Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to Kyalami in South Africa. The name of the circuit, which has been around for over six decades, means "my home" in the Zulu language. For the fourth time in the last five years, it is home to the revival of the Kyalami 9 Hours run as part of the globe-trotting SRO Intercontinental GT Challenge for GT3 spec production sports cars. We have a grid of 13 cars set to do battle in today's motor race. Only ten of the 13 starters, though, will go for full points in IGTC with the final three starters competing only for the opening hour of the event to earn points towards the South African GT Championship, the regional series. These are the Cup cars. The #3 NGK Pablo Clark Racing Mercedes AMG GT3 driven by Mikael Pitamber, the #11 BigFoot Express Racing Mercedes AMG GT3 of Sunthrasgarran Moodly, and the GT4 Cup #51 MJR Motorsport Audi R8 LMS GT4 of Joseph Ellerine.
Two of the South African local teams will contest the whole of the race with three drivers in each of their cars. On the pole, Mercedes Benz, and the team that finished second in the Bathurst 12 Hours at Mount Panorama in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia, three weeks ago, the #999 Mercedes-AMG Team GruppeM Mercedes AMG GT3, to be driven by Maro Engel, Mikael Grenier, and Raffaele Marciello. Covering today's race on SRO GTWorld on YouTube, we have David Addison on play-by-play, former Formula 1 and sports car driver (and five-time Grand Prix winner) John Watson, on color analysis, in the booth, and Amanda Busick, reporting from the pit lane.
This is round two of the championship. The sun is shining, temperatures are off the clock. We are going to have a fabulous race. It is not a big grid, but there's a quality entry. We have a massive track temperature of 57 degrees Celsius. Our pal, John Watson, first came here to race half a century ago. Johannesburg is hugely populated. We have had one race, the Bathurst 12 Hours, three weeks ago. The Mercedes drivers have been split up and there are drivers who are not here who raced at Bathurst. Some drivers are not competing here at Kyalami.
This is the latest iteration of the legendary Grand Prix venue. 2.810 miles, 16 corners. Augusto Farfus takes us for a lap. Through the kink, and into the first braking zone at Crowthorne. Then through Jukskei, Barbecue Bend, and Sunset. Next, swing left into Clubhouse, sprinting down to the esses, before climbing uphill, blind into the corner, and a double left at Leeukop. Down the hill into The Mineshaft. Following that, the braking zones into the Cheetah turns. Come back to the second part and into Ingwe before we go back onto the straight. Watch out for track limits through Ingwe. The grid is full of people. The pageantry is amazing. Students from Johannesburg are here, on a weekend field trip to see the race.
Jules Gounon is back for this race, and we are going to have very few if any safety cars. Kenny Habul is as cool as possible because it is madly hot here at Kyalami. All five Pro level cars qualified together. We are going to see the best GT3 drivers in the world here for the Kyalami 9 Hours. It is bonkers! Maro Engel uncorked the record-breaking qualifying lap at Bathurst last time out of course as we check in with Raffaele Marciello, the defending champion of the race, one of them. It is a pure race today and everyone will have to push and take advantage if there is a Full Course Yellow. Winning is a big deal for the some of the drivers. Points are more important than a win. Three drivers are racing of course for the Kyalami Super Cup. We mentioned who they are.
A Pro-Am car could become a factor for an outright win today. We'll have to see what happens. It is time for the South African national anthem sung by a choir. A beautiful rendition of the South African National Anthem as we clear the grid and the engines will fire at the one-minute board with a rolling start. Sheldon van der Linde is starting his home race in the #32 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3. Watch for Crowthorne corner. The opening lap is going to be a bugaboo. So, don't be over ambitious. We've got nine hours of motor racing lads. Take it easy. Earl Bamber, two-time Le Mans 24 Hour race winner.
