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| Photo hosted at Racepics.co.za |
Written by Johan Laubscher
The Bridgestone Production Cars Championship has long been regarded as the premiere racing series in South Africa. Some of the country’s best teams, drivers and machinery compete for this coveted title in South African motorsports. In the last five years the Audi brand has established itself as one of the primary forces in the Class A category, having won four of the last five titles. The A4 (B7) 3.2 quattro became a dominant force first winning the title in 2007 with Shaun Watson-Smith (Terry Moss Racing) and a double of 2008 and 2009 with Johan Fourie (Johan Fourie Racing). 2011 saw the introduction of the first new car model for the Audi teams since 2005 in the form of the new Audi S4 (B8). The season came down to a Johan Fourie S4 vs Michael Stephen S4 battle for the title, with Stephen (Terry Moss Racing) taking his first Class A title.
2012 is shaping up to be another great year for the series and one that holds a lot in store for Audi fans. The Class A grid is growing and so too is the Audi brigade, with four Audi S4 cars on the grid and rumours suggesting even more cars. Strong rumours suggest that Terry Moss Racing will field a third S4 during the year for Terry Moss’ son, Simon Moss. If this is true it will be the largest ever entry for the Audi brand in a single series in its South African motorsport history. As in the past with the Production Car Championship it will be a privateers only effort for the Audi teams. The teams contesting the 2012 Bridgestone Production Cars Championship with Audi machinery includes Terry Moss Racing, Johan Fourie Racing and VMP Motorsport who will be returning to the Audi brand in 2012.
Team Previews:
Terry Moss Racing
Fresh from their 2011 triumph, Terry Moss Racing will be ready to defend their title this year. Regular drivers Michael Stephen and Tschops Sipuka will again be at the wheel of Audi S4 cars. With the opening round at Zwartkops, Michael Stephen will be seen as a favourite as he won three of the four races there during last year’s finale.
Number one plate for Michael Stephen:
Rumours also suggest that a third S4 is being built for Simon Moss. The potential addition of Simon Moss, the son of Terry Moss provides a case of Déjà vu for South African Audi fans.
Terry Moss S4 GTO (left) and Simon Moss S4 (right):
Photo hosted at Motorpics.co.za
A mere twenty years ago Terry Moss competed with the legendary Audi S4 GTO, with which he won the 1993 South African Wesbank Modifieds Championhip. Fast forward to the present day and Simon Moss might be competing in his first Bridgestone Production Car Championship season, also in an S4. Simon had impressed during 2011 when he shared with Tschops Sipuka during the two Endurance events at Phakisa and Zwartkops.
Michael Stephen will again be in top form, looking to defend his Class A title. He was dubbed Mr Consistency during 2011, a trait that paid dividends at the end of the year. This young engineer who was involved with the building of the team’s cars will once again be a man to watch in 2012. Tschops Sipuka will be looking to improve on strong performances from 2011, the year in which he won his first Class A race. The Audi S4 has the pace and Sipuka will be right up there at the sharp end of the grid.
Michael Stephen S4 (2011):
Photo hosted at Racepics.co.za
Tschops Sipuka S4 (2011):
Photo hosted at Racepics.co.za
Simon Moss S4 (2011):
Photo hosted at Motorpics.co.za
Johan Fourie Racing
Johan Fourie Racing are aiming to again field their one entry for Johan Fourie in the Audi S4. Johan Fourie has not been officially confirmed for the first round of the season as his primary sponsor has recently pulled out. The team is working hard to ensure that Johan will be on track this year. It is strongly believed that the team will be at Zwartkops for the opening round.
Johan had an amazing mid season in 2011 with exemplary performances catapulting him into the lead of the championship. It was only misfortune at the final two events of the 2011 season, both held at Zwartkops that denied Fourie of his third Class A championship title. Johan Fourie, renowned for being a hard charger and an equally fast driver will as always be a force to be reckoned with in the 2012 Bridgestone Production Car Championship.
Johan Fourie S4 (2011):
Photos from Racepics.co.za
Team website: www.johanfourieracing.co.za
VMP Motorsport
VMP Motorsport will be making their return to the Audi brand in 2012. They were last seen competing with Audi from 2005-2009 and were always a competitive force in the Class A brigade. Melvil Priest will once again be driving for VMP and will be doing so with a new weapon, the Audi S4.
The team has been very busy preparing for the new season, and with the team and Vic Maharaj’s brilliant track record one thing is for certain: The new VMP Audi S4 will be fast.
The VMP Audi S4 build:
Melvil Priest A4 (2009):
Photo hosted at Motorpics.co.za
Team website: www.vmpmotorsport.co.za
Team Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/VMP-Motorsport/100449663387411
Vic Maharaj on twitter: www.twitter.com/vicmaharaj
Vic Maharaj on twitter: www.twitter.com/vicmaharaj
If 2011 is anything to go by, 2012 will be another exciting year in the Bridgestone Production Cars. With a growing gird and more Audis than ever before, the South African race tracks will see a tremendous racing spectacle.
The first round is at Zwartkops on the third of March.
The 2012 Bridgestone Production Cars Calendar:
3 March - Zwartkops
31 March - Killarney
28 April - Port Elizabeth
26 May - Zwartkops
23 June - Durban
4 August - Phakisa
25 August - Zwartkops
22 September - Killarney
27 October - Kyalami
31 March - Killarney
28 April - Port Elizabeth
26 May - Zwartkops
23 June - Durban
4 August - Phakisa
25 August - Zwartkops
22 September - Killarney
27 October - Kyalami
The provisional Class A Entry List for Zwartkops (3 March):
Michael Stephen - Audi S4
Tschops Sipuka - Audi S4
Richard Pinard - Subaru WRX STI
Melvill Priest - Audi S4
Hennie Groenewald - Subaru WRX STI
Etienne van der Linde - BMW 335i
Johan Fourie - Audi S4
Kishoor Pitamber - BMW 335i E92
Anthony Taylor - BMW 335i
John Mayer - BMW 335i
Watch:
Watch the entire 2011 Class A Championship here:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLECC7689089A88AAB
Tschops Sipuka - Audi S4
Richard Pinard - Subaru WRX STI
Melvill Priest - Audi S4
Hennie Groenewald - Subaru WRX STI
Etienne van der Linde - BMW 335i
Johan Fourie - Audi S4
Kishoor Pitamber - BMW 335i E92
Anthony Taylor - BMW 335i
John Mayer - BMW 335i
Watch:
Watch the entire 2011 Class A Championship here:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLECC7689089A88AAB
For more info visit:
Bridgestone Production Cars Faceook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Bridgestone-Production-Cars/301299066589405
Bridgestone Production Cars twitter: www.twitter.com/SAProductionCar
The Unofficial Audi Sport FB page: www.facebook.com/audisportpage
Race Pics: www.racepics.co.za
