The inaugural ASA Transcontinental Series Free State 500 was won in dramatic style at Phakisa Freeway near Welkom this afternoon by Briton John Mickel in an RS Capp Chev Monte Carlo. Mickel, who started the 207-lap 500-km race from fourth on the 24-car grid, took the lead three-quarters of the way around the final lap to win by less than half a second from American Toni McCray (Lucas Oil Chev Monte Carlo) and 2,6 seconds ahead of American Marc Davis (WHUR 96.3/The Word Network/Marc Davis Motorsports Chev Lumina).
In his first-ever race on a 2,5-kilometre super oval, Cape Town’s Johann Spies finished a remarkable fifth overall in a Speedspot Motorsport Cape Town Dodge Charger. Five other South Africans made their super oval debut in the 600 bhp 358 cu in V8 American stock cars. Welkom’s Danie Correia Jnr (Liqui Moly Chev Monte Carlo) finished three laps down in 10th place to make it a memorable two South Africans in the top 10.
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Brilliant Event
Well done Free State government and Phakisa for an awesome event. What a special occassion to see this massive oval get used for the first time. You could feel the emotion when the US ambassador gave the signal: 'Ladies and gentlemen start your engines' and 24 V8s roared into action. This is still old style racing not ruled by money with great sportmanship across the board. We couldn't have asked for a better American testimonial and I'll definitely be there again next year.
Harry Welby-Cooke, Pretoria
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