Cape Town scores World Rally X

ONE of the fastest-growing motorsports is coming to Cape Town later this year.

The inaugural Cape Town World Rally X Championship will end the fourth edition of the competition at the Killarney International Raceway in November.

Race 12 had been held in Argentina since the championship’s inception in 2014, but a new deal signed in conjunction with the City of Cape Town and the Killarney International Raceway will see the showpiece descend on the Cape for the next five editions.

“Normally, we sign three-year deals,” deputy mayor Ian Neilson said at the launch yesterday, “but we’re delighted to have signed a five-year deal as hosts.

“Globally, there is massive interest in World Rally X. There are some 180 million viewers worldwide; they’ll now know about Cape Town and South Africa. They’ll know that Cape Town is the events capital of Africa.”

About 30 000 people are expected to attend the weekend event.

Killarney executive manager Des Easom was delighted to be hosting the championship, which entails a full weekend of racing around a new multi-surface track, purpose-built at Killarney for the November 10-12 race weekend.

“Killarney is one of the only multipurpose events venues in the country. It’s one of the best speedways in SA. We’ve enjoyed the support of many international visitors who have all praised the track and its environment and facilities,” Easom said.

World Rally X managing director for IMG, motorsport promoters for the event, Paul Bellamy, said they were “hugely impressed by the passion at Killarney” which was why it was an easy decision to move the event to Cape Town.

“We felt the time was right and the city was ready for a world championship.”

Taking part in the RX2 championship, one tier down from the supercar division, is South African John Williams who was excited to be driving the vehicles for the first time. “It’s great for Cape Town, and its great for South Africa,” he said.

Taking less than two seconds to reach 100km/h, a World Rally X supercar is quicker off the line than an F1 car.

Multiple motorsport title-holder and three-time World Rally X champion Petter Solberg said these cars were the best he had driven. “I’ve been a World Rally Champion… but this is the sport for me.”

Tickets are on sale via TicketPro.

THERE ARE SOME 180 MILLION VIEWERS WORLDWIDE, THEY’LL NOW KNOW ABOUT CAPE TOWN AND SA

PICTURE: DAVID RITCHIE GEARING UP: The World Rally X Championship presented by Monster Energy will visit Africa for the first time this year. Killarney International Raceway circuit in Cape Town will stage a round of the World Championship as part of a new multi-year deal with Championship promoter IMG.