South African Motor Racing News

South African motor racing was given a long overdue shot in the arm last month when the world class Kyalami Race track hosted the A1GP for the first time. Long discarded as a preferred international venue for the really big league of motor racing, Formula One, Kyalami proved to both its detractors and supporters that it is indeed ready to host the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen and the rest of the F1 racing daredevils.

Kyalami rises to the deafening sound of A1 racing

Right up until 1985, when South Africa’s entrenched apartheid policies raised the ire of the racing fraternity, Kyalami was the venue of the elite South African Grand Prix, but since then the deafening noise on the track has been silenced.

The 4,26km Midrand track did not belie its name (meaning “My Home” in Zulu) when teams from all over the globe took part in the A1GP. Even Brazil’s favourite racing son, Felipe Massa, was on hand at the anti-clockwise track to give his A1 compatriot a couple of tips before the race.

Although South Africa had to acquiesce to the flair and sheer velocity of Team Netherlands on the day, it was a heavenly and historic moment for auto racing in South Africa.

Formula Vee National Champs at the Phakisa Freeway soon

The incumbent king of the national Formula Vee championship, Dennis Johns, is back on home turf in an attempt to defend his title and there is an entire harem of consummate drivers out there to test the young man’s nerves and skill.

Formula Vee is the baby brother of motor sport, with the class based on the precocious and enduring 1963 VW Beetle. Although the likes of Barrichello and Button may well scoff at the lowly and inexpensive formula, it has proved to have tremendous stamina in the popularity stakes of both drivers and its ever-growing fan base.

The national championship takes place at the Phakisa Freeway on March 14, a track that has often been likened to the hugely acclaimed Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Nevada. The Free State track is rated as one of the safest circuits on the GP tour and MotoGP, organisers of the World Grand Prix circuit, believe it is a superb venue and one of the best in the world – yet another accolade for the resurgent South African auto-racing sector.

Apart from the signature race, fans are in for a dynamic mix of single seater, sports, GT and saloon racing including

Historic saloon cars
Historic sports and GT cars
Formula GTi & 250cc Super Karts
Club championship events for Formula Libre single-seaters & Marque cars

Related Motor Racing Articles

South African Motor Racing News

Article by Amelia Stenson

South African motor racing was given a long overdue shot in the arm last month when the world class Kyalami Race track hosted the A1GP for the first time. Long discarded as a preferred international venue for the really big league of motor racing, Formula One, Kyalami proved to both its detractors and supporters that it is indeed ready to host the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen and the rest of the F1 racing daredevils.

Kyalami rises to the deafening sound of A1 racing

Right up until 1985, when South Africa’s entrenched apartheid policies raised the ire of the racing fraternity, Kyalami was the venue of the elite South African Grand Prix, but since then the deafening noise on the track has been silenced.

The 4,26km Midrand track did not belie its name (meaning “My Home” in Zulu) when teams from all over the globe took part in the A1GP. Even Brazil’s favourite racing son, Felipe Massa, was on hand at the anti-clockwise track to give his A1 compatriot a couple of tips before the race.

Although South Africa had to acquiesce to the flair and sheer velocity of Team Netherlands on the day, it was a heavenly and historic moment for auto racing in South Africa.

Formula Vee National Champs at the Phakisa Freeway soon

The incumbent king of the national Formula Vee championship, Dennis Johns, is back on home turf in an attempt to defend his title and there is an entire harem of consummate drivers out there to test the young man’s nerves and skill.

Formula Vee is the baby brother of motor sport, with the class based on the precocious and enduring 1963 VW Beetle. Although the likes of Barrichello and Button may well scoff at the lowly and inexpensive formula, it has proved to have tremendous stamina in the popularity stakes of both drivers and its ever-growing fan base.

The national championship takes place at the Phakisa Freeway on March 14, a track that has often been likened to the hugely acclaimed Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Nevada. The Free State track is rated as one of the safest circuits on the GP tour and MotoGP, organisers of the World Grand Prix circuit, believe it is a superb venue and one of the best in the world – yet another accolade for the resurgent South African auto-racing sector.

Apart from the signature race, fans are in for a dynamic mix of single seater, sports, GT and saloon racing including

Historic saloon carsHistoric sports and GT carsFormula GTi & 250cc Super KartsClub championship events for Formula Libre single-seaters & Marque cars

About the Author

www.fantasticracing.com

Lewis Hamilton: The Early Years In Motor Racing

Article by Keith Scott

Lewis Hamilton is the hottest property in F1 motor racing at the moment and the great thing is he’s British! A few months ago the name Lewis Hamilton was relatively unknown to the general public, but he had made a name for himself among motor racing insiders and those who are Formula One or F1 fans. His phenomenal rise to the top of Grand Prix racing began at the start of this season and has continued until Lewis Hamilton now leads the F1 World Championship standings after 8 races.

Lewis Hamilton was born in the Hertfordshire town of Stevenage in January 1985. From a modest English family background, Lewis began racing go-karts when he was aged 8. It is very common for many of the top motor racing drivers to start kart racing from a very young age. Karting is just like F1 racing only much smaller; there is even a karting World Championship series. Young drivers gain valuable racing experience together with a grounding in all the qualities required to become a successful motor racing driver as they climb up through the ranks. It goes without saying that many of the top F1 teams keep a close eye on the karting arena to get an early idea of potential future racing superstars.

At the age of 10, Lewis Hamilton won the McLaren Mercedes Championship of the Future series, and this is where he first met Ron Dennis who is the owner and boss of the UK-based McLaren Formula 1 racing team. A 10-year old Lewis Hamilton apparently told Ron Dennis that he wanted to race in Formula 1. It is said that Ron replied “…. Speak to me when you’re eighteen son”. However, McLaren ended up signing Lewis to their young drivers programme when he turned 13 years of age and provided support for his fledgling career as he progressed through the ranks of karting and car racing, culminating in Lewis Hamilton being given a full-time McLaren F1 Grand Prix drive for the 2007 season.

Motor racing insiders knew that prior to the Lewis Hamilton F1 career, he was regarded as one of the most promising young drivers on the circuit. He won several major karting titles including the European Formula A championship in 2000. In 2003 he won the British Formula Renault championship after only a year in the car, attaining 10 race wins and 11 pole positions. This is early proof that Lewis Hamilton is a very fast learner. After a further 1 year gaining knowledge in the prestigious F3 Euroseries, he won the F3 title in 2005 with a comprehensive 15 race wins and 13 pole positions. A year later he won yet another championship, winning the GP2 series championship in his rookie year. The GP2 race series is the step below Formula One.

It is clear that Lewis Hamilton has gained extensive experience on the McLaren young drivers programme and has been extremely successful throughout. Those who had not heard of Lewis Hamilton before he burst onto the F1 scene should not be surprised at his early successes in a Grand Prix car. Lewis Hamilton has a great race pedigree and is a proven winner.

About the Author

For all the latest information on Lewis Hamilton F1 wonder kid, visit my website: http://www.lewishamiltonf1.org.uk