Bamber and the Grove family are sharing the single Porsche in this race. Bamber raced here in the A1 Grand Prix open wheel cars. Single stinting and pace is what the strategy ought to be. This track is so technical. It is flat out. There is just no place to rest around this place and it is a low tire degradation circuit as well. The #75 Mercedes has the momentum and the Porsche blokes know they have to push and give them a fight. Stradale Motorsports n the #86 and the #80 as well. The Kyalami Super Cup will have their one-hour race. Two GT3 and one GT4 cars. Mikaeel Pitamber says they are gettung the car broken in.
This is a dream come true and he wanted to be a racing driver since his childhood. Never stop working to make your dreams come true. We will see future racing drivers. Joseph Ellerin is here, after racing in Volkswagen Cup South America. We have drivers who might just become legends of GT3 racing from South Africa in the future. WRT for over a decade have won championships with Audi and now, they have a factory related relationship with BMW. Augusto Farfus is one of the top drivers. WRT and BMW are working well together so far. Mattia Drudi at Trestor Attempto Racing is taking the start of this race in the Audi.
The BMW M4 GT3 is a twin turbocharged straight six powered race car. As the race progresses, they will meet their performance levels. Mattia Drudi for Audi is ready to go. With Audi, they work well under braking, and this is going to be a tough race. Again, we are going to see massive pushing. The Audi's have air conditioning, but it is still going to be warm. The drivers know they are loved by their fans here in South Africa. No airconditioning for the Mercedes as it sapped 15 horsepower from their V8 engines. We have AC, and paper around. I wish we had a drinks machine and an ice cream machine. Not today.
Ten minutes before the race start. You are beginning to steam with the heat soak with the car sitting on the grid. 15 horsepower at 5,000 feet of altitude is a big deal. The BMW boys are the only team with a turbocharged motor. Just get on with the racing. Physically, these drivers can go for it, but your body temperature will go through the roof. You are going to get out of the car, steaming. I guarantee it. The students here love it, with Sheldon van der Linde. His brother Kelvin is racing in the Formula E event in Cape Town, South African. But the GT3 cars actually make a noise. The Formula E cars, not so much.
OK. We are about set to go. Gerard Duval is our Race Director. Joseph Ellerine is driving for team owner Marius Jackson in today's race. Keep your eyes peeled. Maro Engel on the pole. 15 seconds before the green flag and we move out onto the formation lap. Here we go. Everyone in straight lines with all the top GT racing brands. Numerically the grid is small. But let me tell you, this is a quality field. The cars are heading up to Leeukop and will get into the Noah's Ark formation. This is a long race but watch out at the first turn. Honest to goodness, how many times do we have to say it? Everyone knows what they have to do and what they can't do. Use your heads, lads.
Maro Engel leads the field. Red lights out. Green lights on. Go! Maro Engel leads and now, Augusto Farfus is making his move on van der Linde into Crowthorne. Into Barbeque they go and Augusto Farfus has made his move. He does not want Maro Engel to get away Farfus has won this race and did so in 2020 as they scream through Clubhouse, the esses, and Leeukop. Engel is building his lead at the top of the shop, moving away from the BMW boys. Kenny Habul has dropped two spots already and will do a reset in a way. Through Ingwe and Maro Engel is eking out a gap over everyone else. Farfus second and Sheldon van der Linde next. Then we have Mattia Drudi, Markus Winkelhock, Brenton Grove, Charles Arangies, and Mikael Pitamber.
van der Linde wants to lead for BMW in his home race. You know that is his plan. Habul, the American domiciled Australian is making a move. Brenton Grove, too, another Australian, he is pressing on well and matching the pace of the Pro drivers. The pace is being controlled here but the battle for second between the BMW's, well, the Audi's and the Porsche are closing in with two laps in the book already. Mattia Drudi catching Sheldon van der Linde hand over fist. Engel uncorks fastest lap in the 1:44 range. Full fuel loads right now, and the cars are not at all in a qualifying setup or trim.
