) blew another motor and could only manage eighth on the grid, in qualifying. Peter Hills (Prolantic, MLS Brokers Rhema 2), secured pole position but then spun, avoiding an incident and while he was waiting to rejoin, Courtney Steenveld (Indy Oil NLDTF Rhema 2), slammed into him, badly damaging both cars. Much midnight oil was spent, repairing the cars overnight but on race day, Hills could not get back to the pace he had shown, on Friday.

Starting from second place on the grid, it was Dennis Johns (Geyser Attorneys Rhema 2) who took the lead, as the rest of the pack fought it out behind him, with Hills, Trevor Bland (Office Direct Rhema 2), Jaco Schriks (Lasersprint Rhema 2) and Steenveld, locked in battle, as Holm fought his way through the bunch. A little further back, Zaahir Essa (NLDTF Rhema 1) and Johan Gouws (Computer Assembly Mantis) where engaged in a torrid battle, until Essa gained a small advantage in the closing stages of the race, almost catching Symm Grobler (Auto Mecca Rhema 2), in the process.

Once Holm was out of the bunch, he tried to reel Johns in but there was no way that he was going to catch him and Johns took the victory, over three seconds ahead of Holm. Bland pulled a do of die move, on Steenveld, at the last corner and beat him to the line by 0.143 of a second, for his first third place finish and they where followed across the line by, Hills, Schriks, Grobler, Essa, Gouws Andre Van Der Merwe (Atlas Dry Cleaning Lantis), Alan Eustice (Execuline Rhema 2) and Stan Alford (Castle Graphics Rhema 1). Jannie Geyser Jnr (Geyser Attorneys Rhema 2) and Gareth Jackson (Lastersprint Rhema 2) had both retired, early in the race, with gear selection problems, while Nico Blignaut (Gilus IT SAP Rhema 2) had pushed too hard, run off the road and got himself stuck in a gravel trap.

In the second heat, Johns did not have things all his own way. Initially he was chased by Bland, then Holm took up the challenge and actually led for a while, as Bland slipped into the clutches of the pursuing pack, initially made up of Schriks, Steenveld, Hills, Grobler, Essa and Gouws but as the race progressed, first Gouws and then Grobler and Essa, lost touch with the rest and slipped off the back of the bunch. There where other battles further down the field as well, one of which would end abruptly, when Alford and Van der Merwe collided. Alford was launched into the air and both cars where too badly damaged, to go any further.

In the end, it was however Johns who took his second victory of the day, by just over a second, from Holm. Steenveld came out on top, in the multi car battle for third place and crossed the line ahead of, Bland, Schriks, Hills Essa, Grobler, Gouws, Ben Pienaar (BJ Pro Welding, Silverton Platers Rhema 2), Blignaut and Jackson, after Eustice had lost a sure points scoring finish, with a spin in the closing stages of the race. Geyser Jnr was off the pace but battled on to the finish, while Andrei Overbeek (Omega) finished unlapped, for the first time, in his short Formula Vee career and the James Evans (Gilus IT SAP Tasman), continues to gain pace and reliability. .

The drama was however, not yet over and during the post race technical inspection, a problem was found, which could eliminate a couple of cars from the results. Other components, removed from the cars, still need to be measured and no ruling has been made, at this stage. The results therefore, remain provisional, until the technical inspection has been completed and a ruling has been made.

The East London round, of the Pro Tour South African National Formula Vee Championship, left the chase for the 2008 title, wide open. With only four events to go, a mere fourteen points separate the top four, on the Championship table. East London proved to be a happy hunting ground, for Dennis Johns (Geyser Attorneys Rhema 2) and he came away with maximum points, winning both races and claiming the bonus point, for fastest lap of the race. In the process, he also shattered the existing lap record, setting the new mark at, 1 minute 31.600 seconds. Championship leader Alan Holm (Lasersprint Rhema 2) had a miserable weekend, by his high standard, only coming away with a fifth and a fourth place finish, while Peter Hills (Vacuform Rhema 2), lacking top end speed, fared even worse and had to be content with two seventh place finishes, dropping him to fourth on the log. Johns is now only three points behind Holm, while Jaco Schriks (Lasersprint Rhema 2) also leapfrogged Hills, into third place on the log, with two fine second place finishes, on the day.

