Honda & Audi Prepping For Kyalami 9 Hours
Whilst the entry for the Kyalami 9 Hour, the season-ending round of the 2020 Intercontinental GT Challenge on December 10-12 is set to be significantly impacted by the ongoing logistical, health-led and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic (DSC currently anticipates a sub 20 car entry), those teams that are set to attend are taking the event very seriously indeed.
Honda Racing were shaking down their solo NSX GT3 Evo at Cervesina circuit outside Milan this week, the car set to be despatched to South Africa today.
Factory driver Marco Bonanomi and JAS Motorsport Development drivers Reece Barr and Jacopo Guidetti all took part in the factory car’s shakedown.
After competitive performances at both Indianapolis and Spa the team has been busy updating the electronics suite for the car to shave some of the time they feel they have lost in pitstops, expect the NSX to, once again, be at the sharp end.
Audi Sport meanwhile has confirmed driver line-ups for all three of the factory-support R8 LMS that will make the trip.
Home favourite Kelvin van der Linde shares one of two Audi Sport Team WRT entries with Dries Vanthoor and Marcus Winkelhock who lies nine points off the Drivers’ Championship lead. The Belgian squad’s second works R8 LMS GT3 features Frédéric Vervisch, Mirko Bortolotti and 2020 GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup champion, Charles Weerts.
Audi Sport Team Car Collection will run a third factory car for Mattia Drudi, Christopher Haase and Patric Niederhauser, as well as another customer entry whose drivers will be confirmed shortly. The German outfit finished second at the Nurburgring 24 Hours earlier this year and also oversees Audis in its native ADAC GT Masters series.
“The varied circuit in South Africa has prepared an exciting race for us and also marks the finale of a demanding season in the IntGTC in 2020,” said Audi Sport boss, Chris Reinke. “We are in third position in the manufacturers’ classification and are doing our utmost to improve our position.”
Audi celebrated the Kyalami 9 Hour’s revival 12 months ago by running two liveries inspired by the art of South Africa. Now, it has taken the concept to another level by bedecking its three factory cars in even more eye-catching colours and patterns (see separate story).
While all four cars are eligible to score Intercontinental GT Challenge points at Kyalami, only the two best-placed finishers will do so.
Audi can still claim the Manufacturers’ Championship but must win the race to have any chance of overhauling current leaders, Porsche.
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