Markus Winkelhock is closing up on Mattia Drudi as well. look. The second car wants to be ahead of the first in both the BMW and Audi camps. Engel is motoring and now, Sheldon van der Linde, he really wants to make his move on Augusto Farfus. There is nobody you'd rather beat more than your teammate. Don't do anything to jeopardize either of the cars. Brenton Grove, I'll tell you what, he is really beginning to get with the program. Jules Gounon has had a great season of endurance racing lately and of course, Earl Bamber is a Porsche lifer and a two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Yves Weerts and Vincent Vosse discussing strategy. Yves Weerts, Charles Weerts' dad, the bankroll behind WRT. Maybe they'll get on the phone and tell Augusto Farfus, "Augusto, give the spot to Sheldon." It makes you feel really awkward as a driver. van der Linde has the pace. Augusto Farfus is really pushing. Maybe the BMW boys will be playing the team game and oh man, in the process of making the pass, into Leeukop, the car almost lost control over the curbs! Egad! We'll have to have a Captain Cook at the replay there. Sheesh!
Augusto Farfus knows discretion is the better part of valor and has served the BMW brand for a good while. These drivers are employed by the manufacturer, not the team. Farfus jinks to the right and misjudges the corner. That is what happened. Vincent Vosse takes a swig of water, and he needed it I am sure as Sheldon van der Linde has uncorked two fastest laps in succession already. BMW might just have an advantage with the turbo on the car, at altitude. Sheldon van der Linde is nearly glued to Maro Engel. He is. He is right on Engel's six.
Augusto Farfus might get a bite of the cherry. In the Audi camp, Mattia Drudi is pulling ahead of Markus Winkelhock. Maro Engel is using up his tires already through Clubhouse corner. van der Linde, the 2020 winner, they shared a car for BMW back then. Engel has raced for Mercedes for a long time. GT3, V8 Supercars, Formula E, you name it. van der Linde really applying the pressure. Engel makes his move at Clubhouse as van der Linde gets squeeed and Augusto Farfus is coming in a hurry. The two touch. Farfus is going to make a dive on the inside down the hill!
Three for the race lead. The Mercedes just ahead of the BMW and here comes the Audi freight train as well, look. By the corner, there are five cars nose to tail. Unbelievable! Sheldon van der Linde being cheered by the fans and he's done it going for the lead on the inside of Barbeque Bend! Holy cow! Augusto Farfus, believe you me, he wants a bite of the cherry as well, look. The turbo BMW's have outfoxed the naturally aspirated Mercedes cars. How easy a nut to crack for Farfus will Engel be? Farfus not falling away from Engel. Maro Engel is using the Pirelli tires up in attack mode already, look.
Farfus is covered off by Engel and Farfus has to do the undercut. BMW is a major brand in terms of popularity in South Africa. There was a local BMW support race yesterday with 57 cars! Unreal! Back in the 1970s and '80s, Alfa Romeo was the most popular brand in South Africa. Mattia Drudi and Markus Winkelhock are closing up. We are going to see the five Pro class cars scrapping for nine or so hours as we have about 18 minutes already on the board. Kenny Habul in eighth, doing all he can to pass Charl Aranges in the #86 Mercedes AMG GT3. Aranges in the only full race entrant from a South African team.
In traffic, Habul just won't have the pace and he has his hands full trying to pass Charl Aranges in a similar Mercedes. At Grove Racing they are single stinting drivers because of the heat but with Mercedes, it is their job to do double stints. Maximum drive time over the course of the nine hours is 3 hours and 45 minutes total with 65 minutes being the maximum stint length. Maro Engel knows the BMW's are going to have superior overall pace to the Mercedes but he is not rolling over to have his tummy rubbed, but Mattia Drudi, look, is closing in and fast. News from the lane and there was a BoP change for the Mercedes cars of course as they were given a 15 kilogram weight penalty, the weight of a large dog, or a small kid as a passenger in the car.
Charl Aranges knows the Kyalami track more than Kenny Habul does. Habul stays wide to the right while Aranges is really giving it the stick here. Habul, though, does the undercut, and poor old Aranges has also been passed by Mikael Pitamber. You also have Kwanda Mokeona and Reece Barr doing everything to make a move as well. Joseph Ellery is getting the miles in and staying out of the way with that slower GT4 Audi, the only one in the race, with nowhere near as many of those cars as say, a Pirelli GT4 America race. Mikaeel Pitamber leads the Kyalami Super Cup series in the Pablo Clark Mercedes.
