What Global Touring Cars Round 6 Report
Where Killarney International Raceway
When Saturday 9 September 2023
Community South Africa National
Teamwork is dreamwork for Chemical Logistics Racing
Not only did Chemical Logistics Racing utterly dominate Killarney’s Global Touring Car races at Cape Town’s Extreme Festival on Saturday 9 September, but the team came together to ensure that Robert Wolk moved into the championship lead with one round remaining.
The team’s two Cape Town home heroes, Andrew Rackstraw dominated the first race from lights to flag, before compatriot Julian van der Watt then jumped into the lead off the reverse grid start second row. He then led most of the second race, before moving over on the final lap to hand the win to Robert Wolk to enable his teammate to grab the championship lead.
“That was a great team result,” double reigning champion Robert Wolk admitted. “A win and a second on the day was just what the doctor ordered, especially that being a first win for my new Chemical Logistics BMW M128 ti. Most importantly however, we come away with the Global Touring Cars championship lead heading into the final round at Zwartkops next month. “I have a great team, and teammates to thank for this, but now at least we arrive at Zwartkops on the front foot.”
“Killarney was another great weekend for me, I just love racing at home,” Andrew Rackstraw explained. “We had an issue early in qualifying with my LTR Sparco Volkswagen Golf GTC, which the guys fixed promptly so I could get out again and I was delighted to take my first GTC pole position. “From there, I made the perfect getaway and drove off to a lights to flag win, albeit under huge pressure from Robert all the way. The second race was a bit more difficult, Nathi Msimanga defended third very well and I was unable to find a way past, but I’ll take that first pole and sprint win with both hands. Thanks to Lee Thompson and the team for a brilliant car and weekend!”
Julian van der Watt was one of the team heroes in the second race. Starting on the second row, he soon had his Chemical Logistics Toyota Corolla in front ahead of teammate Robert Wolk. “I don’t really have a role in the GTC championship after I missed the first three races to injury, but Robert and the team have a championship to win and they really need every point they can score” Julian explained. “So I took one for the team and moved over to hand the win to Rob, who now leads the championship as a result. It was the right thing to do in the greater scheme of things and I’m sure that favour will come back to me in the end!”
Van der Watt was not the team’s only unsung Killarney hero. Young Josh Le Roux certainly played his part following decent first race to come home sixth, which put him on reverse grid race 2 pole position. Josh duly led most of the first lap before van der Watt, Wolk, Nathi Msimanga and Rackstraw found their way by. “I was fifth ahead of Saood Variawa and realised that by keeping him behind, my teammate Robert would have a better chance of moving into the championship lead,” Josh points out. “So I just made my old Master Stairs Investchem Audi S3 as wide as possible and somehow stayed in front for most of the race. Saood eventually got by but was too far behind to make up any more places, so job done!”
“Teamwork is dreamwork and today was one of those dreamy days when everything just went right,” Chemical Logistics Racing’s WCT Engineering team boss Stuart Thompson wrapped it up. “Andrew put it on pole and won a decisive first race for our satellite team, before Julian did something incredible to hand his win to his teammate in order that Robbie could take the championship lead. But that’s not all, Josh holding our championship rival up for so long ensured that we can now go to Zwartkops in the lead. All I can add is that our entire team made us more than proud this weekend.”
“That was an absolute team effort,” team principal Ian Schofield concluded. “Everyone played a part in delivering a special outcome to take our team to the championship finals on the cusp of an historic triple Global Touring Cars title. That was a great job, one and all!”
Issued on behalf of Chemical Logistics GTC
Photography by: Andre Laubscher
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