Hazyview local welcomes push to formalise spinning in SA motorsports
Spinning has very quickly risen to prominence in the sporting world and with Minister Gayton McKenzie officially backing it, now seems to be the time for it to shine.
Sharing the stage with the likes of David Coulthard at the Red Bull Showrun, or with drift sensations in BMW M Fest’s drift pit, is a surefire way to bring spinning into the spotlight for audiences unfamiliar with it. In recent months, South Africa’s outspoken Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has made bold claims on a range of topics relevant to the motorsport world. It seems his words are coming to fruition, with strides in Formula 1 underway after several meetings with stakeholders and a commitment from Kyalami to spend millions upgrading its facility for FIA-grade motorsport.
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Closer to home, where motorsport is already prevalent and popular across the country, CAR Magazine had an opportunity to explore where spinning is headed both locally and internationally in an interview with Red Bull Motorsport Athlete Samkeliso ‘Samsam’ Thubane.
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Things are looking positive for the motorsport that the Hazyview local has risen to the top of. Thubane praised McKenzie for recognising spinning as a local motorsport and shared insights into how it could become formalised for national competitions.
“The minister has now recognised spinning as a motorsport, and competition spinning too, which could be something more formalised with podiums and open potential for sponsorship. The normal type of spinning is freestyle spinning, which has no rules or regulations — it simply entertains the masses — but the minister wants to implement competition spinning with rules and regulations to formalise it,” Thubane explained.
While formalising spinning may detract from some of the sport’s core elements and competitors, it would likely improve safety for both drivers and spectators. As Thubane further elaborates, it could also serve as a template for other countries to adopt.
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“Making it [spinning] a formal sport will open more doors and get more recognition as seen with Red Bull, a global company, coming to the party recognising spinning. So spinning is already on the map and other countries are looking at what it is, and there is opportunity for them to be involved and for me as a Red Bull athlete, I want to take it to the world…”
Thubane added that nothing has been confirmed yet but with shows and motoring events hosted by Red Bull in foreign countries, he remains positive that spinning will soon become part of them with South African athletes conducting the demonstrations. As for his choice of vehicle, Thubane uses the revered matchbox/Gusheshe BMW E30 which he adds is a car that can handle the punishment and abuse of spinning. With the formalisation of this motorsport in South Africa, he also added that it would be a bonus if BMW could see the value spinning brings to their brand and become an integral sponsor in the next few years.
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The post How Spinning Will Become an Official Sport According to Red Bull Athlete Samsam appeared first on CAR Magazine.