For Alan Eustice (Execuline Rhema 2), it was a weekend he would rather forget. Toward the end of Friday afternoon's qualifying session, a car ahead of him suddenly slowed. Eustice was forced to brake, just before the high speed Rifle Bend, ran wide on the exit, spun back across the circuit, hit a bump in the infield and flipped three times. The car became an instant non-starter and a checkup at the local hospital, revealed that Eustice had escaped with a cracked shoulder.

Race day produced two close action packed races, with Johns taking the first heat victory, from Schriks, Courtney Steenveld (Indy Oil Rhama 2), Trevor Bland (Office Direct Rhema 2), Holm, Symm Grobler (Auto Mecca Rhema 2), Hills, Zaahir Essa (NLDTF Rhema 1), Gareth Jackson (Lasersprint Rhema 2), Ben Pienaar (BJ Pro Welding Rhema 2), Jannie Geyser Jnr (Geyser Attorneys Rhema 2) and Jannie Geyser Snr (Geyser Attorneys Vision), after Johan Gouws (Mantis) had been forced to retire, when his throttle return spring broke.

Geyser Jnr required an engine change between heats but with the races fairly close together close together ran out of time and failed to start the second heat. There where however, no such problems for Johns and he stormed to his second victory of the day, ahead of Schriks, Steenveld, Holm, Bland, Grobler, Hills, Essa, Gouws, Pienaar and Geyser Snr , while Jackson picked up the final point, despite being sidelined with a blown motor, with a couple of laps to go.

Zwartkops race report -Holm Back On Top

Having missed the Kyalami event, in April, to compete in the South African Iron Man Competition, it has taken Alan Holm (Lasersprint Rhema 2) a mere two events, to regain the Championship lead and put himself firmly back on course, for an unprecedented fourth consecutive South African National Formula Vee Title. Having been gifted the Championship lead, at Kyalami, Peter Hills (Prolantic Rigidek Rhema 2) lost valuable points in Cape Town, with his jump start penalty, in the second heat, while the Zwartkops event, saw him blow a motor, in the morning warm up. It could not be changed, in time for the first heat and Hills started from the back of the grid, in Ben Pienaar's BJ Pro Welding Rhema 2.

Dennis Johns (Geyser Attorneys Rhema 2), produced his best performance of the year and led most of the first heat, after starting from pole position. He was however hounded all the way, by a determined Holm. In the early stages of the race, Jaco Schriks (Lasersprint Rhema 2) hung onto them but then dropped away a bit, as the race progressed. Courtney Steenveld (Indy Oil Rhema 2) was pretty much out on his own, in fourth place, as was Zaahir Essa (NLDTF Rhema 1), behind him. The battle for sixth, was however a torrid one, as Symm Grobler (Auto Mecca Rhema 2), Trevor Bland (Rhema 2) and Johan Gouws (Mantis) fought a race long battle, which would see the three of them cross the finish line, within 0.881 of a second. In the meantime Hills had been making steady progress, in Pienaar's unfamiliar car, picking off those ahead of him, one by one but ninth, was as far as he was going to get.

Out front, Johns and Holm where still inseparable. Then, with just under a lap and a half to go, Johns came up to lap a back marker, hesitated for a split second and Holm was through. Johns tried to come back at him and had his nose alongside Holm's back wheel, into Turn Six, for the last time but had to be content with second place, a mere 0.186 of a second, behind Holm. They where followed across the line, by Schriks, Steenveld, Essa, Gouws, Bland, Grobler, Hills, Alan Eustice (Execuline Rhema 2), Nico Blignaut (Gilus IT SAP Rhema 2) and Gareth Jackson (Lasersprint Rhema 2). Jannie Geyser Jnr (Geyser Attorneys Rhema 2), James Evans (Gilus IT SAP Tasman) and Chandre Kruger (Gilus IT SAP Sting) all finished, outside the points, while Andrei Overbeek (Omega), had retired early in the race, with a down on power motor.

