Local rallycross drivers will step onto the world stage in a big way when they take part in the South African leg of the World Rallycross at Killarney International Raceway on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 November in two fully-fledged support classes for the first time.
There will be races for conventional 2F front wheel-drive rally and rallycross cars, as well as for the high-revving ‘big sixes’ of the E36 Cup – 3F rear wheel-drive BMW 3-Series luxury sedan dating from the late 1990s which enjoy a cult following among South African petrolheads.
Each class will compete in two qualifying races of four laps for five cars on Saturday 9 November and one on Sunday morning, 10 November, in front of thousands of local and visiting enthusiasts.
The top six cars from qualifying in each class will then go through to a six-lap final on Sunday.
The World Rallycross and second-tier RX2 class cars, however, are all four-wheel-drive, while local competitors have either front or rear wheel-drive, depending on their class.
This means that the techniques of driving on the 60% tar, 40% gravel circuit will be very different from each other, as well as from the World Rallycross competitors – possibly resulting in some unconventional racing lines, particularly in the dirt sections.
Having home-town heroes taking part in this world championship event at Killarney International Raceway will give local motorsport fans even more to cheer for.
Now in its fifth season, the FIA World Rallycross Championship sees superstar drivers racing 400kW RX Supercars capable of 0-100km/h in under two seconds, competing in short, sharp races on mixed dirt and asphalt surfaces in amphitheatre venues.
