Summarize

The 2021 South African circuit racing season will close off in classic style for the first time in 2021. G+A Motorsport presents the inaugural Cape Classic Festival at Killarney, 10-11 December. A classic racing festival in every sense of the word, the weekend will see single-seater, sports, GT and cars of 25 years or older racing ten races through Friday and Saturday. The festival then culminates with the final round SA Endurance Series 9-hour racing into Saturday evening.

 

"We are delighted to host the G+A Motorsport Cape Classic Festival at Killarney in December,” event organiser Gunter Drotschie announced. “This is an event we hope will become an annual highlight on the South African and international racing calendar. “It's not just a really cool racing weekend peppered with superstar drivers and incredible cars, but it can also be the perfect way to start off your Cape December vacation. “So we are hoping for entries from far and wide.”  

 

Catering for machinery built on or before 1986, or by special invitation, there will be classes for single seaters, open sports, and saloon cars, as well as a ‘V8 & More’ race for multi-cylinder classics. 

The pre-86 single-seater race is expected to attract historic machinery the likes of Brabham BT38 F2, Ehrlich Formula Atlantic, and Ralt RT30 and March 813 Formula 3 cars never seen before in South Africa, in the hands of visiting international 9-hour aces including Anthony Reid and Jan Lammers. A number of other international saloon car stars, including British Touring Car Championship winners, are FRD ‘possibles’ for the 9-Hour and these support races. 

 

Add the formidable 280 km/h Team Africa Le Mans Sana-Buick Formula 5000 last driven in anger by Greg Mills at the 2011 Australian GP support-race, and a selection of upcountry Formula Fords, including the famous Hawke DL17 driven by Lammers and sponsored by one of Amsterdam ‘night spots’. They will take on a core of local Formula Ford and Formula Vee drivers. And then there's always the chance of a classic Formula 1 car or two, making an impromptu appearance too...

 

In another G+A Classic Festival highlight, several big bangers will converge on the Cape from around the country for the V8 & More races. Not least of all, Willie Hepburn will be back in the Cape for the first time after many a year away with the same monster V8 Rekord he raced back in the day. Willie will have Rudolph de Vos out of PE with his rapid Chevy Can Am and Colin Ellison’s 64 Thunderbolt Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt to keep him honest. 

 

Oh, and did we mention Le Mans 24-hour winner Jan Lammers in the Team Africa Le Mans MGB V8? Plus Mustang men, locals Michael Hitchcock and brother-in-law Ferdi Mouton and Oliver Broome out of KZN in his famous ex Basil van Rooyen machine. If those rumbling V8s are not enough, Laude Classic has entered both its 1976 Broadspeed XJ12C replica and its beautiful XJS TWR livery Jaguars.

 

Pre-race interest in the Pre-86 Open Sports Cars race is buzzing too, with a dozen Cape Town regulars already entered. They too will be joined by upcountry exotica including Colin Ellison’s giant-killing Dave Charlton tribute Chevron B19, Van Diemens and Tigas. And two international guests. One is multiple Historic Formula 1 champion Greg Thornton, but the other will remain a mystery until the current GP season is done. Let’s just say Killarney will be 'Newey-ish’ to him!

 

A significant contingent of Historic saloon cars is also expected to travel from up north to challenge the Cape’s finest. So expect a few special Group N memories in Oliver and Josh Broome’s hands. Never mind even older tin tops the likes of the ex-Rob Young original 9-hour Pitco ‘Have a quickie’ Mini making a comeback. Add an Austin Healey Lenham Sprite, to be pedalled by  84-years young multiple SA race and rally champion Geoff Mortimer, an Austin A40 and an A35 in star overseas hands, to tackle more than 35 local Classic and Fine cars that are already entered.

 

The G+A Killarney Classic Festival will be somewhat different in other ways too, aside from just a large and diverse entry. Visiting drivers do not pay an entry fee while Cape Town-based drivers pay less than a third. A 'no winner, no loser' classic event, all G+A Motorsport Festival class drivers will also receive a free goodie bag at documentation. It holds a cool selection of gifts, various clothing times, and a prestigious participation medal.

 

“We invite classic car racers from around the country to come to Killarney and join in at the inaugural G+A Motorsport Classic Festival,” Gunter Drotschie concludes. “With less than six weeks before we race, we urge competitors to get their entries in promptly to avoid disappointment. “Grids will be limited to first come, first served.” Contact Gunter Drotschie direct on 083 325 8825 for any further event information. Email joy@wpmc.co.za for entry details.