Global Touring Car: New series to commence at Zwartkops

THE much anticipated Global Touring Car Championship (GTC), has found its way back to Zwartkops Raceway and will take to the track in the near future.

The newly established GTC has Sasol as its main sponsor and the company will sponsor the entire series. This was announced at the GTC launch which took place on Thursday, June 9, at Zwartkops Raceway.

The inaugural race will take place at Zwartkops Raceway on Thursday, June 16. For almost four years various research and development of these racing cars took place in order to produce and manufacture these racing cars.

The Sasol GTC Championship consists of seven rounds in 2016 and each race day will feature two 50km races per round. BMW, Volkswagen and Audi will take to the track this year and some of the best manufacturers will follow suite in 2017.

Five of these cars are scheduled to make their debut at Zwartkops. The class is designed to attract young racers from junior racing categories, and act as a feeder series to Global Touring Cars.

Gary Formato, GTC founder and former motor racing champion, said: “GTC is an exciting and spectacular racing series that is tailor-made and uniquely South African. The rule stability and tight cost control makes it appealing to manufacturers and competitors, while giving race fans renewed enthusiasm for motor sport in general. It is the first time in 20 years that drivers have a bespoke, purpose-built race car to compete with. We are privileged to have a company of Sasol’s calibre on board. Sasol is a technologically advanced company with a shared vision and aligned objectives. GTC looks forward to a long and rewarding partnership in the years ahead.”

Altogether 11 teams with two members per team will participate in the initial stages of the series. GTC is mainly based on the British Tour Car Championship, Australian V8 Supercars and the German DTM series. The manufacturers have based the production of their cars on the conditions which are experienced in the country and adapted accordingly.

The cars feature two litre turbo-charged engines developing 325kW and 600NM of torque. All cars will use rear-wheel driving and the regulated components include the gearbox, brakes, shock absorbers and suspension.

GTC cars will reach 280km/h at fast tracks in East London, while providing a visual and aural feast for spectators with turbo-crackle and flames spitting out of the exhaust under braking.

Ian Scheckter has been appointed as the driving conduct official, and the experienced Wammy Haddad and Kosie Swanepoel will officiate as the technical controllers.