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| Timur Timerzyanov's - Ford Fiesta being prepared Photo By - Junaid Samodien |
The final round of the 2017 FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy is upon us and takes place in Cape Town this weekend (10-12 November). Cape Town RX marks the first time that rallycross has taken place on the continent of Africa and is the only FIA World Championship event to be staged in sub-Saharan Africa.
The 2017 World Championship has already been won by Sweden’s Johan Kristoffersson who pilots a PSRX Volkswagen but this weekend will see a fight for the runner-up spot as Petter Solberg [Norway] and Mattias Ekstrom [Sweden] go head-to-head at the Killarney International Raceway. Only one point separates 2016 World Champion Ekstrom from former champion Solberg going into the final event of the season and with 30 points up for grabs, qualifying will prove pivotal in the battle for second place.
Two South African drivers will compete at their home event. Mark Cronje will drive an Albatec Racing Peugeot 208 WRX and Ashley Haigh-Smith will compete in an Olsbergs MSE Ford Fiesta.
Other notable names competing in Cape Town include nine-time WRC Champion Sebastien Loeb and America’s Ken Block. Also joining the permanent teams and drivers will be Sweden’s Oliver Eriksson in a second OMSE Fiesta and Belgium’s Gregoire Demoustier, who will drive a Peugeot 208 WRX for the DA Racing team alongside returning driver Jean-Baptiste Dubourg. Germany’s Rene Muennich has already experienced the Killarney International Raceway as he drove at the event’s launch and will race his Muennich Motorsport Seat Ibiza this weekend.
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| Ashley-Haigh Smith's - Ford Fiesta RX machine |
The Gumtree World RX of South Africa will also mark the final round of the RX2 International Series presented by Cooper Tires. France’s Cyril Raymond wrapped up the title at his home round in Loheac in September, but there are several ongoing battles throughout the 16-car field. Twenty-two points separate Britain’s Dan Rooke and Belgium’s Guillaume De-Ridder who are second and third in the standings. Moreover, Sweden’s William Nilsson, America’s Tanner Whitten and Sweden’s Simon Olofsson are separated by four points further in the battle for fourth place. Multiple freeriding champion Guerlain Chicherit will race in RX2 as he prepares for competing in World RX full time in 2018.
Tickets for this weekend can still be purchased via TicketPro:
http://www.ticketpros.co.za/portal/web/index.php/event/b9153aff-d87e-2625-1a20-58c17a1f4873
For tickets and more information on Gumtree World RX of South Africa, please visit www.capetownrx.com
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