The 2024 Extreme SuperCars Driven by Dunlop championship got underway at a packed Zwartkops International World of Motoring on 26 and 27 January. The event, which formed part of the 2024 Passion for Speed, saw Jonathan du Toit (Trans Africa Racing Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO) take overall victory in the opening heat after Franco Scribante had to retire his Scribante Racing Porsche 997 on the opening lap. Scribante bounced back in the second heat, holding off a hard-charging du Toit in the latter stages to take the win.
Franco Scribante demonstrated his pace in Friday afternoon’s qualifying session, claiming pole position with a 58.826-second lap of the 2.4km circuit. Jonathan du Toit was next up, just over a second slower. He was also the leading GT3 class driver. The Gqeberha-based Scribante pair, Silvio (Cemza & Scibante Concrete Lamborghini Huracan) and Aldo (Scribante Concrete Lamborghini Huracan), occupied the second row of the grid, Silvio just getting the better of Aldo. Gianni Giannoccaro (Stradale Motorsport / BISC Transport Nismo GTR GT3) was less than half a further back. He was only 0.003” ahead of Xolile Letlaka (Into Africa Racing / Wurth SA Aston Martin Vantage), who lined up sixth on the grid.
Ricky Giannoccaro (ITRE Cugini Logistics Lamborghini Huracan), the sole Class A entry after the withdrawal of Ben Morgenrood, set the seventh quickest time. Arnold Neveling was a late entry in the Stradale Motorsport Porsche 997 GT3 Cup car and led the Class B contingent, lining up eighth on the grid ahead of Mark du Toit (Trans Africa Racing Ferrari 430) and Ant Blunden (SAJCO / GSP CV Joints Porsche 991 GT3 Cup).
The opening race was not even a lap old when Franco Scribante’s Porsche slowed, and the field streamed past him. He cruised into the pits and retirement. This left Jonathan du Toit to lead the way. He slowly pulled away from Silvio Scribante, taking the overall and GT3 class wins with a comfortable 9-second margin. Behind Silvio, Adlo Scribante and Gianni Giannoccaro were involved in a great dice that saw them separated by just over half a second at the finish line after 15 laps of hard racing. Aldo was in front when it counted, giving him the final overall podium position and the Class A+ win. Letlaka has a somewhat lonely drive to fifth and second in Class A+ ahead of Class A winner Ricky Giannoccaro. Neveling took Class B ahead of Mark du Toit and Blunden.
In the second heat, Jonathan du Toit led the field away with Scribante’s repaired Porsche at the back of the field. It wasn’t long before Scribante had worked his way up the field and was pressuring du Toit for the lead. He used the pure power of the Porsche to get past du Toit and opened up what looked like a comfortable gap. Du Toit wasn’t giving up without a fight, though, and by the end of the race, had closed to within striking distance of the leader. Scribante, however, had enough in reserve to fend off the Lamborghini and took the win by just under half a second. Silvio Scribante took third while Gianno Giannoccaro and Aldo Scribante resumed their fight behind him. This time, Gianni was just ahead at the finish line, which gave him fourth place. Letlaka ended in sixth ahead of Ricky Giannoccaro, while Neveling again took Class B, this time ahead of Blunden and Mark du Toit.
In the day’s overall class standings, Jonathan du Toit claimed the GT3 win ahead of Silvio Scribante and Gianni Giannoccaro. Class A+ went to Aldo Scribante from Letlaka and Franco Scribante. Ricky Giannoccaro took Class A, while two wins gave Class B to Neveling from Blunden and Mark du Toit.
The Extreme SuperCars driven by Dunlop competitors will make their way to Killarney International Raceway in Cape Town for the second round of the championship, which takes place on 15 and 16 March.
Issued by Brandsponential on behalf of Extreme SuperCars: Driven by Dunlop
Photography by: James Thomson, Willie Pretorius and Jason Hanslo
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