Kyalami gears up for A1GP
Brad Morgan
15 January 2009
The world famous Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Midrand is gearing up to host all the thrills of another spectacular sporting showpiece with the first staging of A1GP Gauteng, South Africa from 20 to 22 February.
The Gauteng provincial government threw its weight behind a bid to have Kyalami host the A1GP and the event is promoted by the provincial government’s newly established Gauteng Motor Sport Company.
Previously it was held in Durban for three years, with the 2005/06 race in the coastal city being voted the best race of the season.
Ideal location
Durban attracted crowds of 100 000-plus, so Kyalami has a lot to live up to, but that shouldn't be a problem at all; Kyalami is ideally situated in Midrand, between the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria. Thus, it has many millions of potential motorsport fans within easy driving distance.
Kyalami - which means "my home" in isiZulu - has been part of many motorsports' world championships in the past, including many Formula One Grand Prix, Moto GP, nine-hour endurance, and World Superbike events.
The Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit opened in 1961 and currently hosts 10 national motorsport events. It is 4.26 kilometres in length.
A1GP CEO, Pete da Silva, commenting last year on the choice of Kyalami to host the South African A1GP said: "Gauteng is the economic powerhouse of the country and also the home of competitive sport, now including A1GP.
"The people of South Africa, and more especially Gauteng, can look forward to an event like no other. It will be a feast for the senses."
A showcase for Gauteng
Paul Mashitile, Premier of Gauteng Province, said the province was pleased and proud to be hosting the South African round of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport. "It is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our province and our city of Johannesburg - the culture, the history and the people - to the rest of the world.
"The A1GP, Gauteng, South Africa will strengthen even further South Africa’s place on the map in world motor sport and will result in a substantial boost to the local economy."
Former Gauteng Premier Tokyo Sexwale, one of South Africa's most prominent and successful businessmen, is the Seatholder for A1 Team South Africa. Looking ahead to the Kyalami A1GP, he said: "The series is characterised by fast cars, high octane action and beautiful people - all of which also characterise the province of Gauteng."
The A1GP is also the latest in a long line of high-profile sporting events to present the province and the country with a big opportunity to market itself and, with the 2010 Fifa World Cup looming large, it provides yet another positive marketing push for the Rainbow Nation.
Ferrari
Additional prestige has been added to the A1GP series this season, with the introduction of Ferrari-powered V8 engines for the competing nations. The most famous name in motor racing and the famous Ferrari "howl" is a surefire recipe to draw masses of fans.
The A1GP World Cup of Motorsport has positioned itself as a competition for nations, rather than drivers, in which all teams compete on a level playing field. Ultimately, it comes down to the triumphing of one team's skill and teamwork over that of others.
The South African car, nicknamed Vulindela, meaning "clear the way", is one of the most eye-catching vehicles in the entire A1GP field; it is decked out in the six colours of the South African national flag and hard to miss.
Adrian Zaugg
The car will be driven by Adrian Zaugg, who has enjoyed success in the A1GP series, scoring victories in Australia and The Netherlands, although his results have been somewhat inconsistent.
Competing at Kyalami, Zaugg, who has shown in the past that he can mix it up with the fastest of drivers, will be aiming to delight the passionate South African motor racing fans with a home victory.
Huge crowds are expected and preparations for them are under way at Kyalami, with workers erecting a additional grandstands to accommodate the expected influx of fans from around the country.
The race organisers and the circuit owners are determined to build on the success of the first three South African rounds of the unique motor racing series that pits nation against nation in identical cars.
'Park and ride'
One of the major innovations, designed with spectators' convenience and safety in mind and to avoid traffic jams and congestion, is a 'park and ride' system that will be in operation on Saturday and Sunday, 21 and 22 February, and will operate in conjunction with a road closure plan.
There will be no public parking within the precincts of Kyalami on the Saturday and Sunday, although Kyalami's on-sight parking facilities will be fully operational on the Friday. Instead, remote parking sites will be set up and dedicated shuttle buses will run between these sites and their respective gates on a continual basis, ensuring rapid movement of race fans from their car parks to the circuit and back again.
Saturday and Sunday ticket holders should ensure that they park in the remote parking that relates to their grandstand ticket or the general admission area.
The system has been colour-coded for easier interpretation and each ‘zone’ will include its own parking area, grandstands and amenities, including food concession areas and toilets.
For further information and illustrated maps of the park and ride system and road closures, please visit A1GP or Kyalami Racing.
Tickets
Tickets for the A1GP South Africa race weekend can be bought through Computicket. Prices are as follows:
| Friday | Saturday | Sunday | 3-day package | |
| Gold Grandstand | R100 | R250 | R500 | R650 |
| Silver Grandstand | R80 | R150 | R300 | R400 |
| General Access | R43* / R50 | R85* / R100 | R145* / R170 | R213* / R250 |
*= price for kids aged 8-16 (maximum of two kids' tickets per adult ticket purchased). Kids under 8 get free General Access.
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