Johannesburg - South Africa’s only dedicated television motoring channel, Ignition TV, has launched season two of its popular Speed Stars show which will air its first episode on September 3 at 7.30pm on DStv channel 189.
The Speed Stars concept is simple: 20 of the country’s top celebrities compete two at a time at Zwartkops racetrack for the chance to win charity prize money and an overseas trip with series sponsor Michelin to one of its Pilot Sport driving experiences.
Series organiser and co-host Marius Roberts has shaken things up for this year’s competition and for the first time members of the public are invited to get in on the action. The overall winner at the end of the season finale will be awarded with R30 000 to give to either the Sunflower Fund or ARK Animal Centre charities, an all expenses paid trip, and a Fortis watch valued at R28K.
Each episode will feature two well-known personalities who will arrive at the track for a day of driver coaching, and skills learned will then be put to the test in the afternoon when competitors take each other on in identical Opel Adam Ss.
Public participation begins on September 3 when you and all your friends are invited to take part in kart races at tracks in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. The fastest four from each venue will then participate in an elimination round at Zwartkops on September 10 (coastal winners will be flown up), and the final four will compete in head-to-head races just like the celebs in a dedicated episode which will be shown on TV.
The kart tracks will include Xtreme Karting at Cedar Square and Compukart Raceway at Stoneridge Mall (Gauteng); Epic Karting at the Galleria in Durban; and Century Karting at Century City in Cape Town. You must be at least 18 to enter, and sorry racers, nobody with an MSA competition licence is eligible.
Grand prize
The aim for both celebrities and the final public competitors is to set the fastest lap time in the Adam S, and at the end of the season the fastest six atop the leaderboard will contest a final elimination round comprising kart races, a gymkhana and Zwartkops hotlaps. The winner gets the grand prize.
The first episode will recap the happenings in Speed Stars season one, and on September 10 the first head-to-head battle featuring Dave Levinsohn and Jason Goliath will be aired.
Readers of this website, and our sister publication Star Motoring, will get the chance to win an advanced driving course with Opel for predicting the winner.
Visit the Speed Stars website at www.speedstars.co.za for more information.