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PRESS RELEASE: March 2009 |
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Battle
Of The Brands
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ALTECH
GT CHALLENGE & ALTECH PORSCHE CLUB 924 CHALLENGE |
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National circuit racing finally returns to the track
on 21 March as the Pro Tour hits Cape Town’s
Killarney circuit and the good money is on the
supercars stealing the show. Since 2006 the Altech
Porsche Challenge has been the pinnacle event in the
popular series and the brigade of high-end brands
promise nothing less for 2009. Altech has continued
its support for local motorsport, but there is one
significant change for 2009 with the series name
evolving to more accurately represent the exotic
line up as Altech GT Challenge. The Altech Porsche
Club 924 Challenge, which is run on a handicap
system, will also compete at all eight rounds of the
Pro Tour. |
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image: Tony Alves - www.tracksidepics.co.za |
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Killarney’s fast and
bumpy back straight will make for spectacular
viewing as over thirty Altech GT Challenge cars
reach some of the highest speeds we’ll see all year.
If that is not enough to excite then the sound of
the legendary Porsche flat-six lump, wailing
Ferraris and deceptively quiet Lotus’ will provide a
sensory overload. Spearheading the Class A way
should be Toby Venter’s brutal Porsche 993 GT2R,
Charl Jourbert’s supercharged Lotus Exige and the
Porsche 997 GT2 of Laurent Gross. But, just as there
are no guarantees that the Cape South Easter won’t
blow, you can’t exclude the in-depth track knowledge
that the local Cape racers have.
With no less than seven Ferraris and a handful of
Porsches, Class B is the Altech GT Challenge’s
largest class and competition will be frantic.
Jeremy Pougnet, Andrew Miller, Franco Scribante,
Nick Chapman and Rudi Botha fly the flag for the
Tifosi with a horde of Ferrari 360 Challenges while
the Ferrari 430 Challenge model is represented by
Christo Lindeque and Loris Chiappa. Porsche aren’t
left out of the game either but the Rod Cole-Edwards
Porsche 993 RSR and Mike Wilson Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
are going to have their hands full.
Lotus brings two cars to the Class C fight with
Wayne Waldeck piloting an Exige S and Dawie Joubert
in a similar car – only the latter makes use of an
old BMW Touring Car power supply. A host of 993 and
996 Porsches will be on the pace but of special
interest will be the progress of the turbocharged
6-cylinder Porsche 917 replica driven by Ferdi van
Niekerk. This car replicates one of the most
successful racing cars of all time, exactly forty
years later.
Class D is filled exclusively by Porsche models but
pits front and rear engine thought against each
other. Dave Fourie, Ferdi van Niekerk (Jnr) and
Jochen Weida represent the rear-engined brigade with
a 911 RSR, 911 and 997 Carrera S respectively, while
Barry Nel and Charl Arangies make use of some well
balanced and nimble 944s. Pierre Martins also goes
the front-engined Porsche route in Class E but
substitutes 4-cylinders for eight with a wide
looking 928SR.
With vast speed differentials a common sight in
Altech GT Challenge, backmarkers and how quickly
competitors slice through them could determine the
outcome. Being decisive and steering clear of any
trouble is a must for competitors and also makes for
spectacular action.
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For results and
further information regarding the Altech GT
Challenge visit
www.gtchallenge.co.za. |
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As the
Altech Porsche Club 924 Challenge suggests, this
formula caters exclusively for Porsche 924 models.
To determine starting positions drivers will
nominate a lap time they believe they will not
exceed. The competitors are then sent off at
calculated intervals with the slowest nominated time
going off first and the fastest last. In theory, if
every competitor laps at their nominated time the
entire field should cross the finish line at the
same time. To negate any sandbagging a driver will
be disqualified for going quicker than his nominated
lap time.
With Killarney not a local stomping ground for many
Altech 924 Porsche Club Challenge competitors,
nominated lap times are bound to broken so the
winner could well not be the first across the line.
This bodes well for the championship as those that
get to grips with the track fastest will more than
likely get their 2009 Altech Porsche Club 924
Challenge season off to a flying start. |
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Altech Porsche Club
924 Challenge information can be found on
www.porsche924.co.za |
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ENDS |
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For
further information contact
Stuart Grant at or 082 921 4583. |
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