Volkswagen Motorsport keen for action at penultimate GTC event

• Daniel Rowe closing in on the GTC Production title
• Volkswagen Motorsport returns to all podium first-round circuit

With just two rounds of the Sasol GTC Africa championship left to run, Volkswagen Motorsport competitors are keen to get back to the action. The event on Saturday, November 26, takes places at Zwartkops Raceway –  which also hosted the first round of the championship.

All four of the Volkswagen Motorsport entries recorded podium finishes in round one, with GTC Production championship leader Daniel Rowe also producing his first race victory at that event.

“The first round at Zwartkops Raceway saw good performances from all members of the Volkswagen Motorsport team,” says Mike Rowe, head of Volkswagen Motorsport. “A return to that circuit marks the only time this season the GTC cars will compete more than once at any track, which could play into our hands with good results already recorded there.”

Heading to the penultimate round, Danie Rowe continues to lead the charge for Volkswagen Motorsport. Rowe is the clear leader in the GTC Production category with his Volkswagen Golf GTI and is going to be tough for any of his opposition to catch.

Rowe has amassed a 207 point lead in the first four rounds and there are just a few more than 200 points still available in the championship – so the opposition needs two perfect weekends with Rowe scoring nothing to stand a chance, a mathematical hope at best.

For Mandla Mdakane, his third place on the GTC Production scoreboard trails the second spot by just six points – and he has two events to close that gap. The second Zwartkops outing is a chance to improve his position in the championship – and aim for a Volkswagen Golf GTI one-two for the 2016 season.

Mathew Hodges has his Volkswagen Jetta GTC poised tantalisingly close to the third place in the overall championship. Twelve points are the gap he needs to close to step onto overall podium standings. At the opening round, Hodges was the second-quickest out on track in qualifying and claimed second place in race one. A similar performance for the return to Zwartkops Raceway and he could head to the final round already amongst the top three for the season.

Graeme Nathan has made two podium appearances this season with his Volkswagen Jetta GTC, but he’s still looking for his first race victory of the year. Zwartkops provided Nathan with his first podium finish when he claimed second place in race two. Returning to the site of the first round, Nathan will be aiming to turn that second spot into his first race win.