Durban 2013 World Rally Championship Bid

[dysan1]

South Africa closing on slot on 2013 World Rally Championship calendar
By David Evans Thursday, May 3rd 2012, 17:03 GMT

South Africa is believed to be leading the fight for a place on next year's World Rally Championship calendar.

AUTOSPORT understands there will be one slot on the 2013 calendar for a new event, and South Africa and Brazil are vying for that position. South Africa's bid is an event centred in Durban, while there are still three options in Brazil.

"South Africa is looking more and more likely," a source told AUTOSPORT. "The infrastructure is in place, but there are still a few things to get sorted. Brazil, however, has a lot of work to do. We still don't know whether the event will be in Curitiba, Rio [de Janeiro] or Sao Paulo."

Former World Rally champion co-driver and Rally Finland clerk of the course Seppo Harjanne has worked on the route for the South African event.

WRC manager Michele Mouton was in Brazil this week to consider the potential for the nation's first WRC round since 1982, a rally the French lady won in her Audi Quattro.

Rally Argentina clerk of the course David Eli has also been in contact with his fellow South Americans and says he is prepared to help.

"I think it would be good to have another event in this part of the world," he said. "And, if the Rio de Janeiro event is the one which comes, then we will be helping them. The one thing we are not interested in is a rotation programme with them, we want Rally Argentina on the calendar every year."

The 2013 calendar will be discussed at the WRC Commission meeting on May 9, with the schedule ratified by the World Motor Sport Council next month.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/99321

[romanSA]

I wonder if any decision has been made yet?

Given Durban's hugely successful hosting of the A1 grand prix for 3 years in a row (the city was voted the best round of the 2005–06 A1 Grand Prix season and attracted 105,000 spectators), and it's imminent hosting of the world's biggest (and globally popular) Top Gear Festival (which, from early indications will be hugely successful), I think that Durban has a strong chance of landing this major mator racing event too. Will be a huge feather in the city's (and SA's) cap if it can pull off a win against Rio or Sao Paulo, and add to its motor racing hosting credentials.

2013 is also the centenary year of the world famous DJ Run motor cycle race between Jhb and Durbs. The race was first held in 2013 from Jhb to Durbs, but from 1922, has been run from Durbs to Jhb. The 2013 race marks the first time that the race will finish in Durbs again. Good times for the city's motor racing fans.

[dysan1]

yup will be good for the cities sports credentials... no more news yet

[romanSA]

Finally some news. Seems this is definitely still on.

Of the three proposed host locations, I'm most glad that Valley of a Thousand Hills got chosen for the bid. The scenery there is spectacular and it would do wonders for tourism in that area....

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KZN bidding to host World Rally round
June 13 2012 at 05:38pm
By IOL Motoring Staff

Kagiso Vantage, a Kagise Media subsidiary, is bidding to have Kwa-Zulu Natal host a round of the World Rally Championship and says that it is in a prime position to do so.

A positive sign of our successful bid is the fact that the FIA has asked South Africa to host a candidate event from 16 to 18 August.

The proposed route will take contenders through three areas of KZN, those being the Valley of a Thousand Hills, Richmond and the South Coast, with the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban serving as a service park and hosting the opening and closing ceremonies.

If the WRC event gets the green light, it will give South Africa exposure to the 570 million viewers in 200 countries, which the world's second biggest motorsport event attracts.

The local motorsport fraternity also stands to benefit greatly from this, as Motorsport South Africa chairman Steve Miller explains:

"For teams, sponsors and other stakeholders, the importance of hosting a round of the WRC in South Africa is indisputable. It will undoubtedly raise the profile of motorsport in general and boost this discipline of the sport.

"We are fortunate that South Africa has a very strong reputation for being able to host major sporting events successfully in a way that unifies the Nation and showcases the country," he concludes.


http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/motors...ound-1.1318403

[romanSA]

Post in wrong thread.

[romanSA]

Post in wrong thread.

[dysan1]

SA WRC leg shelved till 2014?
2012-06-13 14:46

Johannesburg - South Africa is said to be "in pole position" to host for the first time a leg of the World Rally championship in kwaZulu-Natal.

The most recent WRC event in Africa was 10 years ago in Kenya.

The bid, being led by Kagiso Media, is for entry into the second-biggest motorsport event in the world (after F1) with a worldwide TV audience of 570-million in more than 200 countries.

