Kyalami 9 Hour: What you need to know
Powered by Pirelli, the International GT Challenge (IGTC) Series is a GT3 and GT4 sportscar-based endurance series which has been running at Kyalami grand Prix Circuit since 2019. The series visits five continents, with the Kyalami round being the second round of the five-race 2023 season. And, it’s all happening this weekend, from 23 – 25 February.
Saturday’s race action at Kyalami starts at 07:05 with the second race for each of the support categories leading up to the Kyalami 9 Hour, which starts at 13:00. Kyalami motorsport fans can expect a battle between the various manufacturers over the nine gruelling hours of racing.
On Thursday, the action gets underway at 07:50, with the practice session for all categories throughout the day, including the GT3 and GT4 cars. The K9H night practice session will give fans their first taste of racing under the stars as the cars’ lights pick out the track in the IGTC night practice. This is the first time that this practice session is open to the public and promises to be a firm favourite.
Friday morning is dedicated to Official Qualifying sessions for all categories before the first CompCare Polo Cup race at 12:25. Racing takes place throughout Friday afternoon, with a break for K9H Qualifying at 15:00. The one-hour Wild Rose Gin Sports and GT race starts at 18:05, racing into the dark.
Over twenty top international and local GT3 and GT4 race teams will be contesting in the main event, battling it out for overall and class victories in a 9-hour endurance race. Event host, Kriya Gangiah says for many, there is still a lot to learn about this sport, hence she shares seven basic facts about endurance racing with you, our reader:
What you need to know ahead of the Kyalami 9 Hour:
What is the Kyalami 9 Hour?
The event forms part of the International GT Challenge, powered by Pirelli. It features five rounds on five continents and South Africa is the second stop on the calendar.
How does it work?
Endurance races are time based. Drivers try to cover as much distance as possible in a fixed time. For the Kyalami 9 Hour, racers will try to complete as many laps as possible over nine hours. The team that covers the longest distance, wins.
Isn’t driving fatigue a problem?
Endurance races are about teamwork. One driver may only do a continuous stint of three hours at a time. For the Kyalami 9 Hour, there needs to be three drivers per team. Each driver also needs to drive through the pitlane every 65 minutes.
How does it start?
The race starts with a rolling start, meaning the cars will be led by the safety car in grid order around the track. Then, after a number of laps the safety car will enter the pitlane, after which the green flag is waved. The race will start as the cars cross over the start/finish line.
Where do teams need to focus their energy?
Since the races are so long, pit stops are critical, and the time spent refuelling and changing tires can make or break a victory. Therefore, the team needs to have a good strategy in place.
Are there different classes?
Yes. Each race has different classes. There will be drivers of different racing abilities at the Kyalami 9 Hour, including pro drivers, pro-am drivers, silver and invitational drivers.
Why is driver skill important?
Balance of performance ensures that all the different manufacturers and engines compete on equal terms. This means that a Porche can go up against a Mercedes. Ultimately, driver skill is what is more important here.
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