SA Motorsport: Adlem and Di Matteo resume their Mobil 1 V8 Supercars battle in season opener

The 2022 Mobil 1 V8 Supercars championship got underway at the 21st Passion For Speed event, held at Zwartkops Raceway on 28 and 29 January. It was the leading pair in the yet to be decided 2021 championship that shared the race wins. Mackie Adlem claimed the first heat, but Franco di Matteo ran away with the second.

In Friday afternoon's qualifying session, Warren Lombard put his Ford Falcon in pole position ahead of Thomas Reib, the latter having set the pace throughout the practice sessions. Multiple champion Adlem headed the second row just ahead of Terry Wilford, with Di Matteo and Richard Fuller filling the third row. The top six were separated by less than half a second, hinting at the coming action in Saturday's opening heat. 

A little bit further back, Julian Familiaris, who had his session cut short due to driveshaft issues, led the chasing pack from JP Nortje, Carl Nel and Antonie Marx. Sam Dahl, Steve Herbst and Johnny Eekhout completed the grid. Although entering the event in a Chevrolet Corvette, Nel had to resort to the spare car before Friday morning's first practice session.

Lombard took full advantage of his pole position in the opening race to grab the early lead and extend it as those in the chasing pack fought over second place. Reib headed that battle in the early stages, but a spin just before half-distance dropped him down the field and left Adlem ahead of Wilford with Di Matteo just behind them as the trio set about closing the gap to Lombard out in front. Behind the leading trio, Di Matteo was in a slightly lonely fourth, with Fuller and Familiaris disputing fifth place. 

Lombard looked to have things under control at the front, but a safety car period closed the pack up behind him. His chances of