Pitamber raced in DTM Trophy with GT4 cars last year. Reece Barr, the British driver, he too is going to do all he can to progress through the field and Pitamber made a move with Sun Moodley getting out of the way. 15 laps now on the board. Reece Barr driving the #20 SPS Automotive Performance Mercedes AMG GT3 sharing with Luca Stolz and Miguel Ramos. Charles Aranges has lost two places and has to know discretion is the better part of valor through Sunset. Reece Barr has run Mini's, TCR cars, and Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain.
The top five runners are all Pro drivers. Brenton Grove leads Pro-Am uncorking a 1:44.7 while Kenny Habul has only done a best lap of 1:46 and change. The gap is going up between Porsche and Mercedes. Jules Gounon, the winningest IGTC driver here, he is going to have to push. Pro-Am will be a humdinger as the race goes on. Kwanda Mokoena has Reece Barr and Charl Arangies behind him. The pit stops will be on the hour mark for fuel, tires, and a driver change. Mikaeel Pitamber leads Sun Moodley and Joseph Ellery before the Cup portion of the race is concluded. Reece Barr is still pushing and has the pace out of Clubhouse again approaching the esses.
Reece Barr takes a different line compared to Mikaeel Pitamber into Leeukop. Don't make contact or the stewards will have to take a look. The onus will be placed on the higher rated driver to avoid any shemozzle. The fuel load is decreasing while the tire temperatures are increasing. Poor old Maro Engel just does not have the grip to be able to go on the attack. Mattia Drudi and Markus Winkelhock, maybe one of those two Audi's might just be able to pass. Drudi in fourth spot, the San Marino driver. For Drudi and Winkelhock, they have more pace than the leaders and Engel is the cork in the bottle. Grip is the key. G r i p. They swing back up through Clubhouse again and towards the esses.
No suggestion of rain right now. The gap is closing between the BMW's as Farfus uncorks fastest lap at 1:43.949. 19 laps now completed. 53 miles in the bag. There is a long, long, long way to go. The Mercedes boys are looking for a win. Racing angry is not the best idea. Raffaele Marciello is frustrated with the Balance of Performance, but let me say, there is a long, long way to go yet. The BMW boys are the ones who have the pace and the same is true for the Audi's. 15 extra kilos for the Mercedes boys might be hurting them a wee bit. The level of aerodynamics on these GT3 cars is that you can get to a point of losing downforce at the front end.
Driver skill can reduce the loss of downforce and maybe put you in position to ovetake. Farfus, the Brazilian, reeling in the hometown hero and his teammate, Sheldon van der Linde. Do not overdrive the car. Farfus is gaining large chunks but van der Linde resets fastest lap at 1:43.866. If the BMW boys start squabbling, Maro Engel can begin gaining again, only 2.4 seconds behind. The BMW's might only swap places if something goes awry on a pit stop. We will see Dries Vanthoor in #32 and either Maxime Martin or Philipp Eng in the #33. At WRT, it is very intense. But they are getting into a groove in a way.
Yesterday in pre-qualifying, they were laying rubber down in their pit boxes. Vincent Vosse said that the two BMW's will be on different strategies. Different stint lengths and splitting the strategy between the two cars. Driver rotations are going to be different. You can play the game many different ways and however you cut the cake, your fastest driver has to be in the seat for the final stint of the motor race later on. Double stinting is something to think about as it gets cooler. But it is tough in the heat of the day, working hard in the cockpit with a lot of heat and not a lot of ventilation. Reece Barr moving in on Kwanda Mokoena. This is a genuine scrap in Pro-Am.
