The multi-million rand Bridgestone Zwartkops International Kart Raceway will host its first race meeting on Saturday (7 December), with free entry for spectators. –
– Construction workers have been working seven days a week for the past month to complete the circuit, with its unique cross-over design. –
– “The first race meeting will be a fun-day club event, organised by the Rand Kart Club,” said circuit co-owner Ed Murray. “The idea is to give competitors a taste of the future before everyone goes on holiday, and fire everybody up for the 2003 season.” –
– The new circuit has been built to the latest international rules laid down by the FIA’s karting controlling body, the CIK. It is the most ambitious kart circuit ever built in South Africa, and will host the 2003 Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals in mid-January, which will see 70 drivers from 35 countries compete in identical 125 cc Rotax-powered karts. –
– In accordance with CIK rulings, the track is no less than eight metres wide throughout its 1 000 metre length. In addition, the start-finish straight is 10 metres wide, while the first two corners boast a track width of 12 metres. –
– “The extra track width is designed to minimise the chance of a race being spoiled in the first few corners. There will be enough space for everybody to get through without getting snarled up, and this will be good for the spectators as well as the competitors,” said Murray, a former multiple 125 cc South African karting champion. On Saturday the Rand Kart Club will cater for a full programme of all classes, and lots of interest has been expressed in entering for the “fun-day.” –
– A special “Media Challenge” is also being planned for the day. Motoring scribes from newspapers, magazines, radio, television and websites will be in action. –
– The inaugural meeting will give the South African MAX Challenge team for next year’s Grand Finals a chance to experience the circuit, in preparation for a “MAXimum” attack on the tough overseas competition in two months time. –
– SA Rotax MAX Challenge 2002 champion Michael Stephen from Port Elizabeth and fellow team members Claudio Piazza-Musso (from Cape Town), Mark Cronje and Rob Kellock are all expected to enter in the MAX Challenge class. –
– A unique aspect of the Bridgestone Zwartkops International Kart Raceway is that it features a cross-over bridge, configuring the circuit in a basic figure-eight format, with an additional number of challenging corners added in. –
– This is a great boon for spectators, who can see the tightest racing in South Africa in a contained space and easily follow each and every overtaking manoeuvre. A total of 11 grand stands are being constructed, with more planned for the Grand Final international event, to be run from 16 to 19 January next year. –
– This weekend, the practice commences at 09h00 and the first event at 12h00. Catering will be provided. –
– The track is also built to the latest safety regulations and a week after the first race meeting the track will be inspected by an official from the CIK, who will fly out to ratify the new circuit for international events. –
– The Bridgestone Zwartkops International Kart Raceway is situated at the Zwartkops Racing complex on the R55, west of Pretoria. –
– Further good news for karting fans is that highlights of the October S.A. Rotax Max Challenge Finals will be re broadcast on Supersport at the following times: –
– 29 November (Supersport 2) 01h00 –
– 13 December (CSN/Supersport 1) 19h30 –
– 14 December (Supersport 2) 15h30 –
– For all the information on the ROTAX MAX CHALLENGE, including the 2003 Grand Finals at Zwartkops and profiles of the South African team, visit: www.kart.co.za or contact ED MURRAY on (012) 807 4884.