GOOD FOR SA

Positive signs towards a successful bid emerged when the country was tasked by the International Automobile Federation to host a candidate event from August 16-18 2012 using the Rally South Africa event to test readiness. Brazil is also in line and planned to hold a candidate rally in September and the result of the "shoot-out" would have given the winner a WRC slot in 2013 and the loser a possible slot in 2014.

Autosport magazine, however, reports from the UK that plans to introduce a WRC round in Brazil or South Africa in 2013 have now been shelved until 2014. With both countries running candidate events in the second half of the season, Autosport said, questions had been raised over the sense in leaving a calendar slot open for one or the other rally so late in the year.

2013's WRC calendar is expected to be a repeat of that of 2012 except for the rotation of Rally Australia and Rally New Zealand.

Murphy Morobe, CEO of Kagiso Media, says a successful bid would augur very well for South Africa: “We are happy to support an international sporting event that will contribute positively to the country. During the 2010 Soccer World Cup the country proved its ability to put together a world-class sporting event. We have toiled very hard to ensure our bid meets the criteria."

The SA WRC event is seen as taking place in The Valley of a Thousand Hills, in Richmond and along the south coast with the Moses Mabhida stadium to be used for the opening and closing events an as a vehicle service park.

'STRONG REPUTATION'

S’bu Sithole, eTthekwini's city manager, said: "Being the host city of the event is in line with the objectives of attracting great events to Durban and encouraging tourism. Such events are crucial to develop the profile of the city and province. The WRC has a strong emphasis on tourism, with the event televised to a wide international audience.

"This exposure to international markets over a three-year period can only bode well for the city and the region."

Steve Miller, chairman of Motorsport SA, added: “For teams, sponsors and others involved, the importance of hosting a WRC round in South Africa is indisputable. It will undoubtedly raise the profile of motorsport in general and boost this discipline of the sport. We are fortunate that South Africa has a very strong reputation for being able to host major sporting events."

A leaked list of the 2013 WRC events includes Monte Carlo, Sweden, Mexico, Portugal, Argentina, Greece, Australia, Finland, Germany, Britain , France, Italy and Spain.

Wheels24's international motorsport and F1 correspondent DIETER RENCKEN comments:

"A meeting of the FIA's World Motorsport Council has been convened for Friday (June 15) in Paris and I believe the WRC's woes form a central part of the agenda.

"As for eThekweni's Mayor Sithloe's comment that 'the WRC has a strong emphasis on tourism, with the event televised to a wide international audience' the last three WRC events have not been 'widely' televised internationally - SuperSport can provide the necessary proof hereof - nor do such broadcast contracts exist for the balance of the season and beyond, and the current WRC furore centres on precisely that.

"eTthekweni and the NMCC got itself badly burnt by the A1 GP and previous KZN Rally fiascos and one truly trusts lessons have been learnt at metro council level."

http://www.wheels24.co.za/Motorsport...-2014-20120613

[romanSA]

Durban is really cementing its reputation for hosting major sporting events, especially international motor events.

[dysan1]

But I wonder now if the city needs a permanent track, or just to make more of the street course they now have?

[romanSA]

Well, almost in response to that statement...

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KwaZulu-Natal to get two race tracks
June 25 2012 at 08:56am
By Arthi Sanpath

Racing enthusiasts are hoping that two new circuits planned for KwaZulu-Natal will help get racers like these off the streets.

Durban's car fanatics have something to look forward to - two new circuits for safe racing.

Following close on the Top Gear festival where fans had their share of super stunts by super cars, petrolheads won't have to wait too long for their own dedicated venues.

Kas Moodley, president of KwaZulu-Natal Motor Racing, said a race track would be opened in two month's time at iSithebe, Mandeni, North Coast.

“This is an old airfield and we will be using it for racing every fortnight,” said Moodley, adding that it would be a suitable venue for people in the northern areas of Durban.

More details on the launch would be released soon, said Moodley.

And in about two year's time, another major development is expected to be completed in Cato Ridge, subject to an environmental assessment.

A 30m-wide, 1.2km tarred circuit will be laid out on 18ha along Eddie Hagen Drive.

One of the owners of the business, Trishane Pillay, said KwaZulu-Natal needed a circuit and the development was meant to cater not only for car enthusiasts, but the whole family.

Facilities at the site would include a block of private box suites overlooking the start line, grandstand seating for about 2000 people, ablution facilities, a food court, a conference centre, child recreational facilities and an indoor/outdoor sport arena, he said.

“I've lost a few friends in illegal drag racing, and this will be a safe place where people can come, rather than race on the streets,” Pillay said.

