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Champions Suffer Setback

Champions Suffer Setback

Date: 2012-08-08
Team Ford Racing went into the Phakisa leg of the 2012 Bridgestone Production Car Championship feeling confident of coming home with the gold.

The team's championship campaign appeared to be moving ahead smoothly during Friday's practice sessions and although Gary Formato and Shaun Duminy weren't setting the track alight, they were happy with the set-up and ready to take on Saturday's challenge.

Qualifying began and the team's well thought out plan just didn't come to the fore. Gary qualified well down the field in sixth. For Shaun, qualifying was a mere technicality as he would start all three races from the pit lane, penalties he picked up in Durban.

The first race got underway and fans were stunned when Gary pitted at the end of the first lap with what he thought was a puncture. Gary was classified as a non-finisher.

Shaun put in a good drive, making up a lot of ground after his pit lane start. He ended the race in sixth.

The second race was a disaster when both Castrol Ford Focus ST's pitted at the end of the first lap.

Shaun didn't start the final race after the gear selector on his Ford broke. Gary had a brilliant start, launching himself from eighth to third in one lap. By the third lap, he was lying second and looked to make amends for his earlier DNFs. Three laps from the end however, his front left tyre punctured. Gary opted to continue racing and the tyre eventually exploded, damaging the fender in the process. He ended the race in fourth position.

The next round of the championship will take place at Zwartkops on 25 August.