The first lap of the second heat, saw Steenveld get out of shape, at Turn Four and clip Gouws who spun but resumed at the back of the field. Jackson retired at the end of the lap, while Holm and Johns settled down, to another race long battle. Johns led across the line, for the first three laps. then Holm crossed the line in front, for the next three laps, before Johns hit the front again. The following lap, Holm was back in front and managed to stay there, despite the two of them, coming into the braking area, at the top of the hill, side by side, lap after lap. Once again, Schriks kept them in his sights, for a number of laps, with Steenveld and Essa hanging on not far behind Schriks, as well. A little further back Ben Pienaar, in Hills' car, Eustice, Geyser Jnr and Blignaut where involved in a hectic race long battle, which for a while, also included Gouws, as he made his way back up through the field, while Overbeek struggled along at the back of the field, his motor still not performing as it should but this time, he would at least be classified as a finisher.

The battle at the front, was once again going right down to the wire and this time, the margin of victory was 0.184 of a second, as Holm once again edged out Johns and they where followed across the line, by Schriks, Steenveld, Essa, Grobler, Hills, Gouws, Pienaar, Eustice, Geyser Jnr, and Blignaut, after Bland had dropped out, four laps from the end,

Holm is now back, at the top of the Championship Log, nine points ahead of Hills and he even picked up the point, for the fastest lap of the race, which was also a new Lap Record of 1 min 09.223 seconds. Both he and Johns, had turned in a number of laps, under the existing record, with both of them recording their fastest lap of the day, during that frantic sprint for the line, at the end of the first heat.

Advantage Hills

The third round of the 2008 South African National Formula Vee Championship, saw Peter Hills (Rigidek MLS Brokers Rhema2) take full advantage, of the absence of triple champion Alan Holm and come away from the day, with the maximum thirty one points on offer. He did however not have things all his own way. Dennis Johns (Geyser Attorneys Rhema2) took pole position, during Friday afternoon's qualifying session but in the races, he was progressively losing grip at the rear and although he was able to hang onto Hills, in the early stages of both races, pushing Hills to a new lap record, of 1minuite 56.909 seconds, in the second heat, the gap between them began to open up, in the closing stages of each race. Johns, did however secure second place, in both heats, as his season continues to gain momentum.

Starting from second place on the grid, Hills was in the lead at the end of lap one and was never headed again, while development driver Courtney Steenveld (Indy Oils Rhema 2) was already up to twelfth place, having started from the back row of the grid, after a mechanical failure during qualifying, saw him fail to set a time. By the following lap, he was up to ninth, in a drive through the field, that would reward him with an eventual fourth place finish.

Out front, Hills continued to lead, from Johns who was battling to keep up, while Jaco Schriks (  Laser Sprint Rhema 2) was unable to stay with them and do anything about minimizing the damage, to team mate Alan Holm's 2008 Championship hopes, while Holm sweated it out in the South African Iron Man Competition, more than a thousand kilometers away. Behind Schriks, Trevor Bland (Office Direct Rhema 2), Symm Grobler (Auto Mecca Rhema 2), development driver Zaahir Essa (NLDTF Rhema 1) and Johan Gouws (Mantis) where battling it out among themselves, in the early stages, while further back Doug MacDonald (Fantastic Racing Rhema 1) and James Leach (Autofair Rhema1), where headed for a good close finish, as where Ben Pienaar, in a brand new BJ Pro Welding Rhema 2 built during the five weeks, since his Rhema 1 was written off in Port Elizabeth and Jannie Geyser Jnr (Geyser Attorneys Rhema 2). Out of the points, but also finishing a mere 0.359 of a second apart, where Alan Eustice (Execuline Rhema 2) and Nicolas Tennent (Tennent Benefit Consultants Tasman), after a race long duel, which saw them change positions up to three times a lap.

In the end, it was Hills who took a comfortable four second victory, ahead of Johns, Schriks, Steenveld, Bland, Essa, Grobler, Gouws, MacDonald, Leach, Gareth Jackson ( Laser Sprint Rhema 2) and Pienaar.

The second heat produced even closer racing, with a couple of good close multi car battles, down the field. Out front, it was once again Hills who led all the way, with Johns hanging on grimly in the early stages, before Hills put in a blistering lap, setting a new lap record and relieving himself of the close attentions, of Johns. Behind them, Schriks had Steenverld, Bland and Essa breathing down his neck for a while, until Bland passed Steenveld and then picked up a problem, just on half distance. This gave Schriks a small breathing space, over Steenveld, while Essa was caught and passed by Grobler, before both of them where passed by Gouws, the following lap.

