Zwartkops (September 1, 2007)
The weather - hot and sunny - was ideal for the large crowd of spectators that filled Zwartkops Raceway and the racing conditions were ideal for the four wheel drive cars contesting the seventh round of the Bridgestone Production Car Championship.
 |
 |
| Copyright © Nissan South Africa |
It was a tough day at the office for both the works Sasol Nissan team and the SAM Racing-run Nissan Dealer Team. It was clear from the start of practice on Friday and the results of the official qualifying session on Friday afternoon that the two wheel drive Nissans and BMWs would be at a disadvantage.
Defending champion and class A points leader at the start of the day Leeroy Poulter was fifth in race one in the Sasol Nissan 350Z. He was carrying maximum weight after his recent successes (60 kg over the Nissan's base weight) and qualified eighth.
Grid positions for race two were based on second quickest qualifying times and Poulter found himself in a lowly 14th position on the grid. He finished 12th in the race after slowing with an engine that tightened up. With a slim haul of just five points for the day, Poulter (112 points) has dropped to third in the championship.
Sasol Nissan team-mates Gary Formato and Tschops also endured a frustrating day. Formato, carrying 45 kg of 'success' extra weight following good results in the previous two rounds, qualified 15th for both races and finished 10th and 91th. Sipuka qualified 12th and 8th and finished 8th and 11th.
Glyn Hall, Nissan Motorsport general manager
"It was a four wheel drive benefit today. The new track surface was very slippery off-line and the hot weather affected engine operating temperatures. Overheating was a problem. With Leeroy on maximum weight and Gary also carrying extra weight, we were no match for the all wheel drive cars. Consequently we were uncompetitive in qualifying and, without a decent grid position, there's not much chance of a good race result."
Leeroy Poulter
"It was a tough day, for sure. We did our best under the circumstances. When the engine tightened up towards the end of race two, I slowed to limit the damage."
|
