- Motorsport returns to Phakisa Raceway
- Round 6 of the BMW M Performance Parts Race Series
- The series is open to all production and race cars from the BMW stable
Motorsport returns to Phakisa Raceway when the BMW Car Club Gauteng hosts its inaugural Phakisa Tour event.
Saturday (16/07) sees hype reaching new heights when top billing on the day’s programme at the former MotoGP circuit will be round 6 of the BMW M Performance Parts Race Series.
This series is the latest and one of only three South African championships to enjoy backing from an automotive manufacturer in the country.
The series is open to all production and race cars from the BMW stable.
Classes are based on time brackets. Drivers can therefore compete against each other based on their experience and racing skill, regardless of the year model, level of modifications and method of aspiration.
This makes it one of South Africa’s most fairly contested yet affordable categories to compete in.
A host of drivers in the series have joined the racing fold after competing in the equally popular BMW Car Club Time Trial events.
Also included on the racing programme will be five other tin-top and single-seater categories. These races are structured to have a spread-out field of competitors closing in on each other in the final laps. Competitors must also specify a predicted delta time from which they should not break out.
The Roofsure Midvaal Historics will conclude the day’s historic-specific roster. The final tin-top category on the day will be the Desco SilverCup 2.0 series.
Another category is the Formula Monoposto series, which is a category open to various makes and models of open-wheel race cars.
The day’s programme is not just limited to on-track activities and includes the local Welkom Old Auto Club exhibiting a collection of their members’ cars for public viewing.
BMW M Performance Parts Race Series Chairman, Bernard de Gouveia, is looking forward to hosting the event.
De Gouveia says this is a big leap forward.
“Not only will we be showcasing our club’s great racing activities, but we will also have some friends on the Northern Regions roster and the Welkom Old Auto Club joining us.
“We hope this event will pave the way for similar future events and we are confident that we have lined up a day that will be memorable to all motorsport and motoring enthusiasts in the greater Free State region.”
Spectator attendance for the event is free, with the circuit having ample space for fans to braai and bring the family for a picnic. Each category has two races scheduled for the day.
The gates will open early before the qualifying sessions start, and the day’s racing will begin at 10:30.
Practice will be open the whole day on Friday. On Saturday qualifying starts at 08:00, and the first race starts at 10:30.
– Molema Mochudi
