The race is on – are you participating?
This event, starting with a nine hour endurance race, should be an absolute block buster on so many levels. Come on South Africa - we need this.
With a rich history stretching back to 1961 – the Kyalami 9 Hour Race, now the second round of the SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) Powered by Pirelli, returns on February 25, 2023. As part of the ongoing improvements to South Africa’s only international motorsport event, organisers have created a five-day supporting festival, celebrating all things motorsport and motoring.
The IGTC Series is a GT3 and GT4 Sportscar based series that has run at Kyalami since 2019. The series visits the five continents and the Kyalami round, in February, will be the second round of the five-race 2023 season. The 9 Hour will be contested by both overseas and local GT3 and GT4 race teams. It is expected that over 20 entries, including top international and local drivers, will fight for overall and class victories in the endurance race. All the top national motorsport categories will also participate in various support races during three days of track action.
The K9H race with the addition of the K9H Motor Fest content is evolving into one of the more diverse motoring orientated festivals in South Africa. The event, which will offer more family orientated, motoring enthusiast and industry related activities, is scheduled to be held from February 21 to 25, 2023, featuring various activations, exciting entertainment and networking opportunities for corporates, manufacturers and the general public, all culminating in the international Kyalami 9 Hour race.
Additional K9H Motor Fest activities include the inaugural Golf Day which will feature some of the world’s best racing drivers participating as part of the four-ball teams. This all set against the glamour of an international motor race offering private or shared corporate hospitality for the Kyalami 9 Hour race.
Against the backdrop of the 9 Hour night practice session, a gala dinner with a charity-based motorsport memorabilia themed auction will take place, offering additional networking opportunities for the captains of the motor industry.
The week-long K9H Trade and Exhibition Show, which is open to the public, transforms into the ultimate test drive opportunity for potential customers to experience the latest model offerings from local manufacturers and importers on the handling and 4×4 track from the Wednesday.
Manufacturers and importers will further be able to offer their business associates, partners and members of the public a glimpse of what the racing drivers will face with three days of hot laps around the iconic 4.5km Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit from Wednesday to Friday.
Friday’s activities ramp up the excitement with a beer and wine festival, 150 + cars in the support category races, including top South African national championships, and the Kyalami 9 Hour qualifying sessions which culminate with the Top Ten Pole Shootout.
Kyalami will be abuzz on Saturday with a high-speed historic race car display, support races, the on-going beer and wine festival and Trade and Exhibition Show. All eyes will be on the racetrack from 13:00, when the Kyalami 9 Hour gets underway.
Adam Brown, Kyalami 9 Hour event director, commented, “The 9 Hour has proven itself to be the premier event on the South African motorsport calendar, and a top-rated stop on the international tour. We are delighted to confirm the 2023 event as the second round of the season, and we are especially excited to launch the K9H Motor Fest. The Motor Fest adds dynamic content to the successful formula for all our motorsport fans, partners and industry stakeholders. The 2023 Kyalami 9 Hour now possesses all the ingredients necessary to become a flagship event of the motoring sector in South Africa”.
Craig Newman, group CEO of GL Events, added, “The inclusion of the Trade Show, entertainment and hospitality elements raises the bar on this prestigious event. We are proud to be partnered with the Kyalami 9 Hour and we are confident that our vast experience and track-record of creating and executing leading business and consumer lifestyle events, such as the Rand Show, will firmly place the K9H Motor Fest at the top of the list for both corporates and the public alike.”
There are few sights as evocative as bright lights dancing in the dark as the GT racers vie for victory, the frenetic pit stops under spotlights, glowing brake discs all accompanied by the smell of food cooking on open flames from the multitude of catering and hospitality outlets.
For further information on how to become involved in the motoring festival, and what is set to be the highlight of the motoring calendar, contact: Ian McGregor, commercial partnerships manager at ian@k9hmotorfest.com
Source: MotorPress
