Welcome home, BMW. That was the message after three practice sessions ahead of the fourth round of Bridgestone Production Cars at Zwartkops today (May 3), with the 3-Series leviathan back on track.
Johan Fourie and Etienne van der Linde each had a turn atop the class A timesheets in the first two practice sessions, and then for good measure Van der Linde moved to the top in the dying moments of the third and final session. All they need now is to repeat the performance in qualifying at 08:00 on Saturday.
Looking good throughout the day was Melvill Priest, who was always there or thereabouts and definitely the best of the Audi S4s. Hennie Groenewald was also racy in the Subaru, but must be another racer wondering about the longevity of his powerplant. The works cars of reigning champion Michael Stephen, and wingman Tschops Sipuka were well off the pace.
Class T revealed that the Ford team has been hard at work since the inauspicious Aldo debut a month ago, emerging fastest at the end of the day. In each session it was Gary Formato on top, Garth Waberski doing a good job deputising for Shaun Duminy in the second Focus ST Ecoboost.
The Minis were fast again too, Cronje the quicker, and the morning will reveal whether the internal changes made to the engines – pistons and connecting rods specifically – will enable the engines to stay together at high rpm.
Playing his cards close to his chest, as is his wont on a Friday, Graeme Nathan (a multiple class T champion) didn’t trouble the timekeepers too much, but is likely to be well up to speed come the morning. Qualifying is at 08:00, and with the cool morning air, some impressive times are expected.
Racing gets underway at 10:30 with entry to Zwartkops costing R80 for adults and R60 for students. Children under 12 get in free.
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