SAM Racing in good shape for Wesbank Super Series at Zwartkops
Leeroy Poulter (GP Windscreens Nissan 350Z) and Marco da Cunha (Tubular Nissan 350Z) will carry the hopes of the SAM Racing Nissan Dealer Team in the sixth round of the Bridgestone Production Car Championship at Zwartkops on Saturday (August 15).
After rounds in Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, East London and two at Kyalami and 10 action-packed, closely-fought races, Poulter finds himself in third place in the class A championship with 59 points, 11 behind leader Johan Fourie (Audi A4 quattro) and 10 behind Anthony Taylor (BMW 330i). Da Cunha is eighth with 24 points.
Despite the fact that he carried 60 kg of extra ballast, Poulter managed fourth fastest time in qualifying and scored two hard-earned fourth places in the last round at Kyalami in June from fourth on the grid and retained his third place in the championship standings. So closely matched is the competition in this years title chase that just 0,11 seconds covered the first four on the grid at Kyalami, with Da Cunha in seventh place only four tenths of a second off Fouries pole-winning time.
Da Cunha finished seventh in the first race and eighth in the second after getting caught up in two separate incidents
"There are just three rounds of the championship remaining after Zwartkops," said SAM Racings Lee Philips. "We have a real shot at winning the class A title with Leeroy and will be giving him all the help we can to achieve this. Marco has shown good pace this year but has suffered from getting caught up in some of the many incidents that have characterised this years somewhat frenetic competition.
"Weve completed a lot of laps of both Zwartkops and the Phakisa Freeway in testing during the long break since the last round at Kyalami in June. Weve made a number of improvements in different areas and have concentrated on upping our pace. The results have been encouraging: weve recorded our fastest ever times at Zwartkops.
"Weve improved the car progressively throughout the season and Leeroys results to date, which include three wins (the most by any driver this season), have shown that we are on the right track."
Poulter, national production car champion in 2006 in a Nissan 350Z, comes off his first class win in the national off road championship, achieved in the recent Sun City 400, and is keen to beat the Zwartkops bogey. "The car has felt very good in testing and were as ready as well ever be. Unfortunately, Zwartkops has not been kind to the rear-wheel drive Nissan 350Z in the past. Its a tight circuit that favours the all-wheel drive cars. But, like most of the other drivers, I really enjoy it and Im confident well give a good account of ourselves on Saturday. We need to if we are to win this championship."
Team-mate Da Cunha in also keen to turn his pace into points. He was just four tenths off Fouries pole-winning time at Kyalami. But found himself seventh on the grid and finished seventh.
"The cars are very evenly matched this year and a small slip in qualifying can drop you several places on the grid," said Da Cunha. "If youre not at the sharp end of the grid theres little chance of making up places in the race unless the drivers in front of you run into problems. Im encouraged by our testing times at Zwartkops and Im looking forward to a successful weekend."
Da Cunhas brother Paulo will again fly the SAM Racing flag in the Formula Volkswagen Championship at Zwartkops at the wheel of the Tubular car. The younger Da Cunha is enjoyed his best season to date and currently finds himself in eighth place in the championship with 23 points. He has gained in confidence as the season has progressed and has a fine third place in East London in June to his credit.
SAM Racing welcomes new sponsor mobicars, a unique global e-commerce solution for the motor industry, and acknowledges and thanks its other corporate partners for their continued support: Tubular Technical Construction, Exa Motor Group, Ferodo, GP Windscreens, Exa Platinum Rentals, Top Car Paint & Panel, Tri Dent Middelburg, Hi Tech Mag Repairs, Sax Shocks, Signs For You and Fish & Meat City.