9H Kyalami: Showdown of the GT3 elite
BY PATRIC NIEDERHAUSER The 2020 Intercontinental GT Challenge will be decided on Saturday in South Africa as the last international championship. Audi factory driver Patric Niederhauser has good chances of making the podium. The Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit served as the venue for a total of 20 Formula 1 races between 1967 and 1993. In addition, top international endurance races were held here until 1982, the most famous of which was the [...]
The Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit was the venue for a total of 20 Formula 1 races between 1967 and 1993. It also hosted top international endurance races until 1982, the most famous of which was the 9 Hours of Kyalami.
Victories for Regazzoni and Müller
Clay Regazzoni won the South African Springbok Trophy Series race in 1971 with Brian Redman and in 1972 with Arturo Merzario in a factory Ferrari 312PB. In 1973, the equally unforgettable Herbert Müller won the race, which was held over this distance for the last time, in a Porsche 908/3.
In 1974 (6-hour duration) and 1983 as well as 83 (1000-kilometer distance in each case), Kyalami was a round of the World Sports Car Championship. In between and for a few years thereafter until 1988, it was an internationally still well-staffed seasonal sweep race without FIA predicate.
Several times rebuilt and renewed track
After a rebuilding phase, the sports cars from the SportsRacing World Cup (ISRS) made three guest appearances at Kyalami before only occasional races were held there, such as a round of the A1 GP World Cup of Nations in 2009 (with Bernese drivers Neel Jani and Adrian Zaugg).
Under the leadership of Porsche South Africa, the tradition-steeped track was extensively renovated and upgraded to modern standards ahead of the 2019 season. Last year, international motorsport returned to Kyalami. The final round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge revived the 9-hour race.
Porsche again in the role of favorite
At last year's season finale of the world's only GT3 championship, Porsche secured not only the race win but also the manufacturers' and drivers' titles. Porsche works drivers are also leading the standings ahead of this year's final round on Saturday, December 12.
Earl Bamber from New Zealand and Laurens Vanthoor from Belgium, who most recently triumphed at the Spa 24 Hours, lead the drivers' championship with a one-point advantage over their brand colleagues Matt Campbell (Australia), Mathieu Jaminet and Patrick Pilet (both France).
In the manufacturers' standings, Porsche has a lead of 29 points that can hardly be made up by its opponents. On the grid are factory-backed teams from Audi, Bentley, BMW, Honda and Porsche.
Africa premiere from Niederhauser
Patric Niederhauser is the only Swiss competing in a race in Africa for the first time. Together with Italian Mattia Drudi and German Christopher Haase, the driver from Berne will be piloting one of the three Audi Sport-backed R8 LMS cars fielded by Team Car Collection.
After finishing second at Spa, "Nidi" and Drudi still have theoretical title chances because no team has scored well in more than one of the three races so far at Bathurst (AUS), Indianapolis (USA) and Belgium. However, with a top result they could become the best-placed Audi drivers and help their brand to a pleasing end to the season.
Live on the Internet
The 9-hour race can be viewed on the Intercontinental GT Challenge homepage at this Link and on the GT World youtube channel under this Link be followed live in its entirety. The start will be released on Saturday, December 12, at 10 a.m. CET. The finish line will be reached nine hours later after dark.
intercontinentalgtchallenge.com/event/121/kyalami-9-hour
