Johannesburg - There are plans afoot for a new motorsport series in South Africa, which is set to take over as the country’s top saloon-car racing formula next year.
The proposed Global Touring Car series has been given the green light by Motorsport South Africa, the controlling body of motor racing in the country. Based on successful series running in Europe and Australia, GTC Africa will take over from the national Production Cars category as the premier tin-top series in this country. It will be cheaper than Production Cars but at the same time intends to deliver quality, high-performance racing.
According to GTC director Gary Formato, a competitive season in Production Cars currently costs around R1.5-million excluding the cost of the car. The GTC series, which comprises cars specced with the same gearboxes, suspension components, braking systems and other parts developed specifically for racing use, should cut that figure significantly.
MORE AFFORDABLE
At around R1.3-million, a new GTC car will also be much more affordable than a current Production Car racer. The purpose-built GTC cars will feature a single specification tubular chassis wrapped in metal bodies supplied by various manufacturers which as of now include Audi, Ford, Jaguar and Nissan. Engines will be limited to 2-litre turbo units, with computer management systems strictly controlled in order to keep racing and budgets as close as possible.
Production Cars’ two Audi teams – Sasolracing and Engen Xtreme – have confirmed they will switch to GTC next year with existing driver line-ups of Hennie Groenewald and Gennaro Bonafede, and Michael Stephen and Simon Moss respectively set to remain. The Audi teams will likely use A3 Sedan bodies instead of current S4s. Gary Formato will compete in a Ford Focus-bodied car, and there has also been interest from privateer teams looking to enter BMW 2-Series Coupés.
The current crop of Production Cars will be allowed to compete in GTC races, but in a lower tier GTC Lights category. GTC Africa aims to start the 2016 season with a 12-car field.
For more information contact Gary Formato on 082-372-4898 or email [email protected]
Star Motoring