Not far behind, an even bigger battle raged, involving Leach, Jackson, Pienaar, Nico Blignaut (Gilus IT SAP Rhema 2) and Geyser Jnr, with Tennant hanging on grimly, at the back of the bunch, leaving Eustice to play on his own this time, ahead of the Chandre Kruger (Gilus IT SAP Sting) and James Evans (Gilus IT SAP Tasman). Then Jackson lost his nosecone, when he and Leach touched and Blignaut had a big spin, dropping him out of the bunch, as they made their way past the ailing Rhema 2, of Bland.

Out front, it was however Hills who claimed his second victory of the day, ahead of, Johns, Schriks, Steenveld, Gouws, Grobler, Essa, MacDonald, Pienaar, Jackson, Geyser Jnr, and Leach, the two of them crossing the line almost side by side, 0.019 of a second apart 

Round two Port Elizabeth

Holm Dominates Port Elizabeth Thriller

After coming away from the first round at Kyalami, virtually all square, Alan Holm (Laser Sprint Rhema 2} declared his intentions of making it four South African National Formula Vee Championships in a row, with two resounding victories at Port Elizabeth's Aldo Scribante Circuit. He was ably supported, by his Laser Sprint team mate Jaco Schriks who took second place in both heats, effectively running as a buffer between Holm and the other leading contenders for the 2008 title, Peter Hills (Rigidek MLS Brokers Rhema 2) and Dennis Johns (Geyser Attorneys Rhema 2) and in the process, depriving them of valuable Championship points.

The first heat, saw Holm lead from start to finish, with Schriks in second place, never challenged by Hills who ran third for most of the race, before being passed by Johns, with four laps to go. The only incidents, involved those a little further back, with Zaahir Essa (NLDTF Rhema 1) tagging both Ben Pienaar (BJ Pro Welding Rhema 1) and Gareth Jackson (Laser Sprint Rhema 2), at the Esses, in two separate incidents, while Alan Eustice (Execuline Rhema 2) ran wide at the Sweep, surrendering a position, to Jannie Geyser Jnr (Geyser Attorneys Rhema 2).

Out front, Holm experienced no such problem and led Schriks across the line, followed by Johns, Hills, Symm Grobler (Auto Mecca Rhema 2), Courtney Steenveld (Indy Oil Rhema 2), Trevor Bland (Office Direct Rhema 2), James Leach (Autofaire Rhema 1), Essa, Pienaar, Jackson and Geyser Jnr.

The second heat was a much closer affair. At the head of the field, Holm and Schriks where locked in battle and trading places on a regular basis. Initially Schriks led, with Holm leading across the line for the first time, at the end of the fourth lap. During the ensuing laps, they traded the lead between themselves, while Hills and Johns fought out a torrid battle behind them. The next two were just as tight, with Bland holding Grobler at bay, before Grobler's rear suspension broke and he was forced to retire. The real battle of the race, was however a little further back, with Steenveld, Essa, Pienaar and Jackson, locked in battle for ninth place, while Geyser and Eustice fought out a torrid battle of their own, behind them.

Lap thirteen proved to be the undoing, of both Steenveld and Pienaar, as Steenveld locked a rear brake at the Hairpin and spun and then Pienaar ran wide coming into the pit straight, was launched into the air by the rubber kerb, on the outside of the bend and came crashing down, destroying the car and sending Pienaar to the circuit medical centre, for a checkup. Back on the circuit, it was however Holm who beat Schrils to the line, by 0.179 of a second and they where followed home, by Johns, Hills, Bland, Leach, Essa, Jackson, Eustice, Geyser Jnr, Steenveld and Nichols Tennent (Tennant Life Benefits Tasman), securing his first National Championship point, in his second Formula Vee race meeting.

