The Fiat Abarth Racing Team enjoyed a successful visit to East London this weekend to contest the sixth round of the South African Production Car Championship at the famous Mercedes Benz Grand Prix circuit in East London. After a successful weekend’s racing Trevor Tuck of the Fiat Team now heads the South African Junior Production Car Championship.

The team didn’t have it all there own way when they arrived at East London. The sister Fiat Palio of Theunis Eloff broke a side shaft during Friday’s practice sessions. The team worked hard to repair the car in time for qualifying session - thanks to the assistance provided by Mr Gearbox East London, Eloff was able to do so. Having had no previous track time or opportunity to set-up the car Eloff did well to qualify sixth on the grid for Saturday’s race. Teammate Tuck also enjoyed a good qualifying session and qualified third on the grid.

The duo lined up on a wet circuit for the first race of the day. Tuck enjoyed a good start to lead the pack for much of the heat but as the rain continued the VW Polos TDIs of Ettiene Prinsloo and Wayne Masters held the advantage. Tuck eventually crossed the line in third place behind the hard charging Polos while Eloff progressed through the field to greet the chequered flag in fourth place.
 

The circuit dried out for heat two and Trevor Tuck in the Fiat Palio once again enjoyed a lightning start as the lights went out. Lying in second place for the first three laps of the race Tuck picked his moment carefully and was soon past the VW Polo TDI of Wayne Masters. Tuck managed to hold off the Polo pairing for the remaining six laps and went on to win the race and set the fastest lap of the day in the process. Eloff maintained station to cross the line in sixth place. When the final results of the day were tallied, Tuck took second overall for the day while Eloff took fourth overall for his efforts.

“Overall it was a very successful weekend for the team, especially considering the difficulties we faced,” commented Theunis Eloff. “We rolled the car at PE earlier this year and only finished rebuilding it hours before we left for East London. We experienced further problems with drive shaft but it all came together in the end.”

Tuck was similarly optimistic with the weekend’s results. “We had another good outing and now leading the championship heading to the next round. Zwartkops is a circuit much more suited to our cars so we are looking forward to it very much.”

The Fiat Racing Team would like to thank all their sponsors and supporters for their continued support throughout the year, with out which this year would not have been possible. The next round of the Production Car Championship takes place at Zwartkops Raceway, West of Pretoria on Saturday 19 August.

South African Junior Production Car Championship (after 6 rounds): 1st Trevor Tuck (Fiat) 86 points; 2nd Rob Preuss (VW) 78; 3rd Wayne Masters (VW) 77; 4th John Kruger (Ford) 43; 5th Heinz Bose (VW) and Deon Crous (VW) 38; 7th Roberto Benica (VW) 37; 8th Theunis Eloff (Fiat) and Mark Silverwood (VW) 26; 10th Etienne Prinsloo (VW) 21.