Porsche Buys Kyalami

[Deleted]

Yes true, even if F1 was coming over they couldn't really have excessive space for say COTA level of parking lot placement.

I suspect the final result is tolerable. Anyway, I was always fun of the "new" Kyalami as well so it's bit sad to see it go and get modernized, particularly if WEC doesn't even come and the changes would have just been for the domestic series.

[hondafan37]

http://www.gt-eins.at/cms/index.php?...10295&Itemid=1

[Deleted]

So if you are not German speaking and take that to google translate trying to make some sense of it, delays in track revamps have forced them to cancel the 9 hours this year and move it to Killarney, right.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Chiana

So if you are not German speaking and take that to google translate trying to make some sense of it, delays in track revamps have forced them to cancel the 9 hours this year and move it to Killarney, right.

It also said the goal was to host a WEC race....

[Deleted]

Yeah but most articles referring to these revamps since spring have made notice of that

Anyway as I said on the other thread a while ago, even if WEC did somehow someday come here, I'm dead sure it would be just another six hourer instead of 9. Because if FIA cared of traditions, on top of ignoring all the other big historic venues they would have dubbed and made the Interlagos 6 Hours into Mil Milhas 1000 Miles from the beginning, like with the 2007 LMS race

[hondafan37]

Originally Posted by Chiana

So if you are not German speaking and take that to google translate trying to make some sense of it, delays in track revamps have forced them to cancel the 9 hours this year and move it to Killarney, right.

Yes, I am not German speaking and my English is very bad too. Google translate is my friend all time.
Thanks you for making a summary of the article.
I love sports cars racing and this forum is fantastic to learn of that.
You and many of the people in this forum have a great knowledge and I like to read your replys.
There are not such specialized forums of sports cars in my language.

[Giba]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Yeah but most articles referring to these revamps since spring have made notice of that

Anyway as I said on the other thread a while ago, even if WEC did somehow someday come here, I'm dead sure it would be just another six hourer instead of 9. Because if FIA cared of traditions, on top of ignoring all the other big historic venues they would have dubbed and made the Interlagos 6 Hours into Mil Milhas 1000 Miles from the beginning, like with the 2007 LMS race

Although I'm in favour of tradition, the downside to a distance race of that length is knowing what time it will finish. As not every channel that shows the WEC around the world can show the whole race, they need to know when the race should finish. It's similar to what TUSC did with Petit Le Mans.

[Deleted]

With PLM it was always 1000 miles or 10 Hours prior last year, TVs could always just schedule it for the full time and fill up the leftover time with podiums, post race chit chat, highlights, ads, reruns and whatever if the race just took 9 hours and 10 minutes to compete. And even more so with Petit Le Mans starting from 2014 the TV viewpoint is even more of an excuse, as the DP+P2 combo is infinitely slower than LMP1 of the past, and also they have more lengthier and numerous FCYs now. So it's closer to the limit anyway. I suspect they just made it 10 hours to take away all the strategy that was needed before in the lower classes, you know calculating on fuel according to overall leaders pace before the distance limit was met. Simplifying, sadly

Long story short and back to Mil Milhas, they could've just made that too 1000 miles or 10 hours (or even 9/9½ hours if the pace of the P1s was deemed fast enough). But I think they just want the standardized 6 hour format for everything because ZZZ. That's why I don't have belief in seeing Kyalami 9 hours with the series.

With all the ACO 1000KMs gone too the only distance based races in the world now are Bathurst 1000, Super GT calendar, and then some smaller club events like Eneos 1000 etc

[Deleted]

http://m.news24.com/wheels24/News/Ky...-fell-20150724

During initial construction it became evident that the remaining part of the circuit required more attention to drivers' and spectators' safety, says track engineers. After an inspection it was decided to replace all debris fencing, safety barriers and tyre and belting safety systems around the entire circuit. The decision was also taken to replace all gravel in the arrester beds and, after consultation with the International Automobile Federation, tarred run-off areas have been added at Sunset and Ingwe corners. More than 60km of cable has been ordered for the new-specification debris fencing that will be erected around the circuit. Owing to the increase in the scope of works the completion date for the track project is expected to be towards the end of October 2015.

Mhmh.

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by Chiana

http://m.news24.com/wheels24/News/Ky...-fell-20150724

During initial construction it became evident that the remaining part of the circuit required more attention to drivers' and spectators' safety, says track engineers. After an inspection it was decided to replace all debris fencing, safety barriers and tyre and belting safety systems around the entire circuit. The decision was also taken to replace all gravel in the arrester beds and, after consultation with the International Automobile Federation, tarred run-off areas have been added at Sunset and Ingwe corners. More than 60km of cable has been ordered for the new-specification debris fencing that will be erected around the circuit. Owing to the increase in the scope of works the completion date for the track project is expected to be towards the end of October 2015.

