Scheckter’s lucky 13

 Shelby Can-Am - Round 2- Zwartkops – 20 March

There have been some emotional wins in motorsport, but there isn’t much that comes close to Jaki Scheckter’s win in the second Shelby Can Am race at Zwartkops on Saturday (20 March).

With backing from insurance specialist Etana, a last minute deal was put together for Scheckter to race. Not only was it his first taste of a Shelby Can-Am, but it was also the first time he’d driven the track, but perhaps more importantly it was the first time he’d been behind the wheel of a competition car in 13-years.

Ten-laps into practice he pulled into the pits with a gearbox problem, which effectively brought an end to his preparations and he was destined to start the opening race from the back of the grid.

The front row was occupied by Guy Botterill in the Yato Tools/Bigfoot Express version just ahead of Darryn Lobb in the NJOY smokeless cigarette example. Sean Greve (Vulcania Reinforcing) overcame a massive shunt ealier in the day to head the second row as Thomas Reib (Jagermeister), Bertil Hoffman (GP Energy Drink) and Brian Algar (Etana) completed the top six qualifiers.

Zwartkops, with a lap of 2.4km, produces tactical races. The opening race saw Lobb take an easy win as his expected battle came to naught when Botterill retired after the opening lap with a suspension problem. A good drive from Reib saw him take the runner-up slot with Alan Eve grabbing third in the Phakisa backed car. Algar, Rui Campos (Hugo Boss) and Andrew Strike (Strike1) rounded off the top six as Scheckter came home seventh … from the back of the grid.

Scheckter’s fastest lap in the first race earned him a front row start for the second race as Strike occupied pole position.

Scheduled for 15-laps, the race was packed with drama from the start. Scheckter lost his nose in a clash with Strike, who was then used as a punch-bag by the rest of the field. He was the innocent victim in no fewer than four incidents and eventually brought his battle scarred car home to ninth place.

Despite injuring his hand when it got caught in the steering wheel during the incident with Strike, Scheckter was able to open a gap to the rest of the field as they fought tooth and nail for supremacy and slowed each other down in the process. Eventually Eve broke free and hunted down the leader, but he ran out of laps and Scheckter took a well deserved and very popular win. “I can’t believe this, it will take a while to sink in,” was all the 29-year old former Formula Ford and US Barber Dodge champion could say afterwards.

Eve was runner-up and was comfortably clear of Lobb. Hoffman put in a good drive to take fourth with Greve and Campos breathing down his neck as Botterill retired with gear selection problems.

Round three of the Shelby Can-Am championship takes place in Cape Town on 17 April.

Ends

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