SAFV Round One _ Kyalami

A Nail Biting Start to the 2008 Formula Vee Season

The opening round of the 2008 Pro Tour South African National Formula Vee Championship produced two thrilling races, which have set the scene for what could be a monumental battle, for the 2008 title. Starting from pole position, Peter Hills (Vacuform MLS Brokers Rhema 2) took the lead but at Turn Two, Courtney Steenveld (Indy Oils Rhema 1) and Andre Van Der Merwe (Atlas Dry Cleaning Latis) touched. Van Der Merwe was pitched sideways and T boned by Steenveld, with both cars ending up in the gravel trap. The safety car was called out and it picked up the field, at the end of the opening lap. Fortunately, the scene of the accident did not take long to clear and racing recommenced, at the end of the second lap.

Alan Holm (Laser Sprint Rhema 2) did not take long, to make his way past Hills and although Hills shadowed him all the way to the line, Holm stayed in control and looked like he would begin 2008, as he did last year, as the dominant driver in the category. Dennis Johns (Geyser Attorneys Goldco Midas Rhema 2) kept them in sight, throughout the race but was never able to put in a challenge and Holm crossed the line 0.632 of a second, ahead of Hills, with Johns a further 1.482 of a second behind. Trevor Bland (Office Direct Rhema 2) and Jaco Schriks (Laser Sprint Rhema 2) had fought a torrid battle, for fourth place but with a couple of laps to go, Bland's clutch plate annihilated itself and he was out of the race, leaving Schriks to finish fourth, ahead of Symm Grobler (Auto Mecca Rhema 2), Johan Gouws (Computer Assembly Mantis), Doug MacDonald (Fantastic Racing Rhema 1), James Leach (Auto Fair Rhema 1), Zaahir Essa (MSA Rhema 1), Gareth Jackson (Laser Sprint Rhema 2) and Jannie Geyser Jnr (Geyser Attorneys Rhema 2), with newcomer Alan Eustice (Execuline Rhema 2) picking up the final National Championship Point, on his debut in the category, after Nico. Blignaut (Gilus IT SAP Rhema 2), was penalized thirty seconds, for a jump start.

The other newcomers Nicholas Tennant (Tennant Benefit Consultants Tasman), Chandre Kruger (Gilus IT SAP Sting) and Andrei Overbeek (Omega) where all classified as finishers, although Overbeek failed to take the flag, after the car cut out, on the final lap, when the cutout switch fell out. After the race, Van Der Merwe's car was returned to the pits but was too badly damaged to take any further part in the day's proceedings and although a lot of work was done on Steenveld's car, between heats and it was ready to go, it cut out on the warm up lap and also failed to make the start.

A lot of work was also done, on both the Hills car and the Johns car, between heats but for Johns, it was all in vain. A new black box was fitted but it turned out to be from a batch, that had been fitted with a rev limiter! He arrived at the grid punching the steering wheel in frustration and at the drop of the flag, raised his hand to indicate to those behind, that he was going to be slow away from the line. I the race he could not do much about it, as car after car passed him but in the end, he did salvage four valuable Championship Points, for a ninth place finish.

At the front it was however a different story, as Hills and Holm fought out a torrid race long battle, swapping places all around the circuit, at every opportunity. On one lap, they entered the Chicane side by side, with smoke pouring off the tyres and earned an ovation from the appreciative crowd, on the slow down lap. Close enough to see what was going on, was Schriks and he must have had some hope, of capitalizing on the situation, should they have taken one another off. A little further back, the battle involving Essa and Gouws was almost as intense, as the one in front, as they two of them fought a no holds barred race long battle.

In the end, it was however Hills who crossed the line 0,477 of a second, ahead of Holm. Third place went to Schriks, ahead of Grobler, Essa, Gouws, Leach, Jackson, a frustrated Johns, an equally frustrated Bland who had made his way up to fourth place, from the back of the grid but was then penalized thirty seconds, for a jump start, Geyser and Blignaut. MacDonald had been looking at another strong points scoring finish but an incident somewhere around the circuit, saw him lose five places, just before half distance. This put him in touch with Eustice and a close encounter between the two of them, saw Eustice fail to finish, after he was forced to go straight on at the Bowl. He kept the car going, through the gravel trap and onto the grass but then rode into an unseen pond, from the previous weeks heavy rains and drowned the engine.

On race wins, Hills and Holm are all square but it was Hills who took the Championship lead, by the single point allocated for the fastest lap, which he set in the final lap, of the second heat. Up until that point, Holm had the first and second fastest laps of the race but his last lap effort, gave the point to Hills by 0.102 of a second!

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