Gymkhana GRiD brings the noise

Petrol heads were treated to a spectacle of motorsport on December 1 when the international event that is Gymkhana GRiD took place at Brakpan’s Carnival City.

Nothing can prepare motorsport fans for the pure assault on the senses that is Gymkhana GRiD in flat out competition mode.

What’s more, nowhere else in motorsport can you check out 1000-plus bhp race machinery going head-to-head with private garage builds, and then see the resulting duels clock in split-second tie-break finishes.

Gymkhana is, of course, the brainchild of legendary rally driver Ken Block, whose Gymkhana videos on YouTube have been well received over the years.

Gymkhana GRiD cuts through paddock politics like no other series and lets the talent on track do the real talking.

Of course, when the smoke and dust eventually settled, two sets of podium finishers emerged, having burnt rubber, kicked their rivals to the kerb, and claimed their place in the Gymkhana GRiD hall of fame.

Also read: Gymkhana GRiD a huge hit

Japanese drift legend Daigo Saito truly gave a new meaning to ‘bossing-the-GRiD’ in his thundering 1000bhp Corvette in the rear-wheel-drive class.

Hustling the V8 powered Monster around the dazzling array of obstacles, the 38-year-old racer consistently improved on his lap times with each outing, defeating local driver Rano Barnardt, and then Monster athletes Dmitriy Illyuk, Steve Baggsy Biagioni, and finally Jason Webb on route to podium glory.

The big shake-up in the rear-wheel-drive class came with Luke Woodham receiving a two-second obstacle related penalty in his battle against Jason Webb, meaning the four-time GRiD champion was knocked out of the running for the win.

The shock result promoted Jason Webb to second, thanks also to his ultra-precise runs in his chop-top Monstang, and then pushed Woodham to the final podium step – after he beat Steve Baggsy Biagioni in the third and fourth place play-off.

In the All-Wheel Drive class, the action went off in trademark four-wheel sliding style.

Double FIA World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson claimed a second consecutive GRiD title to wrap up a record-breaking season.

The Swedish ace faced tough competition from teammate Petter Solberg though, with the duo being separated by mere tenths of a second all weekend.

It was also a real Solberg family affair to complete the podium, with 17-year old Oliver Solberg claiming his slice of GRiD glory – piloting the Citroen Xsara that took Petter to the win at Gymkhana GRiD 2017 in Greece.

UK driver Jonathan Buck battled back from an oil fire during open practice, to the best of the Pro-Am drivers by placing his Subaru Impreza in fourth.

‘Bucky’ narrowly beat GRiD veteran Dmitrij Sribnyj by three-tenths of a second in the process.

Block brought the noise in his 1400bhp Ford Mustang Hoonicorn RTR V2 and put on an epic show against Daigo Saito in the Smoke and Style competition final.

Block said: “I’ve loved driving again here in South Africa.

“During my last run in Smoke and Style I had flames and bits of tyre bouncing off my visor, and I just kept the throttle nailed.

Also read: Gymkhana GRiD returns to Carnival City

“That’s what Gymkhana GRiD is all about.

“Daigo did an awesome job sliding his Corvette around the GRiD course all weekend.

“His driving was super clean, and he really got the thing dialled.

“He thoroughly deserves the win.

“I’m stoked for Jason Webb too – that was a big shakeup to the expected result with him knocking out Luke Woodham during the semis.

“Again, that’s what’s so great about this format.

“It’s about car control, you don’t need the most horsepower to win at GRiD, one mistake and the result can go either way.”

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