Jean-Pierre van der Walt had a tough start to his 2023 Global Touring Cars (GTC) SupaCup campaign. However, he is eager to revive his season this weekend at Zwartkops Raceway for Round 3 of the championship.
The driver, mainly sponsored by Platinum Wheels, who has now won three consecutive Simola Hillclimb titles, prioritises avoiding mechanical problems during the upcoming weekend. Unfortunately, Van der Walt has faced several obstacles that have impeded his progress, many of which are out of his and the team’s control.
“We’ve had issues with pace throughout this year, but it’s not something we can resolve with further setup changes,” says Van der Walt. “The last two months have seen a lot of work on the engine. We are still frustratingly awaiting a new turbo which has been a setback for my preparations as I haven’t been able to get any practice in. While we must find our feet quickly, I am confident the team and I can overcome any challenges.”
The first of Saturday’s two races will commence at 12:10 and be contested over 12 laps. Race 2, a 16-lap reverse-grid affair, is scheduled for 15:50. Spectator tickets can be purchased directly from Zwartkops Raceway on the day. The full race programme will also be broadcast live on the Global Touring Cars Facebook page and 2WheelsTV YouTube channel.
Published by: Motorsport Fanatix
Picture Caption: JP van der Walt
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