Action stations for 'Top Gear' fest

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Published Jun 6, 2013

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We’re just two weekends away from the Top Gear Festival, which takes place at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on June 15 and 16, and with Youth Day falling on the Sunday the organisers have tried to include as many local celebrities and activities as possible.

The homegrown talent starts with radio personality Sasha Martinengo and racing driver Gugu Zulu hosting the action on Durban’s street circuit, where the Red Bull Toyota Dakar Hilux bakkie, driven by local offroad champion Giniel de Villiers, will be a star attraction.

De Villiers will be tackling a specially set-up rally stage, in a point-to-point timed format, in his bakkie, which finished second in this year’s Dakar rally.

SUPER RUGBY HOT RODS

Also interesting will be the Super Rugby Hot Rods Grudge Match, which combines motoring and rugby.

The inaugural challenge will see eight hot rods race a total of five laps against Australian and New Zealand counterparts.

Those who enjoy more conventional motorsport can look forward to the fifth round of the Bridgestone Production Car National Championship. Fans can expect to see brands like BMW, Audi, Ford, Renault, VW, Mini and Chevrolet take on the festival’s street circuit in anger.

The new hairpin corner and chicane should help to make this one of the most challenging tracks the Bridgestone Production Car series will visit this year.

Top South African drivers like Etienne van der Linde, Johan Fourie, Melvill Priest and Gennaro Bonafede in Class A and Graeme Nathan, Gavin Cronje, Gary Formato and Michael van Rooyen in Class T will have their work cut out for them.

SA GEMS ON TRACK

South African gems on track will include a display by the Franschhoek Motor Museum celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Le Mans 24 Hours, with a procession of 14 iconic racing cars spanning the period from the 1930s to present day.

Lighting up the skies will be eight-time South African and former advanced world aerobatic champion Glen Dell, who will entertain spectators by twisting and turning through the air, showcasing his aerobatic talents throughout the weekend.

The Action Zone will play host to South Africa’s Shell Stunt School and the XS Promotions Stunt Team, who will be demonstrating Fast and Furious-style handbrake turns and drifting.

The Action Zone will also be home to drag racing, rallying and extreme offroading – as well as the Red Bull X-Fighters and their FMX champion rider, Nick de Wet, who is enjoying his biggest year to date. He will be demonstrating just how he’s outshone the world’s elite.

STIG IN EXOTIC METAL

All this is on top of two-time Formula One champion Mika Häkkinen, and The Stig, piloting exotic metal on the street circuit, and Infiniti Red Bull Racing running its 2011 season-winning F1 car with Antonio Felix da Costa at the wheel.

The Stig will drive the F1 car in the stadium show, which will be presented by the Top Gear TV show’s Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond.

Rounding off the festivities is the Motoring Pavilion, which aside from the many exhibitors will feature South Africa’s first viewings of the Jaguar F-Type, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, the Peugeot 208 GTI and Audi’s RS5 Cabrio.

Ticket prices range from R250 to R2 100.

For information on tickets and travel, or to book, visit www.topgearfestival.co.za

-Mercury Motoring

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