Victory for Porsche and Dennis Olsen
KYALAMI – The first Kyalami 9 Hour event in nearly four decades was a racing success when Prosche and Dennis Olsen came out on top.
Porsche and Dennis Olsen are the 2019 Intercontinental GT Challenge champions after a dramatic conclusion to this year’s title showdown at the revived Kyalami 9 Hour.
South African fans had waited 37 years for their endurance classic to return, but the hiatus was more than worth it. A race mostly run in bright sunshine ended under the cover of darkness and in a cloud of spray when the action finally resumed following a two-hour-long safety car period caused by heavy rain.
The sporting event took place at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit from 21 to 23 November. History will recall Frikadelli Racing’s pole-winning 911 GT3 R shared by Olsen, Nick Tandy and Mathieu Jaminet enjoying a perfect day that included fastest lap (Tandy) and victory, which also secured Porsche the manufacturers’ crown, Olsen the drivers’ title, and the winning crew Kyalami’s original 9 Hour trophy.
Walkenhorst Motorsport’s Christian Krognes, Mikkel Jensen and Nicky Catsburg recorded BMW’s best result of the season with second, while long-time race leaders Richard Lietz, Kevin Estre and Michael Christensen completed the podium in their GPX Racing Porsche.
The 2020 Intercontinental GT Challenge campaign begins in just over two months’ time at the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour in Australia in the new year, and the Kyalami 9 Hour will be back in Johannesburg next year as well.
Details: www.kyalami9hour.com
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