Mhmh.

CotA pt. 2

[Deleted]

I'm not that fearful.

Yet.

[Deleted]

Artist impression of the pit facility looks like some grey warehouse in the industrial district. Hopefully it'll be bit more lively...

Not sure how accurate the amount of garage spots is, but that should be just enough for theoretical, typical WEC grid, even if FIA swaps handful of them to themselves like now, and the P1 factories get their extra spot of luxury.

[deggis]

[NaBUru38]

That kink before the last corner is horrible.

The rest of the layout looks fine.

[Spyderman]

The Kink was an integral part of the original track. Kyalami wouldn't be the same without one.

[Deleted]

Some recap
http://beta.iol.co.za/motoring/motor...yalami-1958958

Next month, Porsche should be providing some demo media laps, so the renovation should be in fairly advanced stage.

[Spyderman]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Some recap
http://beta.iol.co.za/motoring/motor...yalami-1958958

Next month, Porsche should be providing some demo media laps, so the renovation should be in fairly advanced stage.

It is.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

That kink before the last corner is horrible.

The rest of the layout looks fine.

You're not wrong, that almost exact same kink was changed to be a tight s-bend because a group of cars racing one another went into the back of a car slowing to enter the pits. Guess it is a case of forgetting what you learned.



They have ruined this section of the track, they were fast flowing corners (particularly front LHS, followed by the double apex that is quite hard to get everything right on for the short straight ahead) that tended to separate the men from the boys, now replaced by a slightly longer straight leading into a tight corner. Disappointing!

The original circuit was old, pity they didn't just stick to that!

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by deggis

It's both really sad and cool you can still clearly see the lay-out of the old track on the north side of the pic.

This helped me recognizing the newer lay-out over the old one.

At least the track still has plenty of elevation change is what it looks like.

[Roninho]

Originally Posted by wnut

They have ruined this section of the track, they were fast flowing corners (particularly front LHS, followed by the double apex that is quite hard to get everything right on for the short straight ahead) that tended to separate the men from the boys, now replaced by a slightly longer straight leading into a tight corner. Disappointing!

Well the one issue i had with the old track is that for high speed formula cars it is a very difficult track to pass on. Imo they have created an opportunity for passing with a longer straight ending with a tight corner. So i like that.

Anyway, tbh i'm surprised that an car manufacturer would buy a circuit. Has there been any explanation on what they want to achieve with this?

[Mike E]

It's not clear to me who actually owns it.

Is it:
Toby Venter, CEO of Porsche South Africa (probably, via some sort of holding company)
Porsche South Africa (maybe)
Porsche AG (highly unlikely)

http://www.financialmail.co.za/fmfox...ck-in-the-race

It was bought to save it from being ripped up and turned into an office park. As the story above (from 2014) mentions, the track already makes money from corporate activities.

Thank goodness it has been rescued by a successful business operator who also happens to be mad about racing and who runs Porsche SA.

[Spyderman]

Originally Posted by Roninho

Well the one issue i had with the old track is that for high speed formula cars it is a very difficult track to pass on. Imo they have created an opportunity for passing with a longer straight ending with a tight corner. So i like that.?

I'm not sure what you mean by "old track". The "Original Track -1961 to 1987" is what is considered by many as the real Kyalami. That track had a massive straight with a kink. It was a very fast track and provided excellent racing.
They then completely castrated that track and came up with the version that has just been demolished (partially) to given life to this one. In my view, there is no doubt it is a big improvement, but I fear it wont hold a candle to the Original track.

[Spyderman]

Here is the original straight (starts at the grandstand you see in the top left hand side of the picture)

[Roninho]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

I'm not sure what you mean by "old track". The "Original Track -1961 to 1987" is what is considered by many as the real Kyalami. That track had a massive straight with a kink. It was a very fast track and provided excellent racing.
They then completely castrated that track and came up with the version that has just been demolished (partially) to given life to this one. In my view, there is no doubt it is a big improvement, but I fear it wont hold a candle to the Original track.

I'm sorry, i was unclear. With ''old'' track i mean the track before the current changes. From the link from Coach EP's post, basically the track layout from 1992 till 2015 (they changed the chichane for a short period of time during this timeframe, but basically apart from that the tracklayout has stayed the same for over 25 years). I like the upgrades of the new layout they are currently building to that circuit.

As for the ''real'' old track as used pre-1988: I fully agree that the current track isnt even close to that one, but i have the same sentiment as with for example the old hockenheimring (the long track): You will never get that kind of track back.

[Deleted]

South African Grand Prix 1993 was amazing. In my top3 F1 races.

A1GP races there were amazing.

The modern Kyalami has great memories for me. It wasn't a total joke like almost all of the modded tracks tend to be. I wouldn't have minded it staying as it is if international series still came.