The eight drivers set to compete at Kyalami in the Volkswagen Media Challenge powered by the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists and backed by Cell-C, have been confirmed.
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The Media grid will comprise Andrew Leopold, Denis Droppa, Michele Lupini, Sean Nurse, Mark and Lindsay Smyth, Janine van der Post and our very own Citizen Motoring road test editor, Mark Jones.
The eight journalists are champing at the bit to get out and race, with each bringing varied levels of experience to the initiative.
Denis Droppa, motoring editor of Independent Media, brings broad racing experience – including two seasons in the Engen VW Polo Cup and a guest drive in the VW Citi Celebrity Challenge – to the mix.
The Citizen Motoring’s Jones is another experienced racer looking forward to dicing his motoring journalist peers at Kyalami, thanks to his experience in regular amateur club and regional saloon car racing.
There’s even a husband and wife team racing in the challenge, with Lindsay and Mark Smyth among the competitors. Business Day Drive Times editor Mark is an old race fan with a bit of historic racing and go-kart racing experience.
Smyth had better wake up early on that Kyalami weekend if he wants to beat his wife, let alone his other rivals. Lindsay – whose day job is to run the IgnitionTV motoring channel on DStv – has some racing experience herself, and the opportunity for the mum of two to teach her hubby a racing lesson must be an exciting one.
Cape lass Janine van der Post, who spends many of her waking hours keeping the www.wheels24. co.za website up-to-date, is another motoring media mum relishing the opportunity to race at the opening of the new Kyalami.
Among the younger media racers in the field, Sean Nurse is another name Gauteng car fans are sure to know well. Managing editor of the Autodealer supplement that you find in your local newspaper every week (and online at www.autodealer.co.za), Sean has three years of experience racing in the grassroots Michelin Cup series and has competed in numerous endurance karting events.
Another young gun, www.sacarfan.co.za editor Andrew Leopold has completed several advanced driving academies, both locally and internationally, and boasts regular track experience, including around the renovated Kyalami circuit.
Bakkie & Car magazine editor and the man behind the www. motorsportmedia.co.za portal Michele Lupini’s race experience stretches back generations and he is relishing the chance to show media laaities a thing or two.
The Volkswagen Media Challenge is proudly hosted by Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit and will see the eight top scribes competing in a field of Volkswagen Motorsport Polo 1.2 TSI DSG race cars at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit’s inaugural race meeting over the weekend of October 22 and 23.
Race fans can keep abreast through the www.kyalamigrandprixcircuit.com website, where tickets for the historic race weekend are on sale through the Computicket link on the homepage.
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