VW Cup: Next up, Aldo Scribante

PORT ELIZABETH, Eastern Cape -  Motorsport fans, particularly those who keep a keen eye on the the Volkswagen Cup will be happy when the Polo’s line up at Port Elizabeth’s Aldo Scribante Raceway on Saturday (June 13 2015) after a two-month break for the two-race Round 3 of the championship.

Two rounds have been completed so far the season is already showing some interesting developments. Amongst the top five competitors so far the list includes four teammates – from two teams, two Masters, one of the women racers in the field and two competitors sharing fifth place.

VAN DER LINDE LEADS CHAMPIONSHIP

Topping the list is2014 champion Sheldon van der Linde who has four wins out of the five completed races so far. This gives Van der Linde an 11 point lead heading into round three. His biggest rival at this point in the season is Mathew Hodges M1 (Makopano / Phoenix Signs / 959 Panelbeaters).

Hodges holds second place in the championship – and is the leading competitor in the Masters category (27 and older age group. Hodges is the only racer other than Van der Linde to have won a race so far this season and also the only racer other than Van der Linde to claim bonus points for pole position qualifying.

Tasmin Pepper is in third position (31 - PG Glass) and founds herself 16 points behind Hodges. With two appearances on the podium so far this season, a good qualifying position – and some luck in the top six draw – could see her closing that gap and further cementing her standing in the top five.

Trevor Bland (M2 PG Glass / Alpine Motors) is snapping on her heels , trailing by just a point.

Bland has been progressing from the first race this year, with his first podium finish at race two during the Killarney race meeting. Bland is the second of the two Masters in the top five list.

YOUNG GUNS IN TIGHT CONTEST

Rounding out the leading racers in the Volkswagen Cup is local PE driver Daniel Rowe (2 – Ferodo). Rowe will be aiming to make his track knowledge work in his favour to produce the best results possible. He will have to keep his eye on the rearview mirror though as he shares fifth overall with Matthew Shorter (11 – Champion).

Shorter finished second in race one at Killarney while Rowe claimed second place in race two. The pair seem very evenly matched, setting the stage for some exciting competition between them as they work to break the deadlock.

The Scribante round of the 2015 season has the promise of door-to-door racing on the short, narrow track.