Kyalami 9-Hour gets the go
NO SPECTATORS: ORGANISERS PULL IT OFF IN THE FACE OF MASSIVE COVID-19 LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES
The programme for the three-day event has been confirmed as well as a premiminary entry list.
There was good, and not so good, news about this year’s Kyalami 9-Hour race last weekend. The best news is that the race will take place at Kyalami, from Thursday 10 December to Saturday 12 December.
As you read this, 12 GT3 race cars and tons of Pirelli racing tyres are en route to Kyalami.
The official programme of events has been confirmed, as has a preliminary entry list.
All of the above was achieved against almost insurmountable odds, since the Kyalami organisers are faced with massive and unique logistical challenges, caused by international Covic-19 quarantine and travel restrictions.
The bad news is that the chances of spectators being allowed at the event are zero, also due to local Covid-19 regulations.
To accommodate spectators at the 9-Hour, the organisers would have had to keep them in isolated little groups, each complete with its own toilets, food provisions and security.
The inhabitants of each group would have to be prohibited from leaving their specific areas.
To enforce that and police it would be virtually impossible, not to mention hugely unpopular with spectators.
Some good news is that the entire race will be live streamed and shown on one of the DStv SuperSport channels.
Heading up the entry list will be two works M-Sport Bentley Continental models, one of which will have South African Jordan Pepper behind the wheel.
Other South Africans in international cars will be Sheldon van der Linde (Walkenhorst BMW M6 GT3) and Kelvin van der Linde (Audi Sport R8 LMS GT3).
The BMW equipe will field two M6 GT3 cars, the Audi team four R8 LMS models and Team Honda a single Honda NSX GT3.
The all-South African Hack Lechner Racing team will enter a Porsche 911 GT3R for Paul Hack, Andre’ Bezuidenhout and a thirdyet to be announced, local driver.
Activities at Kyalami will start with two day practice sessions and a night session on Thursday, 10 December and a morning practice session on the Friday, an afternoon qualifying session and a grid shoot-out for the top 10 cars.
The race will start at noon on Saturday, finishing at 9pm.
Supporting events will include two races for VW Supa Cup, Polo Cup and Challenge cars.