Summarize

Killarney set for an endurance sting in the tail

The 2021 www.cheapercars.co.za GTi Challenge comes to an epic conclusion at Killarney, Saturday 6 November. The championship will be decided this weekend and while the regular cast of drivers will race a sprint race as always earlier in the day, it’s the one hour endurance race 2 that's on everyone’s lips. 

Not only does the championship decider require a second driver who has not raced in the series this year, to share each car for half the race distance, but the one hour enduro also counts for double championship points. The endurance race is also famous for delivering a sting in the tail over the years, so the championship table can still change. Right up until the last corner of the last lap. 

The one hour has also drawn some most interesting co-drivers, new entries and other excitement too. Overall and Class A championship leader Jurie Swart has for instance drafted GAP man Andrew Goslett, a Challenge veteran who prepares the Swart racing cars, in to share his Alpine Autohaus Polo 6 Cup. Umpie of course arrives at Killarney fresh from a compelling Polo Cup victory, where he demolished Gauteng’s finest in their Zwartkops back yard a week ago.  

Colin Meder has entrusted the other half of the GAP Racing brains trust, Greig Edwards to co-drive his ITT Polo 6. And former GTi champion Nian du Toit is a popular man, it seems. He will hop from one car to another as he shares both Jason Coetzee’s Mint Wraps JC Coachworks car and Dillon Joubert's TAC Steel Polo 6s! None other than Kosie Swanepoel will share Kai van Zyl’s Polo 6 and Charl Visser has Danie van Niekerk co-driving his Charl Electric Polo 6 on his GTi return.

There’s considerable action in Class B, with a few Challenge veterans joining the title protagonists and some new and returning entries too. Eden Thompson has brought former class champion Shane du Toit in as his Somerset Refrigeration Polo 6 wingman as he chases an unprecedented fourth overall GTi title on the trot.  Giordano Lupini has Ebrahim Levy alongside him in the Bullion IT Banhoek Chilli Oil Jetta CLi,. He has a long shot at unsettling Thompson for that title glory. 

Also in Class B, Nadia Nair has brought former Class C champion Brian Morgan back into the fold in her Polo. Grant Cloete will be joined by Chris Roberts in his Golf 1 and Wayne Field returns alongside Ashley van Niekerk in his Jetta 2. There are also two ‘new' Jetta 2s out. The returning Mario Roux and Stevie Vermaak’s Automar machine. And Clubmans refugee Roshan Kahn and ‘80s group N racer Ismail Norshib in another Mk. 2.

The other driver in with an overall title shot, runaway class C leader Kyle Wiltshire has flown last year’s class champion, brother Calvin in to support his title charge. His class rivals have a number of top kart drivers sharing their cars in the all Volkswagen Golf 1 GTi Brat Pack. Chase Herholdt is driving with former SA Junior Max champion Troy Dolinschek, while current Senior Max champ Tate Bishop has brought former Max champion Kohen Bam into the Angri Golf fold.

Nathan Victor will be joined by Polo Cup racer and another multiple former karting champion Clinton Bezuidenhout, but Schalk Geldenhuys has made a different plan. He has former karting father and seasoned saloon car racer Flavio Busi sharing his car. And Clubmans refugee, Razleigh Harris will make his GTi Challenge debut alongside Darrel van Niekerk in another Golf 1.

The cheapercars GTi Challenge finale forms part of the 6 November Killarney Power Series. A limited number of spectators are allowed to attend the races, with tickets available online via Computicket, to be collected and presented at the gate. Otherwise just watch it via live streaming on Killarney’s social media.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Alert GTi Challenge

What:Cheapercars GTi Challenge Final Round 8 & 1 Hour Preview
Where:Killarney International Raceway
When:Saturday 6 November 2021
Community:Western Cape Regional

For further information please contact gertduplessis1979@gmail.com

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