Kyalami (November 24, 2007)
On a day when the weather played a big role, reigning champion Leeroy Poulter (Sasol Nissan 350Z) was unable to turn pole position in race one to his advantage after heavy rain fell before and during the race and favoured the four wheel drive Audis.
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A fourth in race one and second in race two (when the track was dry) was not enough to overcome the 11-point deficit to Johan Fourie (Audi A4 quattro) and a 9-point gap to Shaun Watson-Smith (Audi A4 quattro). At the end of the day it was Watson-Smith, with a win in race one and sixth in race two who emerged the new champion. Fourie was ninth in race one and fourth in race two and finished the 10-round season a single point ahead of Poulter.
Tschops Sipuka had a great day in the second Sasol Nissan 350Z, finishing a fine second in race one (his best result of the year) and a fighting fifth in race two. Team-mate Gavin Cronje only completed five laps out of eight in the opening race after a clash with Fourie's Audi, but came back strongly to finish eighth in the final race of the year.
Glyn Hall, general manager of Nissan Motorsport:
"The rain played a major role in today's results and consequently on the outcome of the championship, which didn't really help our cause. With Leeroy on pole, a dry first race might have produced a very different result. However, congratulations to Shaun on winning the championship. It was a close-fought battle throughout the season and Leeroy was always in the thick of it. I'd like to thank my team and all the drivers. We did our best and were in with a chance right up to the final race, but we came short at the end of the day - a difference of just four points after 20 races."