Qualifying

It was a week end that had this young champion in two minds, one was a scientific/ mathematical one and the other was race face orientated! Having written Science on Friday morning at school for her matric finals, she then climbed on the plane to get down with seconds to spare in order to get some valuable seat time in her VMR Formula VW, remembering she still had to write Mathematics on Monday as well.

This was certainly going to be a test of her metal and ability to cope in adverse mental conditions. A good result on race day would need a calculated drive, pun intended!

Upon arriving in Cape Town Tasmin was whisked straight off to the Supersport studios to join her team from the last Kart national Michael Stephen on Bobby Skinstad’s show, Luv Sport. She and Stephen were interviewed on their various accomplishments and where they see themselves going in the world of motorsport.

When she finally got into her Formula VW on Saturday for the first time and qualifying she immediately got to the task at hand and went 8th quickest and in doing so making her fellow competitors who ended up behind her ask some serious questions about their set ups and why after a day’s more practice than she had had, they were still behind Pepper. She would start on the clean side of the circuit and possibly be able to challenge for positions by the time the cars enter turn two.

Race 1

As the field headed into turn one it was situation normal, double yellow flags and no overtaking until the exit of one. Pepper held her outside line and was just unable to sneak up one position and get past Bjorn Roos who was debuting in the formula on board Marc Murray’s car. Michael Stephen took control from the lights going out and wanted to open up a big gap early.

Wesley Orr stayed in second, with a big fight on his tail for third with Gavin Cronje and Christiano Morgado team mates and championship rivals. Things stayed the same until we got to the 6th lap where Tasmin made one of the only two overtaking maneuvers of the whole race. She sold Roos a dummy move into turn five and then snuck through by the time the two of them got onto the main straight.

Wesley Orr ended his chances of any podium spots when his Dunlop punctured and he retired into pit lane. This moved everyone up one position and left Pepper in 6th when the flag dropped.

Race 2

With the title coming down to the final race pof the season and only four points in it between Morgado and Cronje it was up to Michael Stephen to see whether he could make it another driver who was able to take a double race victory in Formula VW. The championship battle between team mates Cronje and Morgado would be what the crowds would be watching and it nearly ended in tears for Cronje when he was forced wide in turn two by Morgado.

Cronje recovered and slotted in behind the charging Pepper who was trying to close the gap that had opened between herself and Paulo de Cunha. Cronje seemed to close relatively easily on the VMP entry and eventually got past her going through Malmesbury corner. By doing this he secured his 2008 and first ever Formula VW Championship even though he ended up only in 6th place.

Results:

Race 1:

1. M. Stephen
2. C. Morgado
3. G. Cronje
4. P. de Counha
5. G. Connelly
6. T. Pepper

Race 2:

1. M. Stephen
2. W. Orr
3. C. Morgado
4. G. Connelly
5. P. de Cunha
6. G. Cronje
7. T. Pepper

Don’t forget to catch Tasmin in action on WesBank Super Series Trackside on Thursday 20 and 27 November 2008 on Supersport 2 at approx. 20h00. All the final results and additional pictures can be downloaded off www.motorpics.co.za or www.tracksidepics.co.za and updated information can be found on www.wesbankmotorsport.co.za and www.tasminpepper.co.za