Miguel Ramos and Luca Stolz are his co-drivers and Stolz won at Bathurst with the SunEnergy1 team just three weeks ago or so. Reece Barr is really beginning to push. This is for eighth and ninth overall and third and fourth in Pro-Am as Mokoena runs off the road while Barr moves in but runs off the road a shade. Mokoena very nearly lost it into Sunset! Egad! That was close! Mokoena is in a real fight and he thankfully was able to keep it on the blacktop. He was way wide, scrambling for traction and out onto the grass over the curbs. He was stymied by his inexperience.
Mikael Pitamber looks like he is going to win the Kyalami Super Cup race. Reece Barr, crawling all over the tail of the Audi. The marshals have shown Mokoena a driving standards flag. So, he may have to cop a penalty. The stewards are watching like hawks. Engel moving ahead of the Audi's and now, Farfus is pressing hard to try and get past Sheldon van der Linde. The battle at the top of the shop is between the BMW boys. Mattia Drudi, dropping down Mineshaft. Did traffic factor into the lead battle being stymied behind the GT4 Audi? 26 laps now on the board. The gap is coming down. The fans are keeping an eye on these cars.
Light up the bri (the barbecue), have a beer as well. van der Linde eking out the gap on Farfus. Engel in third. Who will take over at pit stop time? Double stinting in this heat is going to be a bugaboo. Divide this race into thirds, three, three hour endurance races. Sheldon van der Linde has done the fastest lap of the race. Engel being harried by Drudi and Winkelhock. When we get to the darkness hours, when the lights go out, here at Kyalami, it is pitch everywhere. It will be totally dark except for the pit lane. It is pitch dark when you go home from the track after the race as well. Sweeping through Crocodile and Cheetah they go. Mikael Pitamber leads the Super Cup class and he is a lap up on Sun Moodly.
Brenton Grove is stretching the gap in Pro-Am over Kenny Habul. Stephen Grove will be next into the #4 Porsche. Pitamber vs. Moodly n the Super Cup class with ten minutes left before their race is done and dusted. Could SunEnergy1 play a joker and put Jules Gounon in the car? Maybe they could throw the Porsche boys off their game a wee bit. Jules Gounon will have the pace over Stephen Grove and Yannick Mettler is the third driver at SunEnergy1 of course but Mettler, they are saving him for later I believe. If the Porsche boys, cycle, I wonder if Kenny Habul will be the man in the Mercedes? We'll just have to wait and see I guess.
Joseph Ellerine is being impressive in his first drive in a GT car compared to racing the Volkswagen Cup. Drudi absolutely glued to Engel at this point. All the Mercedes cars are carrying that 15-kilogram weight penalty. I'm sorry. I just can't stand talking about Balance of Performance. Blech! Soon we will be at the first round of pit stops in another six minutes as Sheldon van der Linde is now two seconds or so ahead of Augusto Farfus. Another fastest lap for van der Linde. I wonder where that came from and has Sheldon van der Linde has pushed the bye bye button, the turbo boost button. But I don't think the BMW has one.
The older turbo cars like the Porsche's in the 1980s in Group 5 and Group C, they had turbo boost buttons. The legendary 935, 956, and 962 of course. Sheldon van der Linde has improved but only by two thousandths of a second after 30 laps of running. These Pirelli P Zero tires are not designed to double stint. Other tire brands in other endurance racing championships are, but these Pirelli's are not designed to double stint. Philipp Eng will be next into the car having discussed with Vincent Vosse and Kurt Mollekens, a couple of former GT drivers themselves.
The BMW team at WRT are not double stinting drivers. Split pit strategies to avoid double stacking the team cars in the lane. Reece Barr still trying to pass Kwanda Mokoena. This is for third and fourth in the Pro-Am division. Down the inside into Cheetah, Barr forces Mokoena wide and makes the move stick! Wowzers! These chaps are going at it hammer and tongs! Farfus, fastest lap of the race now too. One hour now in the bag as Reece Barr makes his move and Kwanda Mokoena holds station. Mikaeel Pitamber is on target to win the Kyalami Super Cup, getting the South African flag to finish the national segment of this race.
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