Engen Audi chasing 1-2 at Killarney
It is full-steam ahead for Engen Audi driver’s Michael Stephen and Simon Moss at the penultimate round of this year’s Sasol GTC Africa on 22 September, with the team still determined to secure an unprecedented 1-2 in the final championship standings.
Ahead of Round 8 at Killarney in Cape Town, two-time defending champion Stephen leads Sasol GTC Racing Team’s Gennaro Bonafede by 16 points, with Moss a further 9 points adrift in third place.
Engen Audi have secured pole position for the opening race of every round since Round 2 of 2018.
“Our qualifying speed is unmatched this season, and we’ve been able to win 5 out of 6 times when we started from the front of the grid,”
comments Engen Audi team principal, Terry Moss.
"The team will not play it the safe at Kilarney and will be gunning for a maximum points haul,"
adds Moss.
“The reverse grid policy required by the Sasol GTC Africa has proven to be a big challenge this year.
Since the series inception three years ago the field has gotten progressively more competitive, which has made winning from the back of the grid in the second race an increasingly difficult task.”
With no team orders in place, Engen Audi driver’s Stephen and (Simon) Moss will be trying to take as many points as possible away from their rivals, without losing sight of their respective championship ambitions and the bigger picture of a 1-2 overall team finish.
“We want to end the season 1–2 and that will require some solid results from Moss junior at this stage, with just 4 heats to go,”
continues Terry Moss.
Although Stephen holds a healthy 16-point lead over nearest challenger Bonafede, he is taking nothing for granted.
“There’s no time to sit back and relax for us - on the contrary,”
says Stephen.
“My target is qualifying at the front and winning the opening race. If needed, we can strategise in the second race.”
With only three weeks since Round 7 in Johannesburg, the team has had its hands full fine-tuning both cars.
Moss’ car required some minor repairs, while a full check was conducted on Stephen’s engine, after a gearbox issue caused an over-rev at Kyalami.
With Round 8 only days away, the team are pushing hard for a full shakedown session at their home track, Aldo Scribante before departing for the Mother City.
“We had some handling issues at Kyalami and we would like to test some changes to the set-up we have made,”
says Terry Moss.
With six wins and nineteen podiums this year, Engen Audi head to Killarney with full confidence.
Three practice sessions on Friday will allow them to fine-tune the cars before early morning qualifying on Saturday and two races in the afternoon.
If all goes according to plan, Stephen and Moss will cement their places at the top of the championship standings ahead of the final round of the season at Zwartkops on 19-20 October.