Mobil 1 V8 Supercars field on Phakisa Freeway
• • Reigning champion Mackie Adlem is aiming for a fifth title in a row.
• • Only 25 points separate Mackie Adlem, Thomas Reib and Franco di Matteo at the top of the table.
• • The Mobil 1 V8 Supercars championship race will take place on the Phakisa Freeway just outside Welkom this weekend.
• • You can find more stories about driving a car at Wheels24.
Almost two months after the start of the season, the second round of the Mobil 1 V8 Supercars Championship 2021 will take place on the Phakisa Freeway at the gates of Welkom next weekend (14-15 May).
Reigning champions Mackie Adlem (# 1 Jaguar XKR) aimed for a fifth straight title by taking the first points lead in Cape Town. After showing a good pace during the opening round, he will be one of the top contenders for victory on the Phakisa Freeway. The pair directly behind him on the points table, Thomas Reib (# 9 Chevrolet Lumina) and Franco di Matteo (# 3 Jaguar XKR) are expected to face stiff competition.
This is also the couple who shared the victories while visiting the circuit in 2020. In fact, Adlem has yet to take a win at the venue since the series restarted in the past decade. Only 25 points separate this trio at the top of the table with 100 points for Adlem, 84 points for Reib and Di Matteo with 75 points.
Contested
The season opener has also shown that the battle for victory is by no means just a three-car race. David Coetzee (# 53 Ford Falcon) is fourth with 50 points, and on another consistent weekend he could finish in the top three. Terry Wilford (# 21 Ford Falcon) targeted Adlem in race one at Killarney International Raceway, where he finished second. He will look forward to being at the forefront of the Phakisa Freeway and building on his 43-point record.
Mackie Adlem
Series debutant Sam Dahl (# 98 Ford Falcon) impressed with 32 points on his name on his first trip to Finland. While Phakisa Freeway will be another new route for him, he is very much looking forward to the challenge ahead. Warren Lombard (Ford Falcon No. 6) also wants to build on his 25-point record. Andre de Lange (# 33 Jaguar XKR) had to rebuild his car after his ardent exit from the second race in Cape Town and repeat the pace he showed when he visited the Free State in 2020.
READ | Adlem and Reib share the victories of Mobil 1 V8 Supercars
Steve Herbst (# 7 Chevrolet Corvette), who had an engine failure in practice, and Julian Fameliaris (# 28 Chevrolet Corvette), who has been plagued by transmission problems all weekend, are eager to record their first start and finish for 2021.
David Coetzee
On the Phakisa Freeway, Johnny Eekhout (# 24 Chevrolet Corvette) will appear for the first time after his terrible accident in the 2020 season finale, while JP Nortje (# 111 Chevrolet Corvette) will also contest his first race of the season. Although he missed the Phakisa Freeway visit in 2020, he clinched victory in the reverse race on his last outing on the circuit in 2019. In addition, Carl Nel (# 15 Chevrolet Lumina) will also return to the series.
Andre de Lange
On Friday there will be four training sessions before qualifying on Saturday morning. Both races on Saturday will be driven over a distance of 10 laps and should start at 11:10 am and 1:25 pm. According to the current regulations of the South African government to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, no spectators are allowed at the venue. However, both races will be part of the Extreme Festival live stream.
