2012 Engen Volkswagen Cup – Shaun La Réservée dominates at Phakisa
Round six of the 2012 Engen Volkswagen Cup on the 4-5 August saw Shaun La Réservée dominate the weekend, taking both wins at the Phaksia Freeway. His breakthrough event, La Réservée won the first race from the front row of the grid. He was followed across the line by Devin Robertson and Kelvin van der Linde, while his second finish line team mates were Dewald Brummer in second, and Robertson again, one place behind. Brummer had much to celebrate, too, with a fifth place in race one to add to his race two runner-up position, as well as a third place overall.
Van der Linde meanwhile fought with Jordan Pepper during race one, and the pair fought until the finish line, van der Linde just staying in front to hold Pepper back – the gap between the pair was just 0.001 of a second. With 34 identical Polo Vivos on the grid, the action came thick and fast, with the leading pack of drivers jostling very closely for the sought-after points-scoring positions. Defending champion Roberson concentrated on solid finishes – a second and a third place earned him valuable points to close in on 2012 leader van der Linde.
The 2012 Engen Volkswagen Cup series is similar to the other racing Volkswagen Polo Cup single-series championships run in China, Europe and India. Just as in those official Volkswagen series, the South African one-make format highlights new driving talent. In the Engen series, as many as 35 drivers regularly race in technically identical, 2.0-litre 234bhp Volkswagen Polo Vivo racers.RACE RESULTS
Race 1
1 Shaun la Réservée (14: Alpine Motors/Compendium Insurance)
2 Devin Roberson (1: Big Boss Auto/Sparco)
3 Kelvin van der Linde (31: Ferodo Racing)
Race 2
1 Shaun la Réservée (14: Alpine Motors/Compendium Insurance)
2 Dewald Brummer (8: Horne Hydraulics)
2 Devin Roberson (1: Big Boss Auto/Sparco)
Overall standings
1 Shaun la Réservée (14: Alpine Motors/Compendium Insurance)
2 Devin Robertson (1: Big Boss Auto/Sparco)
3 Dewald Brummer (8: Horne Hydraulics)