Earlier this year, we reported that there was a chance Cape Town would host a round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship in 2017. And now that news has been confirmed.
Yes, Killarney in Cape Town will host a 2017 round “as part of a new multi-year deal with Championship promoter, IMG”.
IMG confirmed that the construction of a new rallycross track would commence “in the next six weeks” and would be a “permanent circuit”.
Des Easom, executive manager of Killarney, said: “Killarney is delighted to be hosting this first of its kind event in Africa. Our thousands of loyal fans and spectators, Cape Town and its New Seven Wonders of Nature Table Mountain deserve no less”.
“This is a thrilling, highly competitive form of racing with international appeal and media coverage. We look forward to working with IMG and pooling our expertise and experience on the series of events. This is a great addition to our whole-year racing calendar and spectators can look forward to an international and world-class event,” added Easom.
Paul Bellamy, World RX Managing Director for IMG, revealed that the South African round would play the role of season-closer.
“We have been looking at South Africa as a potential new venue in World RX for some time and we are delighted to be able to announce the new deal from 2017 onwards. We are the only FIA World Championship to host an event in sub-Saharan Africa and the Killarney circuit is a fantastic facility where we can create a truly sensational season-closer,” said Bellamy.
The series currently consists of 12 two-day events held on closed circuits featuring mixed surfaces. Each round comprises four qualifying heats, two semi-finals, and a six-car final.
Norwegian maestro Petter Solberg claimed the title in both 2014 and 2015 in his Citroën DS3, but is currently sitting second behind Sweden’s Mattias Ekstrom (who runs an Audi A1). Johan Kristoffersson (Volkswagen Polo) is in third, Andreas Bakkerud (Ford Focus RS) fourth, while Sébastien Loeb sits in fifth in his Peugeot 208.
