Latest news with #WorldRallycross
IOL News
2 days ago
- Automotive
- IOL News
No Formula One, Formula E or W2RC for SA in 2026: sources
By: Double Apex The FIA World Motor Sport Council recently met in Macau and made a few vital decisions regarding the top echelons of the sport. Among the decisions that were ratified include 2025 calendars for all the FIA World Championship events. Sadly, there will be no F1, Formula E or W2RC for SA in 2026. The 2026 F1 calendar commences in Australia on 8 March with the season finale in Abu Dhabi on 6 December. The 2026 schedule will, once again, feature 24 races. Interestingly, Imola has been replaced by Madrid. So we have gone from there being two races in Italy to having two races in Spain. The USA still hosts three rounds (Miami, Austin and Las Vegas). More attention has been paid to geographical flow for better efficiency. As a result there are groupings of races in particular geographical areas. Local F1 fans have been dreaming of a race taking place on local soil for years. The minister of sport has been quite vocal about the success of his tenure resting on him being able to bring a race to SA. The department has even taken bids from a few interested parties. The idea being that the most successful bid would be presented to the FIA. The entire process seems to have gone quiet. Our sources tell us that none of the bids were of an adequate level to impress the FIA and Formula One. As a result, no local company ie promoter has yet been appointed to pitch to the sport's governing body. Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1, said: '2026 will be a new era for Formula 1 where we will witness a brand-new set of regulations for our sport, the cars and the engines that will be powered by 100% sustainable fuel. "We are excited to welcome Madrid to the calendar, and to see huge automotive brands like Audi, Cadillac and Ford join the Formula 1 grid. It promises to be an unforgettable season, where once again we will come together at 24 amazing global venues to watch the best drivers in the world push themselves to the limit and produce incredible wheel to wheel racing for our millions of fans watching around the globe.' No W2RC or Formula E Either Surprisingly, there will be no W2RC in SA either. The third round of the 2025 series, which started with the Dakar Rally, visited SA just a few weeks ago. By all accounts it was a success with visiting teams impressed by the organisation of the event as well as the variety of terrain. Rally raid legend Nasser Al Attiyah said of the event: 'It was really nice to be here in South Africa. We'd like to come back.' It was a sentiment echoed by WRC icon Sebastien Loeb: 'It is my second time in South Africa, but my first outside Cape Town where I raced in World Rallycross. Going on safari and seeing so much of the landscape during the stages was very beautiful.' Formula E won't be making a return to SA either in 2026. The sole event in SA, which took place a few years ago, was voted the best of the 2023 season. Cape Town's street circuit provided exciting racing and a picturesque backdrop in the form of Table Mountain and the Atlantic Seaboard. There is, however, a double-header blank spot in the 2026 schedule. But will we see the series race on local soil again…? Article courtesy of Double Apex
The Citizen
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Simola crowns Zeelie king amidst tragic final day
Final day's proceedings became delayed for nearly hours following the first fatality in the event's history. Pieter Zeelie took the overall Simola King of the Hill victory in his Toyota MR2 Super GT. Image: Motorsport South Africa The Simola Hillclimb celebrated its 15th running with the crowning of a new King of Hill this past Sunday (4 May), but on a bittersweet note as it also saw the event's first fatality since its inception. New king Despite the presence of seven-time World Rallycross (WRX) champion Johan Kristoffersson as the event's highlight with his whispering all-electric Volkswagen Polo RX1e, 2021 champion, Pieter Zeelie, eventually reigned supreme with a time of 37.090 in his turbocharged V6 engine Toyota MR2 Super GT. NOW READ: New king awaits crowning as Knysna readies for Simola Hillclimb Taking second place, Reghard Roets finished 1.280 seconds behind in his BB Motorsport Nissan GT-R, while Kristoffersson took the final step on the podium with a time of 39.001 seconds. Seven-times World Rallycross (WRX) champion Johan Kristoffersson about to blast away from the start line brutally silent all-electric Volkswagen Polo RX1e. Image: Charl Bosch While held in dry conditions throughout Saturday and Sunday, Friday's opening practise sessions and classic car run saw wet and changeable weather greet the competitors. Class wins This, however, didn't prevent Charles Arton from taking his second Classic Run title in his former works 1979 March 79a Formula Atlantic. His first overall victory since 2015, Arton completed the 1.9 km stretch of road outside Knysna in a time of 44.436, thereby bettering the times of second place finisher and 2023 champion Andre Bezuidenhout (1976 Lola T400) and third place finisher Ian Schofield (1977 March 77b Formula Atlantic). Heading to victory. Mercedes-AMG Driving Experience boss Clint Weston won the overall standard road car category. Image: Charl Bosch In the other classes, Byron Mitchell took the overall single-seater victory in his Formula Volkswagen ahead of veteran Rick Morris (Formula Ford) and youngster KC Ensor-Smith in the brand-new Formula 4 car that debuted at the National Extreme Festival round at Kyalami last month. The standard road car class eventually headed the way of former Group N class champion and current Mercedes-AMG Experience boss Clint Weston, whose Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E-Performance finished ahead of the BMW Driving Experience M4 of Cristiano Verolini, and teammate Courtney Nicholl in the AMG C63 S E Performance. Pieter Joubert Despite the crowning of a new king, the event ended on a sombre mood following an accident on Sunday morning that claimed the life of veteran racer Pieter Joubert. Having been third fastest in his class throughout Saturday, tragedy struck when the distinctive yellow Mercedes-AMG C63-powered Lotus Exige veered off of the road on a straight section at over 200 km/h. Pieter Joubert practising on Saturday before tragically passing away during final practise on Sunday morning. Image: Charl Bosch While no cause was immediately determined, possible suspension or steering issues were suspected given the nature of how the car suddenly turned right without warning, before impacting a tree. Although quickly on the scene that happened before the turn three bridge, emergency crews declared Joubert deceased on arrival. The Joubert family, including brothers Dawie and Charl who were also competing in a pair of Exiges, expressed willingness for the event to continue, though both withdrew soon after the announcement. ALSO READ: Simola crowns its new king
