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Audi on the cusp of history as all roads lead to Zwartkops Raceway this weekend

Engen Audi stand on the cusp of an unprecedented 1-2 clean sweep in the 2018 Sasol GTC championship, as they prepare for the final round at Zwartkops Raceway on Saturday, 20 October.

The team’s two-time defending Sasol GTC driver’s champion, Michael Stephen is also within touching distance of a third consecutive title, with a fifth-place finish enough for him to secure overall honours.

On the cusp

The Port Elizabeth native currently leads the championship with 331 points, with his Engen Audi teammate Simon Moss in second place on 300, and Gennaro Bonafede of Sasol GTC Racing a further five points back.

READ: Sasol GTC Championship revved up for penultimate round at Killarney Raceway

"Michael has dominated the GTC championship since its inception in 2016, but we can now complete the success by taking a 1 – 2 in the driver’s standings and the manufacturers’ title.

"I expect a hard race as I am certain that the competition will bring their A-Game as they’ve had ample opportunity to test at Zwartkops," says Engen Audi’s team principal, Terry Moss.

Stephen, who doubles as the team engineer, is fully focused on the task at hand.

Going full force

"We haven’t changed anything in our usual preparation and there will be no different strategy in play for us. Since the last race in Cape Town, we’ve conducted our usual extensive overhaul and we will be going out in full force at Zwartkops.

"Our main goal is yet another full-front-lockdown in qualifying, and we’ll take the weekend from there," says Stephen.

Second-placed Moss is chasing his best GTC season ever and heads to Gauteng with nothing less than victory in mind.

                                                                       Image: David Ledbitter

Engen Audi’s previous results at Zwartkops Raceway this season are impressive. In both races already hosted at the Pretoria circuit, Stephen and Moss nailed a full front lockdown in qualifying and then took victory in both opening races at lap record pace.

Regardless of the outcome of the season finale on the 2.4km Zwartkops track, the Engen Audi team can look back on an excellent season, with 8 wins, 23 podiums, 5 one-two finishes, 6 fastest laps, 7 pole positions and 6 full front lockdowns, not to mention a combined total of 647 points, already in the bag.

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