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Audi Sasolracing Press Release
Audi Sasolracing heads to Cape Town for the first of five coastal races on the National Production Car Championship calendar under new rules for 2015 that has closed up the field and created an exciting spectacle for race fans that will ensure thrilling racing as any of nine teams can claim victory in the three heats to be contested on the day.
Hennie Groenewald claimed his first win of the season at the opening round at Zwartkops Raceway in late February while Gennaro Bonafede was on the overall podium, demonstrating the competitiveness of the Audi Sasolracing S4 quattro race cars.
Both drivers enjoy racing on the 3.2 km circuit with its combination of fast straights, tight corners and sweeping curves, all played out in front of a large and knowledgeable crowd.
The new rules have slightly slowed the four-wheel drive Audis and made the front-wheel drive turbo cars slightly faster, creating a new space for Hennie and Gennaro as they race against unfamiliar rivals, at the same time having to adapt their driving style to extract the maximum from the Audi with a little less available power.
Team Manager Vic Maharaj is expecting a successful weekend at a track that has historically suited the Audi racers:
“It is crucial to maximize our track time and score points in each of the three races. It is equally important to have three clean races free of mechanical or driving maladies. Lastly, I prefer to choose my battles carefully to win the war”.
Hennie Groenewald, third in the early championship standings and driving the #08 Sasolracing Audi, expects a tough challenge in Cape Town:
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“Qualifying will be the most important part of the weekend to ensure the best possible track position, especially in the opening laps. It’s really important not to be stuck in the pack of two-wheel drive cars. I’ve had a reasonable start to the year so I’m going to Cape Town to hunt wins and maintain the momentum from Zwartkops”.
Gennaro Bonafede, in the #32 Sasolracing machine is enjoying the new style of racing required to get the best from the lower power available from the Audi:
“The slipstreaming down the straights is going to be a lot of fun! I’ve had to adapt my driving: it’s important to maintain as much momentum as possible through the corners so I will be trying different set-up options and experiment with different dampers. I enjoy a new challenge and hope to come home with a lot of points”.
The Audi Sasolracing team welcomes race fans to come and chat to the drivers and view the race cars in the pits during the day.
In addition to fielding two competitive racecars in 2015, Sasol is also the fuel partner for the National Production Car Championship.
Photo credit: David Ledbitter
