Colin-on-Cars - Kyalami 9 Hours roars back in

It’s official – the iconic Kyalami 9 Hour Race will be back as the second round of the SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) Powered by Pirelli, in February 2023.

However, the entire week leading up to the start of the race has been dedicated to a major motor sport and lifestyle expo and festival.

The IGTC Series is a GT3 and GT4 Sportscar based series which has run at Kyalami since 2019. The series visits the five continents and the Kyalami round, in February, will be the second round of the five-race 2023 season.

The 9 Hour will be contested by both overseas and local GT3 and GT4 race teams. It is expected more than 20 entries, including top international and local drivers, will fight for overall and class victories in the endurance race. All the top national motor sport categories will also participate in various support races during three days of track action. 

Additional K9H Motor Fest activities includes the inaugural Golf Day which will feature some of the world’s best racing drivers participating as part of the four-ball teams. This all set against the glamour of an international motor race offering private or shared corporate hospitality for the Kyalami 9 Hour race.

Against the backdrop of the 9 Hour night practice session, a Gala Dinner with a charity-based motor sport memorabilia themed auction will take place, offering additional networking opportunities for the captains of the motor industry.

The week-long K9H Trade and Exhibition show, which is open to the public, transforms into the ultimate test-drive opportunity for potential customers to experience the latest model offerings from local manufacturers and importers on the handling and 4x4 track from the Wednesday.

Manufacturers and importers will further be able to offer their business associates, partners and members of the public a glimpse of what the racing drivers will face with three days of hot laps around the iconic 4,5 km Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit from the Wednesday to Friday.

Friday’s activities ramp up the excitement with a beer and wine festival, 150 plus cars in the support category races, including top South African national championships and the Kyalami 9 Hour qualifying sessions, which culminate with the Top 10 Pole Shootout.

On the Saturday there is a high-speed historic race car display, the support races, the on-going beer and wine festival and Trade and Exhibition show. 

Adam Brown, Kyalami 9 Hour Event Director, says; “The 9 Hour has proven itself to be the premier event on the South African motor sport calendar, and a top-rated stop on the international tour. We are delighted to confirm the 2023 event as the second round of the season, and we are especially excited to launch the K9H Motor Fest.

"The Motor Fest adds dynamic content to the successful formula for all our motorsport fans, partners and industry stakeholders. The 2023 Kyalami 9 Hour now possesses all the ingredients necessary to become a flagship event of the motoring sector in South Africa.”

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 Hot racing action for East London's historic circuit

The lockdown blues are coming to an end in East London with the resumption of the ultra-competitive Polo Cup and SupaCup at the historic Grand Prix circuit in the city of East London? In the form of Potter’s Pass and Rifle bend, the circuit boasts with two of the fastest corners in South African motor sport that are renowned for sorting the men from the boys. 

“We are very excited to finally resume the 2021 racing season, and we can’t think of a better backdrop than the famed circuit in East London,” commented Mike Rowe, head of Volkswagen Motorsport. “It’s been nearly three months since we last saw racing, so I’m sure that all the competitors in both the highly competitive Polo Cup as well as the very popular SupaCup series can’t wait to resume their respective championship battles.”

 

The battle at the top of the Polo Cup championship points table has been the one to watch, and is set to continue this coming weekend. The three previous rounds were earmarked by exceptionally good and clean racing between youngster Leyton Fourie and Arnold Neveling with Fourie currently topping the points ladder with a tally of 123 points, courtesy of two race wins and a few bonus points for setting the fastest lap on three occasions.

Neveling, who also tasted victory twice has amassed 120 points so far and with 20 points available for each win, one can be assured that these two will throw all caution to the wind this coming Saturday. And they won’t be the only ones gunning for glory. Capetonian Jurie Swart, currently on 110 points is well within striking distance, and so is Clynton Bezuidenhout, just a further 5 points adrift. 

“There is no doubt that this weekend’s racing will play a massive role in the final outcome of the championship,” added Rowe. “These drivers have all to play for and the format on Saturday will see three races instead of the usual two. With that many points on offer, Saturday’s winner will take a big step towards earning one of the most coveted titles in motorsport.”

 

The standings in the very competitive SupaCup category of the Global Touring Cars series (GTC) are even closer, as there are no points separating defending champion Bradley Liebenberg and Volkswagen Motorsport’s Jonathan Mogotsi at the top of the points table. Liebenberg has stood on the top step of the podium on three occasions so far in 2021, but a non-finish three months ago at the Aldo Scribante circuit in Gqeberha saw him lose valuable points. 

Mogotsi on the other hand claimed his maiden victory in the same race, meaning that the duo are now tied on 95 points apiece. And they won’t have it their own way either as Jeffrey Kruger and youngster Saood Variawa will have every intention to join the battle. These two are currently sitting on 79 and 76 points respectively with Jason Campos also still within striking distance. 

“To see a full field of SupaCup Polos going flat out through Potter’s Pass and Rifle will be quite a sight. It’s a pity that there won’t be any official spectators due to the pandemic, but fans across the country can follow all of the action on our various social media platforms,” concluded Rowe.