- Drivers to race at a known circuit
- Jeffrey Kruger to come under severe attack
- Ultra-close competition throughout weekend
Previously, racing at the Kyalami and Killarney circuits, the Engen Polo Cup drivers were campaigning their all-new turbocharged two-litre cars at untried venues, facing a steep learning curve.That will not be the case next weekend.
Before the start of the season, the owners of the new vehicles spent two days testing at Zwartkops, to shake down the cars and get experience with turbocharged power, plus the vehicles' Push to Pass feature.
Thus, going to the venue again, all the teams should have a good idea about car setup, and the optimum use of their extra power spurt buttons.
Judging by the season's prior results, multi-talented youngster Jeffrey Kruger should again be the man to beat in his Universal Health Polo.
Kruger has won all four the races held thus far, but the victories were certainly not handed to him on a plate.
He has faced relentlessly tough competition from drivers like Jonathan Mogotsi (VW Motorsport Polo), Charl Wilken (Cronje’s Auto Body Polo), Tasmin Pepper (Electric Life Polo), Clinton Bezuidenhout (Glyco Polo), and Daniel Dumini (SMD Polo).
Others in the podium hunt included Justin Oates (URUP Polo), Juan Gerber (Gerber Polo), Darren Oates (Payen Polo) and Keegan Campos (Turn 1 Polo).
At Killarney, Justin Oates and Tasmin Pepper set the two heats' respective quickest lap times, with Pepper ultimately emerging as the new Engen Polo Cup lap record holder around the Western Cape circuit.
Other drivers to watch should include Johan Pretorius (Universal Health Polo), Jason Campos (Campos Transport Polo), Shaun La Reservee (Alpine Motors Polo), Paulus Franken (Manitou Group Polo), Delon Thompson (A&L Materials Polo), Shivesh Bissoon (Steaming Bean Polo), Raais Asmal (VW Motorsport Polo), Altan Bouw (Ferodo Polo) and Darren Oates (Payen Polo).
Around Zwartkops, which is just 2,4 kilometres long, lap time differences between the top competitors should be measured in hundreths of a second, with the battle for superiority to rage from the beginning of the Friday's first practice session.
The Engen Polo Cup brigade will tackle an official qualifying session and Super Polo Shootout on Saturday morning, before tackling two 10 lap races in the afternoon.
