Monday 22 November 2010

V8 CHAMP AUBY LEADS LOCAL SUPER V8 CHARGE


South African WesBank V8 Supercar champion Brandon Auby is a lone representative of the host country among 16 entrants in the final round of the International Superstars Series for V8 production cars at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit on Saturday and Sunday.
 

The Italian-based series for 500 bhp (368kW-plus) four-door production-based saloon cars returns to Kyalami for the second year in a row for its season finale courtesy of the Gauteng provincial government, Blue IQ and event sponsor NEO Africa.  It will share top billing this weekend with the final round of the WesBank Super Series of national circuit racing championships.

Race fans can expect a no-holds-barred battle between BMW and Mercedes for top honours in what will be the seventh round of this popular international series.  Heading the list of entries are current championship leader Thomas Biagi of Italy in a Team BMW Italia M3 and countryman Luigi Ferrara (CAAL Racing Mercedes C63 AMG), who is second and 41 points in arrears with 43 on offer.

The two main contenders will be facing some tough competition for the final event of 2010 from British former Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert in a Motorzone Race Car Chevrolet Lumina CR8 (currently ninth in the championship) and former Superstars champion Max Pigoli in a Romeo Ferraris Mercedes C63 AMG (third in the points’ standings and just nine behind Ferrara).

Strong challenges will also come from youngster Ivan Tramontozzi, who replaces Stefano Gabellini in a works Team BMW Italia M3, by the father-son duo of Federico and Marco Bonamico (sharing a Motorzone Race Car Chev Lumina) and by Superstars rookie Riccardo Bossi in an Audi RS4.

Auby, who will be at the wheel of a Motorzone Race Car Chevrolet alongside Herbert and the Bonamicos, will have home track advantage.  His debut appearance in the Superstars Series follows a successful test with the Gregg Murphy Racing Team in an Australian V8 Championship Series Holden at the Winton Raceway near Melbourne.


STORY COURTESY OF PETER BURROUGHES COMMUNICATIONS

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