A Double Victory for Hills at Zwartkops
He was chased all the way by, Alan Holm (Laser Sprint Rhema 2) but
in the end, it was Peter Hills (Vacuform Rhema 2) who secured both
victories, by the narrowest of margins, during the penultimate round
of the Pro Tour South African National Formula Vee Championship at
Zwartkops World of Motoring. After winning the first seven heats of the
year, Holm has now failed to win a race, in the past seven heats, with
the victories either going to Hills or Dennis Johns (Geyser Attorneys
Rhema 2). During that time, Holm has secured six second places and one
third and although there is still a mathematical chance that Holm can be
beaten, only a total disaster, in the final event at Kyalami, on the 3rd
November, can prevent Holm from becoming the first driver in the forty
two year history of the category, to secure three back to back National
Championships.
Starting from pole position in the first heat, Hills took the lead and
although he opened a small gap early on, Holm chased him down, setting
the fastest lap of the race in the process. Behind them, there was a
good close battle for third, involving Johns, Symm Grobler (Auto Mecca
Rhema 2) and Azeem Boomberg (Rhema 1), competing in only his second
Formula Vee event! Unfortunately Boomberg missed a gear, over revved the
motor and was relegated to the roll of spectator for the rest of the
day. Grobler then had a venturie come loose, in one of the carburetors
and started falling back, with a misfire. He was soon swallowed by the
next group, where Jaco Schriks (Lasersprint Rhema 2) Courtney Steenveld
(NLDTF Indy Oil Rhema 1) and Trevor Bland (Rhema 2) where engaged in an
even more furious battle, swapping places on a regular basis, all around
the circuit.
There where other battles further down the field as well, with Jannie
Geyser Jnr (Geyser Attorneys Rhema 2), Gareth Jackson (Laser Sprint
Rhema 2), Nico Blignaut (Gilus IT SAP Rhema 1) and Ben Pienaar (BJ Pro
Welding Rhema 1) fighting it out, until Pienaar spun at the Top of the
Hill. Even John Lerm (Racing for Wild Life Sting) and Charles Roets
(Sting) had a bit of a battle, at the back og the field for a while. In
the end, it was however Hills who took the first race victory, 0.588 of
a second, ahead of Holm. Third place went to Johns and he was followed
home, by Schriks, Bland and Steenveld, the three of them crossing the
line within 0.433 of a second. Zaahir Essa (NLDTF Rhema 1), finished
just over a second behind them and he was followed across the line,
by James Leach (Auto Fair Rhema 1), Jannie Geyser (Geyser Attorneys
Vision), Jackson, Blignaut and Geyser Jnr.
The second heat, saw Hills chased all the way, by Holm and although Holm
put his nose inside Hills at Turn Two, on a number of occasions, the
door was always firmly shut in his face. Behind them, Johns had things
pretty much under control, in third place, ahead of Schriks but Schriks
retired early in the race, handing the position to Steenveld. Then,
trying to close the gap to Johns, Steenveld spun at Turn Two, losing a
number of places in the process. By this time, Grobler had made his way
up, from thirteenth place on the grid, to fifth and inherited fourth,
when Steenveld spun.
Also carving his way up the field, from the back of the grid, was
Bradley Martin (Rhema 2), while Denver Pienaar (Vision) was struggling
with a miss fire and dropping back down the field. Leach had lost his
nose cone in an early scuffle. He soon found himself running on his own
and with no real pressure, he was not too badly affected by it. Once
again there where a number of battles raging further down the field and
Lerm and Roets where once once again locked in battle as well.
At the end of the race, Hills secured his second victory of the day,
0.270 of a second, ahead of Holm and they where followed across the
line, by Johns, Grobler. Bland, Essa, Steenveld, Leach, Blignaut,
Geyser, Martin and Pienaar.
-credit: safv