Mike Hurwith of Cyclecraft said Durban needed race tracks. “If you look at the number of people who attended Top Gear last weekend, you'll see people want a place to race cars, and, hopefully, these projects would keep the illegal drag racers off the streets.” - Independent on Saturday.


http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/motors...acks-1.1326558

[romanSA]

Seems as if the aim is for the 2014 World Rally Champs bid.

Good hosting experience for the city, hosting the SA Rally Champs...

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Good experience for the World Rally Champs, if the city lands it...

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CRONJE AND HOUGHTON (SASOL FORD FIESTA) OVERNIGHT LEADERS OF RALLY SOUTH AFRICA IN KZN

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Gerald Ferreira

Mark Cronje and Robin Houghton (Sasol Racing Rally Ford Fiesta) emerged the winners at the end of the first day of the two-day Rally South Africa, which started form the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban this morning and finished at the site of the old Durban Drive-in this evening.

The first day of the fifth round of the SA Rally Championship, which is also a candidate event for the World Rally Championship in 2014, consisted of two gravel special stages in the Valley of 1000 Hills in the Inanda Dam area north-west of Durban and a short evening Super Special on tarmac.

Cronje and Houghton, winners of the first two events of the year and currently second in the championship behind the Castrol Team Toyota’s Johnny Gemmell and Carolyn Swan, won the opening 9-kilometre stage on their way to edging out Gemmell and Swan’s Auris by 13,6 seconds after 24 kilometres of timed racing. Third, a further 4,2 seconds behind the Toyota was the BP VW Polo of former champions Enzo Kuun and Guy Hodgson..

VW team-mates Hans Weijs Jnr of Holland and Bjorn Degandt of Belgium were fourth. Fifth were Jon Williams and Cobus Vrey in the second Sasol Ford Fiesta.

Sixth were Hein Lategan and Johan van der Merwe (SAC Peugeot 207), 2,2 seconds ahead of Lategan’s teenage son Henk and co-driver Barry White in a Q8 Oils VW Polo. Eighth after experiencing suspension set-up problems was the Basil Read Ford Fiesta of former champions Jan Habig and Robert Paisley. Ninth were Gugu Zulu and Carl Peskin (BP VW Polo) ahead of Charl Wilken and Etienne Lourens in the second Basil Read Ford Fiesta.

Early casualties were former champions Hergen Fekken and Pierre Arries in the third BP VW Polo, who failed to make the start of the first stage after experiencing electrical problems on the liaison section to the Valley of 1000 Hills.

Two of the leading S2000 four-wheel-drive contenders rolled their cars out of the event on special stage three. Jean-Pierre Damseaux and Grant Martin (Team Total Toyota Auris) went out five kilometres into the 14-kilometre stage, while Castrol Team Toyota’s Leeroy Poulter and Elvéne Coetzee ended up some 200 metres off the road after rolling several times down the side of a hill. They were in second place overall at the time. None of the crew members were injured.

Both cars will be repaired overnight and the crews will restart the rally on Saturday under the Super Rally rules.

Special stage two, a 38-kilometre test worthy of a WRC candidate event and expected to provide the highlight of the day and have a significant impact on the outcome of the event, was cancelled for safety reasons.

The evening Super Special was over a tight and technical 1-kilometre course and pitted two cars at a time in separate lanes but following the same 1-kilometre route. The cars crossed over at the mid-point of the stage and finished alongside each other in the opposite lane.

The winners were Cronje/Houghton, from Kuun/Hodgson and Williams/Vrey.

Overnight leaders of the S2000 Challenge for older specification four-wheel drive cars are Lategan and White, with current Challenge leaders Zulu and Peskin second and Wilro Dippenaar/Morne du Toit (PZN Panelbeaters Toyota RunX) third.

Ashley Haigh Smith and motoring journalist Patrick Vermaak (Castrol Ford Fiesta R2) are the leaders of the S1600 class for two-wheel-drive cars and enjoy a 2,4-second advantage over second-placed Clint Weston and Herman Groenewald (Reef Tankers Citroen C2 R2). Third is the Toyota Auris of Tjaart Conradie and Kes Naidoo.

Tomorrow’s action starts from Moses Mabhida Stadium at 06:50 with the first timed stage in the Mondi forests near Richmond south-west of Durban due to start at 08.41. There are five special stages altogether on Saturday, four on the fast gravel roads in the Mondi forests and local sugar cane fields covering a total of 111 kilometres and a repeat of Friday evening’s Super Special in Durban at 15:44.

http://3d-car-shows.com/2012/cronje-...africa-in-kzn/