Motorsport action returns to Kyalami this weekend

By Miles Downard

The first race meeting to be held at the rebuilt and refurbished new Kyalami circuit will see many records established this weekend (October 21, 22 and 23).

The three-day motorsport extravaganza will cater for more than 400 competitors, in 11 separate racing categories, tackling a total of 27 races between Friday afternoon and Sunday afternoon.

The Sasol Global Touring Car (GTC) Championship is the headline attraction at the event. Three practice sessions totalling an hour of on-track action on Saturday, 22nd October precedes GTC qualifying, which takes place on Sunday morning, followed by two races making up round four of the Sasol GTC Championship. Race fans will have plenty of opportunity to enjoy the sight and sounds of the fresh new touring car series, which features cars delivering 325kW to the rear wheels and bouts of flameouts from the exhausts under braking and cornering.

Qualifying so far has seen the top six drivers setting times within the same second, promising close racing. An added incentive to do well in the session to determine grid positions is the lure of three, two and one bonus points awarded to the fastest three drivers.

Read also: Kyalami race track sold for R205m

Heading up the GTC Production class (for front-wheel drive cars) will be championship leader Daniel Rowe (Schaeffier VW Golf Gti), followed by Charl Smalberger (Nathan’s VW Golf Gti), Shaun Duminy (SMD Ford Focus ST), and Mandla Mdakane (VW Golf Gti). The latter two are separated by just 7 points at this stage, making a good race for 3rd place.

Adding huge excitement to proceedings will be races for G&H Transport Extreme Supercars, with no fewer than 44 exotic vehicles taking to the tarmac, including the likes of Charl Arangies’s Stradale Lamborghini Galardo, Toby Venter in his Porsche 911 GTR, the Ferrari 430 of Craig Jarvis and Johan Engelbrecht’s Porsche GT2.

Returning to Kyalami in style, and capable of holding the venue’s overall lap record by the end of the weekend, will be the SAMCAR V8 Supercar category.

Other events over the weekend include the Engen Volkswagen Cup, fielding 20 cars and a title chase balanced on a knife-edge. Motorbikes also get a show in with the Dunlop Thunderbike events that could well produce the weekend’s quickest lap time, with some former champions returning to the fray. The SKF Legends of the 9-Hour races will bring nostalgia to the party, with 53 cars on the entry list. Close behind with 52 cars entered is the 111 Sport and Saloon series.

All in all Kyalami’s return to full throttle action will be one you won’t want to miss. Tickets available at Computicket.

Visited 57 times, 1 visit(s) today