Regional classes shine at blockbuster Kyalami racing festival

Regional classes delivered more than their fair share of action, excitement, and drama at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit’s blockbuster Extreme Festival from April 11–13.

Racing alongside the National categories, the super-fast Mobil 1 V8 Supercars, dramatic PABAR VW Challenge, and exciting BMW M Performance Parts Race Series thrilled, while DOE Formula Vee and 111 GT Sports and Saloons with SuperHatch contributed to a spectacular day of racing for the large and enthusiastic crowd at the home of SA motorsport.

Among the fastest and most spectacular attractions of the day, the thundering Mobil 1 V8 Supercars thrilled the fans with sheer speed and force. Thomas Reib’s Lumina was unflustered as he roared to April 12’s opening race victory.

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He left champion Julian Fameliaris’ Corvette to find a way around Warren Lombard’s Mustang for second. Franco di Matteo was fourth from Terry Wilford and Sam Dahl.

Wilford initially led the April 13 reverse grid second race from Di Matteo and Lombard, but Fameliaris and Reib were soon slicing through the field. Fameliaris duly took the win and the day, from Reib, Lombard, Wilford, Di Matteo, and Dahl.

The PABAR VW Challenge proved most dramatic. Rory Atkinson’s new Class X Polo passed Class A Masters brothers Wayne and Bevin to win the opening race. Stuart Mack’s turbo-litre Polo likewise put one over two-litre rivals Mo Karodia’s sedan and Stelio Nousias, and the rest of the hatchbacks in Class B.

And Andy Gossman held youngsters Michael Zapheriou and Chris Tait off in Brat Pack Class C. The second race was, however, abandoned after Zapheriou suffered a frightening accident to stop the race. He was rushed to hospital where he is recovering in a serious but stable condition.

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Bob Neill made a happy return to win the opening 50-car BMW M Performance Parts Series race from Class B men Carlo Gabini, Andreas Meier, and JP Nortje. Gary Martins beat Devin Robertson and Jan Eversteyn to Class C.

Claudio Jardim took Class D from Nicholas and Craig Herbst, and Marais Ellis beat Tihan van Rooyen and Matthew Wadeley to the E win. Neill then did the double, once again from Gabini, Nek Makris and Meier. Nishal Singh took Class C from Martins and Rob Gearing. Herbst beat Nicholas Herbst and Shaun Dodd to D and Ellis beat Wadeley and Johan Miller to win Class E.

April 13’s second 12-lapper delivered a thrilling dice up front. Jansen had to fight Brandon and Peter Hills for that win to the cheers of the crowd. Van den Berg ended fourth from Watt, Schriks, Theodore Vermaak and Eric Booyens.

Kyalami’s blockbuster Extreme Festival also saw all the regular National classes racing.

The Extreme Festivals now go back their own way, with the Regional circus heading to the Red Star Raceway near Delmas in Mpumalanga next on May 11, and the National roadshow off to Zwartkops in Pretoria a week later on May 18.

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