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| Copyright © Nissan South Africa |
Kyalami, (March 15, 2008)
Nissan Motorsport opened its account in round one of the 2008 Bridgestone Production Car Championship with a third overall for the day in the #24 Sasol Nissan 350Z driven by 2006 champion Leeroy Poulter. Team-mate Tschops Sipuka scored one of his best results in production car racing with a stirring second place in race two after leading from the rolling start for the first six laps. He was classified eighth in race one after retiring on lap six with a differential oil leak. Poulter, who was second quickest in Friday's qualifying, was fourth in both races.
On race one, Poulter who was 2nd at qualify and pole sitter Etienne van der Linde (BMW 330i) were side by side through the opening corners of the first lap before the BMW driver opened up a gap as Poulter went wide in turn three and lost ground. The Sasol Nissan eventually crossing the line in fourth place.
The second race (which featured the usual rolling start and a reverse grid with the first eight finishers from race one starting in inverted order) saw Sipuka lead for the first six laps before he was caught out by sand dragged on to the circuit in the Bowl by an incident involving other drivers. He went wide with 2007 champion Shaun Watson-Smith (Audi A4 quattro) pressuring him and left a convenient gap for the Audi driver to take. This gave Watson-Smith the favoured line for the tight Kink and Sipuka was demoted to second. He held on to take a fine second place, much to his and his pit crew's delight.
Sipuka was a happy man in the post race paddock. "I'm very happy. We battled in qualifying, but I got my chance in race two thanks to the reverse grid and I made the most of it."
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