Engen Xtreme team steal the show at Phakisa

Tuesday, 15 September 2009

After one of the most positive showings by the Engen Xtreme team at the Phakisa Race Way at the weekend, the team returned to their home base to ready their cars for the penultimate WesBank Super Series event at the Killarney Circuit on 26 September.

Michael Stephen who has been performing consistently over the last while qualified on pole the Saturday morning, boosting his confidence going into Race 1. Michael leapt from the start line assuming first place and with the Audi's blistering pace led the pack from start to finish, and in the process setting a new Phakisa Lap Record. He was closely followed by Leeroy Poulter (Nissan 350Z) and Johan Fourie (Indy Oil Audi).

With the inverted grid in place for Race 2, Engen Xtreme driver Shaun Watson-Smith found himself in pole, taking full advantage of the favourable position off the line, storming into the lead, and racing to convincing win, taking the chequered flag. Though his victory was made easier by competitors dropping out of the race including his team mate who was involved in an accident, it certainly did not detract from the sweet taste of victory. After the race Shaun commented, "It feels good to have won today. Everything worked in my favour and the set up of the car was perfect. Now for us to go to Cape Town and do this again"

The overall win for the day went to Shaun, with Michael finishing 5th overall. In the greater scheme of things it means that Michael Stephen has closed the Championship title gap on Anthony Taylor to 8 points, placing him 3rd overall, while Shaun finds himself in 6th position.

The team now travels to Cape Town and in the spirit of good corporate citizenship the drivers of the Engen Xtreme team will be paying a visit to the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital on 24 September to spend time with the kids of the Burns Unit, a long term Engen beneficiary. The Engen Xtreme team through its Rands Revv'ed fundraising initiative generates funds for the unit every time the drivers take to the track. Thus far, the Xtreme team comprised of both the Bridgestone Production car Audi's and the Engen Polo Cup Polo's have in 2009 alone raised in excess of R37 000.