High drama at Kyalami

A crowd of more than 21000 witnessed motorsport spectacle from the top drawer, with South Africa's five premier circuit racing disciplines in action.

In the bill topping WesBank SAMCAR races Roelf du Plessis (Noble Timber Chev Camaro) and Johan Fourie (Sasol Dual Fuel Astra V8) took turns to win the days respective races. In the process Du Plessis retained his current 2002 championship lead, with 10 races to go.

The start of the opening race saw drama when Ben Morgenrood (Auto Trader Mustang) Johnny Adlem (Ford Mustang) and Willie Hepburn (SABAT Chev Camaro) came together through the ultra fast Telkom curve. Adlem and Hepburn retired immediately, and the race was stopped for the wreckage to be removed.

Following the restart, Du Plessis led all the way in his Camaro to win ahead of Fourie, Shaun Watson-Smith (MD Transport Opel Astra) and Riaan Bothma (Havoline Mustang).

Fourie led virtually from start to finish in Race 2 winning ahead of Du Plessis, Bothma and Grant van Schalkwyk (HiQ Ford Mustang).

Vodacom Nashua Yamaha team leader Russell Wood won both of the day's Magnum Shield Security Superbike races, to snatch the lead in this years South African title chase. In the opening race he was followed across the line by Greg Dreyer (Cell C Suzuki), Trevor Crookes (UUNET Ducati), Stewart MacLeod (Cell C Suzuki) and privateer Graham van Breda (Merces Cura Suzuki).

Race 2 had to be stopped two laps from the end when development riders John Oliver (Cell C Suzuki) and Dino de Wet (Vodacom Nashua Yamaha) came together and crashed heavily in Goodyear Corner. Both riders were transported to hospital. Wood won again, this time narrowly ahead of Crookes and Van Breda with Suzuki twins MacLeod and Dreyer taking the fourth and fifth places.

Brothers Shaun and Etienne van der Linde both in Castol BMW 330i models took turns to win the day's Shell Helix Production Car Class A races overall.

In Class B Works Castrol Toyota Corolla RXi driver Charl Wilken won both times, to increase his current lead in the series. Iain Pepper (Honda Ballade 180i) won both Class C races ahead of Honda Parts Ballade 180i racer Ian Long.

The result saw Long retain his current championship lead.

The opening Class D race was won in brilliant style by Phillip Kekana (Sasol Toyota Tazz 1600) ahead of Dawie de Villiers (Castrol Daihatsu Sirion). The second race was distrupted by a huge crash between Carlos Nobre (VW Citi Golf) and Clint Weston (Makita Ford Fiesta RSi).

Following the restart Miguel Pasquali (Honda Ballade 160i) won ahead of Etienne du Toit (M&R Ford Fiesta RSi).

Morne Jurgens (Truck Den Mygale) won both of the days Formula Ford races while Bernard Tilanus (Platinum Assett Management Nissan) and Alan Eve (VSP Nissan) shared the Vodacom Sports Prototype victories.

The next round of the 2002 Vodacom Power Tour will take place at the Western Cape Killarney circuit on Saturday August 31.