The 2021 South African motorsport season will see the sixth year of the Global Touring Cars (GTC) heading up the national Extreme Festival roster.
With the start of the new season still two months away, GTC is releasing its calendar, entrant information and sponsor news ahead of the new championship year.
The national championship will be decided over seven rounds in four of South Africa’s provinces. For the second time, Killarney International Raceway in Cape Town will host the season opener; having done so before in 2017. Following its 2020 omission from the national tour calendar, Border Motorsport East London Grand Prix Circuit will be making a return to the calendar. Zwartkops Raceway in Pretoria, Aldo Scribante Racetrack in Port Elizabeth and Red Star Raceway outside Delmas will make up the balance of the season’s circuits. Killarney International Raceway along with Zwartkops Raceway will be the only circuits to host two national rounds.
The 2021 Global Touring Cars Calendar:
Round 1 – Killarney International Raceway (March 19-20)
Round 2 – Zwartkops Raceway (April 16-17)
Round 3 – Aldo Scribante Racetrack (May 28-29)
Round 4 – Border Motorsport East London Grand Prix Circuit (July 2-3)
Round 5 – Red Star Raceway (July 30-31)
Round 6 – Killarney International Raceway (September 24-25)
Round 7 – Zwartkops Raceway (October 22-23)
While the calendar is confirmed at the time of going to press, changes may be brought on following decisions made by the South African government, Motorsport South Africa, Extreme Festival and any of the hosting venues. At present, there is also no clarity on when spectators will be able to attend sporting events.
The 2021 season will also see three manufacturers being represented on the grid. Toyota Gazoo Racing will be fielding a two-car team for their third season in the series. The Chemical Logistics team will also be fielding two Toyota Corollas. This year will also see BMW and Ford both making a return for the first time since the 2019 season. A full list of drivers will be announced in the lead up to the season opener.
The GTC SupaCup will be lining up for their second season as the supporting class. The class, won by Brad Liebenberg in its inaugural season, saw a field of nine purpose-built Volkswagen Polos competing. The class remains open to other manufacturers who would like to get involved.
While GTC is still looking for a title sponsor, the category is pleased to announce that they will continue with Dunlop Tyres South Africa, ATS Motorsport Supplies and SKF as partners.
GTC Director Gary Formato expresses his thoughts as entrants prepare for the new season ahead: “While 2020 was a tough and uncertain year for us all, we are happy to be back and focused for 2021. I would like to thank our management team for all their selfless efforts to keep us at the top of South African motorsport. In 2021 we will strive to improve our image as not just a top-class racing category, but also as a premier marketing platform for our corporate partners. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish our competitors all the best for year ahead. We remain hopeful about welcoming spectators back to motorsport events in 2021 and would therefore also like to ask you to play your part in this at present by adhering to the guidelines laid down by the South African government to fight the spread of the COVID-19 virus.”
Further details regarding the season will be announced on the GTC website www.gtcafrica.co.za as well as their social media channels.
