The third and final qualifying session for Classic Car Friday saw drama unfold as Franco Scribante’s challenge for a seventh Classic Conqueror title came to an abrupt end with a seized engine. “I’m very disappointed, as it was all set to go down to the wire with the top three extremely close. What makes it even more disappointing for me is that we’ve been able to keep the fight going with the Chevron B19 which is a sports car against some seriously competitive single seaters.”
Scribante didn’t just keep the battle alive, but was credited with the fastest qualifying time of the day of 42.017 seconds which he set in Q1 – 0.135 sec faster than second-placed Andre Bezuidenhout (Q2, 42.152 sec). Ian Schofield was third after also setting his best time in Q2 (42.596 sec), followed by Charles Arton (45.976 sec). With Scribante’s retirement, the Class Final for class H9 will be a two-way fight between Bezuidenhout and Schofield.
Rui Campos comfortably led qualifying for H8 (46.064 sec) in his 1976 Porsche 911 RSR, with Trevor Tuck leading the charge in H7 (51.546 sec) in his 1974 Alfa Romeo Guilia Rally. James Temple posted the quickeat time of 48.211 sec for H6 in the stunning 1965 Shelby Daytona Coupe, with Kyle Brink enjoying a healthy margin in H5 in the 1959 Austin Mini Cooper S (54.746 sec).
Porsche fundi Gavin Rooke powered his way to the fastest time in H4 (52.587 sec) in a 1970 911, with Francis Cusens topping H3 in the 1981 Fiat 131 (59.959 sec). Peter MacPherson was the front-runner in H2 (54.747 sec) in his stunning 1964 Ford GT40, while Patrick Gearing set the benchmark in H1 in his 1935 Riley TT Sprite with a time of 1:07.219 – however the podium shootout for H1 will be decided using a handicap format, with the competitor who finishes closest to their target time ultimately taking the glory.
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Release compiled by Colin Mileman (082-897-6145 colin@milemanmedia.co.za)