Darryn Lobb, Shelby
Can Am 09 champ

29/08/09 - Darryn Lobb is the 2009 Shelby Can-Am champion, but he didn't have things his own way in round six of the championship at East London.

After the DK Woodcraft backed car suffered a multitude of problems on Friday he qualified a lowly 13th while Durban's JP Bredenhann (Bigfoot Express/Panel-Rite) had everything go right for a change and claimed the all
important pole position. The only driver capable of challenging for the title, Rui Camps (Hugo Boss) shared the front row.

Behind them were Alan Eve (Phakisa) and Sean Greve (Vulcania Reinforcing) occupied the second row and the top six was completed by Toby Scheckter (Goodyear/Execuline) and
Brian Algar (Thuthuka Welding).
 

Bredenhann got a good start and wasn't seriously challenged as he took the flag almost a second ahead of Campos. Algar put in a good drive to take third, but Lobb had put in a superb drive and wasn't far behind him.

Eve had an opening lap skirmish with Campos which left him with a steering problem and he did well to hang on for fifth ahead of Hanno Pengilly (Azura Retreats). "It really felt weird going through Potters like that," he said.
Scheckter was unlucky as he retired early when the alternator belt broke.

As is the norm, race two was combined with the GT Challenge to create the race of the day, which the crowd thoroughly enjoyed.

Lobb took the Shelby Can-Am honours as he finished second behind the mighty Porsche of Toby Venter.

Despite being hit by Algar on the opening lap and racing with a damaged rear wing, Eve was the runner-up. But Scheckter was the talk of the pit-lane as he bagged third place after a superb drive that saw him only 3/10ths ahead of Greve. Fifth went to Bertil Hoffman in the GP Energy Drink car while Thomas Reib completed the top six.

Lobb was handed the title when Campos and Ferrari driver Oscar De Oliviera crashed in the Complex on lap nine after Campos tried to squeeze through a gap that wasn't quite big enough.

Lobb's performances this year have been of the highest order and the fact that he's taken the title with two rounds remaining confirms it.