Gymkhana GRiD a huge hit
The biggest motorsport event of the year, Gymkhana GRiD, took place at Carnival City over the weekend.
The series’ inaugural event in Africa, the brainchild of motoring icon Ken Block, drew the crowds as local drivers rubbed shoulders with some of the best of the best international drivers in the world including the likes of Block, Petter Solberg, Johan Kristoffersson, Andreas Bakkerud and Gymkhana GRiD rear-wheel drive champion Luke Woodham from the United Kingdom.
The smoking rubber on the blacktop of the #AutoCIRCUS is now the lasting reminders of what went down over an intense three days of horsepower-filled mayhem.
An incredible all-wheel drive (AWD) podium featured 2017 FIA World Rallycross champion Kristoffersson, multiple FIA world champion Petter Solberg and world RX star Andreas Bakkerud.
In the rear-wheel drive class, Woodham shrugged off technical problems to become the series’ most successful rear-wheel drive pilot, with four consecutive wins to his name.
Woodham was pushed all the way to the line by fellow racers travelling all the way from the UK, Adam Elder and Danny Cross.
“This weekend has been the toughest Gymkhana GRiD to date,” said RWD champion Woodham.
“I had nothing left after a long day of qualifying.
“I’ve always been one to quite enjoy mind games with the other drivers, but this time I was just pushing and going absolutely flat out.
“I don’t know where the speed came from, to be honest, I just dug deep.
“We had car trouble before the final, where the alternator packed up.
“The car was misfiring.
“After the earlier runs, we had to switch out batteries and charge them between runs.
“I just knew I had to go flat out.
“I never thought I’d be able to do this four times in a row.”
AWD winner Kristoffersson said: “I really don’t know what to say, I’m a little bit surprised that I was able to win, to be honest.
“I knew our car was quick obviously, but Petter, Andreas and Ken are all fantastic drivers and I honestly didn’t believe I would be able to beat them.
“There is just something inside my mind when I get into the finals of a race.
“I just really love it when the pressure is on and it’s all or nothing.”
Block (who finished fourth in the AWD category) said: “The whole event here in Johannesburg was amazing.
“We’ve been very quick all weekend and by the end my time compared to the Volkswagen’s [Petter and Johan] were pretty close.
“It was only in the final stages that they edged us out.
“Then it came down to a battle between me and Andreas.
“I beat him on the first round and then we made a small change to the engine map on my car, which meant he just had the edge on the track.
“It’s been tons of fun to drive and even just to watch has been so much fun.
“I’m just stoked to continue Gymkhana GRiD and hope it gets bigger and better in the future.
“Thank you to all the fans that have come out to watch us race, it’s been an absolute blast.”
Also read:Â Motorsport mayhem making its way to Carnival City
It’s the final countdown to a motoring spectacle
