‘6-Speed’ Race Team Stars in the Lion’s Den
Great trek to rivals’ home track delivers away pole, win for Giordano.
‘6-Speed ‘readers will be au fait with our little privateer racing effort campaigning the hugely competitive South African CompCare Polo Cup championship. When we left off last time, driver Giordano Lupini was uncertain of racing the rest of the season following a splendid wildcard win at his home round at Killarney in Cape Town.
Gio had missed the opening round at Kyalami as the team worked on finding budget, but that grand slam performance was just the trick. His various once-off backers at Killarney, committed to the rest of the season. So Giordano and the team made the 800 mile trek from the Cape up to Zwartkops in Pretoria for the 20 May third round looking mainly to consolidate his dominant Cape Town home victory.
Upcountry Mission More Than Just Accomplished
Not only was the team’s upcountry mission accomplished, but Lupini also scored his first away race win as he came home a close second overall in the Pretoria CompCare Polo Cup triple header.
After showing good pace throughout practice, Gio made it work by topping another super tight qualifying session by a hundredth of a second on Friday afternoon. His second quickest lap was good enough for pole position in Saturday’s third race. Superpole however proved tricky and Giordano lined up fourth on the first race grid. “I was a bit startled by the setting sun, but no excuses, all six of us had the same issue in Superpole!
Giordano Spent Two Races Fighting Back
“That however put us on the back foot for the first race, which was compounded by the car ahead of me stalling on the grid. Still, I made it through turn one and two well enough and was up to third. Charl Visser found a way past on the second lap, but I fought back and I was happy with that podium.”
Fighting for position through the quickest part of the race however scuppered the chance of a fast lap and Giordano lined up fifth for the second heat. “That was a bit too far back for comfort and it got pretty rough in the beginning, and I had to make a few passes through the race.
Weekend Delivered What Giordano Was Looking For
“Happily both Dean Venter and Nathan Victor played fair as I fought back to third. After that, I just out my head down, but there was never enough time to catch Charl and Dawie van der Merwe up front. But we were on pole for the final and that was a perfect lights to flag win under pressure from Charl!
“Most importantly our great trek to Zwartkops not only delivered precisely what we aimed to do in consolidating out title position after that great weekend at Killarney, but we also took pole, won a race, ended second overall and moved up third in the championship chase despite us missing the first round.
A Vital Away Win for Giordano
“If you win too much at home and nowhere else, they classify you as a one race wonder. So to put it on pole and score our first away race win at most of our rivals’ home track, certainly is a feather in our cap!
Congratulations to Anthony Pretorius on his first win, and Charl in race 2 and huge thanks to Nian di Toit for a perfect car, to my dad for running our little steam so efficiently. Also, special thanks to Tork Craft Tools, Pabar, Read Earth Projects, Bullion IT, Accident Guru and the rest of our partners and sponsors who have made this epic season possible.
Next Races Are On Neutral Ground
Now we head to neutral ground for the next two races at Aldo Scribante in Nelson Mandela Bay, and then again at the East London Grand Prix Circuit, before we come back home. All three of those races are crucial to our chase from behind. We cannot wait, bring it on!”
Images: Motorsport Media