Challenge Champions and Drama Unfold at Delmas

Atkinson is A champion again

Excitement and intensity marked the penultimate round of the Pabar VW Challenge at Red Star Raceway near Delmas during the Gauteng Regional Festival races on Saturday. The day’s events crowned Rory Atkinson and Yotti Nousias as the champions of Class A and Class C, respectively. However, the battle for the overall title and Class B honors will continue into the final round at Zwartkops in November.

In Class A, Rory Atkinson showcased his determination by qualifying his BHIT Industrial Transport Polo a full second faster than his championship rivals. He outpaced Bevin Masters’ CPS Warehouse machine and Performance Master Wayne, securing pole position. The race unfolded with Atkinson leading the pack, closely pursued by the Masters brothers and Charl Smalberger’s Sabertek Polo. However, a surprising turn of events occurred when Atkinson made a rare mistake, allowing the Masters brothers to seize an unexpected family 1-2 victory. Atkinson managed to hold onto third place, followed by Smalberger and a charging Dawie van der Merwe.

In Class C, Yotti Nousias asserted his dominance by securing the title with a comfortable lights-to-flag victory. He fended off challenges from his competitors, including his brother Stelio Nousias and Philip Croeser, ultimately clinching the Class C championship.

Class B featured a thrilling race, with Stuart Mack leading in his Himoinsa Class X prototype 1-liter turbo. Superbike convert Anthony Lessing made a remarkable debut, securing pole position in Class B. However, the race saw intense battles, incidents, and strategic maneuvers, resulting in a hard-fought victory for Mack. Hannes Scheepers and Ethan Coetzee fought fiercely in Class B, with Coetzee skillfully minimizing the points gap, ensuring a suspenseful championship finale at Zwartkops.

Overall, Rory Atkinson claimed victory in Class A, with Bevin and Wayne Masters closely behind. Yotti Nousias secured an easy win in Class C, leading the pack. These triumphs marked Atkinson’s continued reign as the Class A champion and Nousias’ first Challenge title in Class C. The ultimate battle for the Class B title and the prestigious Pabar VW Challenge Number One Plate will unfold at the Zwartkops’ Regional Festival Finale on Saturday, November 18. Mark your calendars for this thrilling finale!

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