Skip to main content

WRX – KILLARNEY                                                                   Glen Esterhuizen

Welcome to the World Rally cross (WRX) at Killarney Raceway, Cape Town.

What a day this turned out to be at Killarney. Our Porsche Club was open for the day, providing us with a much needed food and drinks. It was a weekend of exhilarating wheel-to-wheel race action on dirt and asphalt.

The day started with one of Lynda’s amazing breakfasts and hot cups of coffee. Everyone looked amazing in their shirts that were made especially for the event. Ken had organised that the club members all sit together on the stands at the first corner leading from the start onto the dirt. We also had an amazing view of the jump on the track, as well as the backdrop of Table Mountain, as the cars flew into the air.

Looking at the cars and some of the well-known drivers who are equipped with RX Supercars with over 600bhp, and the ability to accelerate from 0-60mph in less than two seconds faster than a Formula One car, was mind blowing and exhilarating to watch.  The day also show cased, RX2 and Local Super1600 cars who were just as entertaining to watch. During the day we watched a number of warm-ups, practice sessions and eliminating heats, which lead to the semi-finals and then head-to-head finals which did not disappoint.

What more could one want than to watch cars of these speeds, in action right here on our doorstep in Cape Town, at Killarney Raceway, think about it.  The cars all pile up into the first corner leaving body parts behind at speeds of 200km/hr. Superstar drivers, Sebastien Loeb, Petter Solberg, Mattias Ekstrom, Johann Kristoffersson and Ken Block did not fail to entertain us throughout the weekend. We also had some well know WRX South African drivers compete such as Mark Cronje and Ashley Haigh-Smith.

The day was filled with plenty of entertainment with our friends, the Silver Falcons doing a display, motorbikes flying in the air on a ramp, drifting displays and much more. Then we had the fan walk down the pit lane which was just as impressive, seeing all the mechanics hard at work, replacing body parts, signing autographs and getting ready for the next race.

Results for the day was 1st. Johan Kristofferson (SWE) taking his eleventh win out of 12 rounds. 2nd was Mattias Ekstom (SWE) and  3rd Sebastien Loeb (FRA), with the best lap and best joker lap coming from Mattias Ekstrom in 0.40.342 sec. and 0.43.159 sec.

If you missed the event you have missed one of the best days I have experienced in a long time, with a full action packed day. Get your tickets for 2019!


25/11/2018