Record Grid, New Factory Team to Add to GTC’s Growing Attraction
Volkswagen returns to Global Touring Cars after a year’s sabbatical. VW development prodigy, 2021 GTC SupaCup runner-up Jonathan Mogotsi and Daniel Rowe will be at the wheel of a pair of state of the art factory entered Golf 9 GTI GTCs. They will be joined by GTC SupaCup champion Bradley Liebenberg, whose team was chasing to ready a third, brand new, privately entered Golf GTC, but he will race an older Audi S3 in the season opener.
Besides 2021 title rivals Wolk and van Rooyen, it’s all change in the Toyota Camp. Wolk is joined by van Rooyen’s former teammate Mandla Mdakane, who moves across to pilot the second Chemical Logistics Corolla. Van Rooyen will race a brand new factory Gazoo Racing Corolla, with another GTC SupaCup graduate, Sa’ood Variawa stepping into the driver’s seat of Michael’s ’21 championship chasing Gazoo machine.
2021 GTC race winner, former Investchem Formula 1600 champion Julian van der Watt is also back for more. His all-new WCT Ford Focus is now a genuine hatchback RS, rather than the old sedan. He’s hoping that the change will make him that touch more competitive and a regular frontrunner. Reigning F1600 champion Andrew Rackstraw meanwhile makes his GTC debut aboard a former champion Audi S3 in RDSA Investchem colours. Andrew is expecting a baptism of fire, but he’s excited about the prospect of reverse grid races.
So there are several Global Touring Car highlights to look forward to. SA’s two biggest carmakers’ factory teams will fight it out against the crack Chemical Logistics squad on track. Three other most capable privateers will keep them honest. And GTC is becoming increasingly attractive to an even broader audience. Mogotsi, Mdakane and Variawa’s presence will no doubt attract an ever-growing crowd to support their home heroes.
Racing behind the top class GTCs, the GTC SupaCup Polos likewise promise a stellar show. 2021 champion Leyton Fourie is one of several drivers to step up from Polo Cup, so his progress against the class regulars is bound to be of great interest. Among them, Universal Racing’s Jeffrey Kruger, Campos Racing Turn 1 Insurance Brokers brothers, Keegan and Jason Campos and Mikaeel Pitamber’s Toys R Us car should be at the sharp end.
Other GTC SupaCup newcomers include multiple karting world champion Cristiano Morgado and four more Polo Cup graduates, former Mini Rok karting world champion Jayden Els,Trinity Racing brothers Sam and Nathan Hammond, and JP van der Walt’s Platinum Wheels machine. Add veterans, old man Rui Campos, Dawie Joubert’s Wild Rose Gin car, Andre Bezuidenhout’s Perfect Circle and Nick Davidson’s Stu Davidson Polos for flat out dicing in the mid-pack.
They will be joined by a raft of newcomers from all walks of racing. Supercar refugees Tato Carello’s Carello Auto car and TB Curvent driver Nicky Dicks, Cape Clubmans hero Danie van Niekerk and Wingfield Motors teammate Paul Luti, and GSW Mimaki duo David and Rob Franco. All are all out to make a SupaCup mark in a cracking field approaching 20 cars.
Killarney Extreme Festival tickets are available via Computicket or at the gate. Adults pay R100, Under 16s R40 and entry is free for under 12s and WPMC members. Fans must wear masks, but social distancing is easy in Killarney’s pits and at its ample wide-open stands and spectator areas.
Issued by Global Touring Cars
