Even the gloomy weather was not enough to keep spectators away as Volkswagen Motorsport driver Daniel Rowe thundered to a race two win in the premier Sasol GTC Championship on Saturday.
The event, headlined the Extreme Festival national championship roadshow, featured six national championships, including the Engen Polo Cup, Investchem Formula 1600, two motorcycle categories in the Red Square Kawasaki ZX10 Masters and Bridgestone Thunderbikes, and a first visit to the Aldo Scribante track for the G&H Transport Extreme Supercars.
Wet conditions dominated most of the morning events and saw a number of cars leave the track, but it was in semidry conditions in race two where Rowe showed some great driving to claim victory in front of his home crowd.
Despite finishing seventh overall, Rowe said: “I just tried to be consistent, push a little bit extra.”
Team Engen Audi drivers Simon Moss and Michael Stephen claimed second and third overall after Moss took third in race two along with his race one second place.
Stephen, who led Moss home in race one, could only muster seventh in race two.
Sasol GTC Director Gary Formato said he was impressed with the crowd turnout despite the wet conditions.
“Everybody bumped into everybody in the race; there are lots of bits and pieces lying out on the track. Credit to the crowd for coming out and staying for both GTC races.
“For two local boys to win, I think it’s great.”
Algoa Motorsport Club chairman Ashwin Harri said the event was fantastic in bringing national racing to the Bay public. “We have managed to bring six national categories to the city this year,” he said.