Extreme Festival heads for Cape
SA’s top racing stars in exciting action at Killarney race track
MULTIPLE former South African Champion Johan Fourie is going to be among those representing the Western Cape in different events, during the national Extreme Festival meeting at Killarney on Saturday.
A dual winner of the South African Drivers’ Championship, Fourie was in action in Port Elizabeth earlier this month, where he notched up two second place finishes in the new Sasol GTC series races there. However, in a car that was obviously not at its best, he was forced to retire from the third. He will now be back at Killarney for the first time since 2014, at the wheel of his EPS Courier Services BMW.
The technically evenly matched GTC cars are rear-wheel-drive models, that at this stage also include a selection of Audi A3s and VW Jettas. All of them are powered by 2-litre turbocharged engines producing around 325kW and 600Nm. However, the banning of artificial aids like ABS braking and traction control is going to place even more significance on the ability of the men behind the wheel.
Other GTC drivers include the impressive Michael Stephen who won the opening rounds at Zwartkops and Port Elizabeth in his Engen Audi A3, as well as former Production Car Champion Hennie Groenewald and Gennaro Bonafede in similar Sasol BMWs. The VW Jettas are in the hands of Graeme Nathan and Matthew Hodges.
The balance of the programme is not short of variety and includes championship shootouts for G&H Extreme Supercars. In this one, Dawie Joubert’s extremely rapid Lotus Exige is quite likely to be challenged by six Ferraris, two Lamborghinis, and a brigade of Porsches.
Other categories include Investchem Formula 1600s, Hankook Formula Vee single seaters, Consol VW Challenge and the Engen Volkswagen Cup. There are also motorcycle events for Dunlop Thunderbikes and the Red Square Kawasaki ZX 10R Masters.
Riders in the anything-goes, run-wot-ya-brung Thunderbikes series will find themselves facing an unexpected late entry from local hero David McFadden on the RacePrep Suzuki GSX-R1000.
Also in action will be the Red Square ZX-10R Masters Cup, now in its 10th year.
Off the track, spectators are welcome at the KFM Radio national Braai Day promotion, while there will also be kart racing for the kiddies, and a host of other family entertainment.
And if that’s not enough, the first ever appearance of the SAAF Silver Falcons flying stunt team at an event of this nature, promises to add to the spectacle. The five sleek turboprop Pilatus PC7 Mk-2s, are due to participate in a synchronised aerobatic display above the track, for 25 minutes during the lunch break.
The first of the 18 races is due off at 9.55am. Admission is R90 for adults and R40 for scholars under 16. There is no charge for kiddies under 12.