Johannesburg Hosts the Title Decider for the 2020 Intercontinental GT Challenge: the Kyalami 9 Hour Challenge | MyPR.co.za

MyPR: Johannesburg Hosts the Title Decider for the 2020 Intercontinental GT Challenge: the Kyalami 9 Hour Challenge:

After its return to South Africa for the first time in 2019, the venerable Kyalami 9 Hour Challenge will be held in Midrand for the second consecutive year. Due to disruption caused by the pandemic, this will be only the fourth race in 2020 for the Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli – once again, the Kyalami Racetrack will host the season finale from today.

Motul is continuing its association with this historic event through links to two of the competing teams. Team Perfect Circle/Hack Racing powered by Motul is the only South African-based team confirmed for this year’s event. Motul partnered with this team last year and is proud to help represent SA motorsport once again.

Team Honda Racing are the second team to benefit from Motul’s support. “We’re delighted to play our part in bringing the sights, sounds and excitement of the Intercontinental GT Challenge back to SA after what’s been a tough year,” commented Mercia Jansen, Motul Area Manager for Southern and Eastern Africa. “Although fans won’t be allowed at the racetrack, this is a wonderful treat for armchair motorsport fans to enjoy from home. All of us here at Motul would like to wish both teams the very best of luck,” she added.

Team Perfect Circle/Hack Racing will be racing the very latest version of the famous Porsche 911 GT3 R – the Porsche 991.2-generation 911 GT3 R. For 2020, Andre Bezuidenhout is joining up with two all-star drivers to compete for the Pro-Am Class: Saul Hack and Dylan Pereira. Together, this pair triumphed in the Silver Class at Kyalami in 2019. Team Perfect Circle/Hack Racing will be competing under the flag of Lechner Racing, one of the most successful privateer Porsche racing outfits in the world.

Walter Lechner, founder of Lechner Racing, sadly passed away in Austria this week after a long battle with cancer. Hack and Pereira are both graduates of the Lechner Racing programme and the team would like to dedicate their race to Walter in recognition of his influence on their careers, and on motorsport in general.

“After having had to withdraw due to mechanical issues from last year’s Kyalami 9 Hour Challenge, I feel as though I have unfinished business with this event,” explained Andre. “I watched it as a kid, and this year I’m determined to make good on my childhood promise to myself. With the new car, we plan to make a serious assault on the Kyalami 9 Hour. With the news of Walter Lechner’s passing, this year’s event will be even more poignant, and we’re determined to honour his memory with every lap,” he added.

Also included in the roster of top international drivers for 2020 are Mario Farnbacher (2020 IMSA GTD class champion), Renger van der Zande (winner of the Daytona24h in 2019 and 2020) and Bertrand Baguette (third-ranked SUPER GT GT500 class driver, 2020) from Team Honda Racing.
This high-octane team will be competing in the main Overall Category at the Kyalami 9 Hour Challenge, behind the wheel of the Honda Acura NSX GT3. Van Der Zande previously drove for Dragonspeed, the Motul Flagship team during the 24h of Le Mans.

“We’re thrilled to be putting up such a strong team for this year’s Kyalami 9 Hour Challenge,” commented team contact person, Alessandro Mariani. “After such a disrupted year, it’s wonderful to compete in endurance racing here in South Africa again,” he added.

For more information, please visit the Intercontinental GT Challenge website. To learn more about superior oil and lubricant products, visit the Motul website.

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