Summarize

The G+A Motorsport Festival is set to thrill race fans at the Killarney International Raceway as the 2021 South African season closes in classic Cape Town style over the 9-11 December weekend. Always planned to include a series of special classic single seater, sports and saloon car races in the lead up to the final round SA Endurance 9 Hour race, the inaugural Cape Festival picked up another star attraction when the SA National Polo Cup Final joined the bill in the past week.

Originally scheduled for the Jo'burg Kyalami 9 Hour, which was postponed to February at the twelfth hour on international travel restrictions, the Polo Cup races were transferred to the Killarney G+A Motorsport Festival in order to see that national title decided on track. Best of all for local fans is that one of the six Cape Town Polo Cup drivers entered is involved in that title battle, which is set to go down to the wire.

Catering for machinery built on or before 1986, or by special invitation, the other special G+A Motorsport Festival Classic classes will include single seaters, open sports, and saloon cars with qualifying and racing on Friday and a full day and evening of racing on Saturday. Festival organisers hope that the same travel bans that saw the Kyalami event put off, will be eased in time to allow several overseas stars to compete at Killarney. Overseas drivers thus remain provisional entries.

Willie Hepburn leads another G+A Motorsport Festival highlight as several big bangers converge on the Cape. Willie should be the man to beat in his monster Rekord V8, but Rudolph de Vos out of PE with his rapid Chevy Can Am and Colin Ellison’s 64 Fairlane Thunderbolt will be out to stop him. As will Mustang men, locals Michael Hitchcock and Ferdi Mouton, and Josh and Oliver Broome out of KZN. Add two V12 Jaguars, Allan Jirek in a XJ12C and Clinton Laurens’ TWR XJS.

None of them will have it their own way though. Locals Franco Donadio's Ford Escort and Trevor Momberg's Capri are always quick. Two household names in John Craig’s Golf and Jess Huggett in a Fiat 131 add spice and there’s much variety, too. Like Ian Oberholzer’s Volvo 850 Estate, Chris Champion’s MGB V8, Trevor Hutchings’ Scirocco, Leon van Liende’s Alfa and Dion Valentine’s Mini. Never mind Rob Clark's Citroen Club from Jozi and PE man Chris Radloff’s Toyota Corona.  

The pre-86 single-seater race has attracted the likes of Brabham Formula 2, Ehrlich Atlantic, Ralt and March Formula 3 cars for the first time in SA. Add Greg Mills' F5000 Sana Buick and a selection of local and upcountry Formula Fords, Vees and others. Pending travel arrangements, visiting international aces originally included former Formula 1, Le Mans and Indy stars. Should they not arrive, there’s always the chance that one or two local hotshots may crack a classic nod. 

 

Old timers’ hearts will be warmed by the Classic Sportscar grid that resembles the ‘70s Killarney 3 Hour that once ran at this time every year. It includes Greg Thornton and Colin Ellison’s giant-killing Chevron B19s, a Chevron B8 and Lola duo Andrew Moffitt’s T86 and Louis de Jager in a T212. James Beaumont’s Ford GT40 has some lightweights to keep him busy including Ray Farnham and Clinton Thorne’s Birkin 7s and the man himself Craig Harper in his eponymous Harper 5.

Talking endurance racing, the G+A Motorsport Festival of course concludes with the the SA Endurance Series 9 Hour finale running through the afternoon and evening and into the night. It too has attracted a cracking star studded entry. Nick Adcock, Cape Town’s SA F1600 champ Andrew Rackstraw, Michael Jensen and Dean Venter; and Jeffrey Kruger and Riaan Botma share a pair of Ligier, JS53 Evo2s. And Polo hero Jurie Swart joins Francis Carruthers to race a Pilbeam MP84. 

GT3 entries include Xolile Letlaka and Tschops Sipuka's Lamborghini Huracan, Charl Arangies and Arnold Neveling's Porsche, 997, SA Cross Country champion Henk sharing another Porsche with dad Heinrich Lategan and Verissimo Tavares, and Gavin Cronje, Bradley Scorer and Mikaeel Pitamber's Ferrari 458. Also expect a fleet of Backdraft Roadsters and some of SA’s top tin top names among an impressive saloon car field in typical 9 Hour style.

Last but certainly not least, the rescued Polo Cup Final will see Jozi’s championship leader Leyton Fourie arrive at Killarney 17 points clear of Tableview driver Jurie Swart. Jurie won both races in his rivals' Zwartkops back yard last time out. Third placed Vaal man Arnold Neveling is also still in with a mathematical title chance, while KZN driver Clinton Bezuidenhout sits fourth in the points ahead of Jozi youngsters Jayden Els and Nathi Msimanga. 

Also keep an eye out for lady hero Tasmin Pepper racing among the Polos, where Swart is expected to have five Cape drivers alongside him on his home Killarney grid. Multiple SA karting champions, Charl Visser and Tate Bishop, and Giordano Lupini, who is celebrating 95 years of his family in racing this weekend, will be joined by another karting star, Jason Coetzee. Jano van der Westhuizen was also chasing to have his Polo Cup ready to race.

 

With spectator entry costing all of two rand per person as Killarney quite literally goes back 50 years, race fans should be quick to book considering the current 2,000 spectator lockdown limit. Pre-purchase tickets from the admin block at Killarney now to avoid disappointment. Contact info@wpmc.co.za or 021 557-1639 during office hours for details. The G+A Motorsport Festival will also be live streamed via Killarney’s social media.