The 2021 edition of the storied South African race returns to our most famous circuit this weekend after previous delays related to Covid-19 had event organisers re-scheduling for the 3rd-5th of February 2022. Nevertheless, the Kyalami 9 hour is back and this is what you can expect.
The inaugural event hosted after the completion of the Kyalami circuit on the 4th of November 1961 was a 9 hour endurance race on a vaguely similar 4,1 km lap situated in the hills of Midrand. The endurance event is a cornerstone to the circuit and thus in 2019, its return with the Intercontinental GT Challenge was most welcomed after a hiatus of almost two decades.
The third consecutive edition of the Intercontinental GT Challenge was scheduled for the 2nd-4th of December but the highly contagious bout of Omicron resulted in the organisers postponing the event mere days before it was set to kick off. The race weekend is once again tantalisingly close and should go off unhitched with a race weekend filled to the brim with activity. Now that the Kyalami 9 Hour is back, this is what viewers in the grandstands can expect to see.
Other than the feature 9 Hour endurance race that bears the name of the event and kicks off on Saturday the 5th of February at 13:00, the weekend schedule will be abuzz with the sounds of the Mobil 1 V8 Supercars, SA GT Racing Series & SA Sportscar Series, the BMW M Performance Parts Race Series. Further off the racing scene; the Monster energy drift team will provide entertainment once again while 100 Harley-Davidson’s will make a special noise contribution to the event. The feature event will have practice and qualifying sessions nestled in between the jam packed timetable.
Three fully South African teams will be taking part in the event between the National GT4 and National GT3 classes with an all black driver lineup led by Xolile Letlaka racing a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo. Italian AF Corse has two Ferrari 488 GT3 entered into the GT3 Pro class while half a dozen Audi R8 LMS and a duo of Mercedes-AMG GT3 are the remaining vehicles that will roll past the start/finish line to signal the commencement of the race.
The Kyalami 9 Hour is back and if you are late to the party then start scrambling for the last of the limited tickets. Alternatively, bidaily updates will be provided on the Kyalami 9 Hour social media accounts if you are unable to attend.
