Category: Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit

Photographs of racing and events at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit

BMW CCG Club Racing Series – Round 5 – Kyalami

Greg ReillyBMW Car Club Gauteng, BMW Club Racing Series, Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, Race Reports
The fifth round of the 2014 BMW CCG Club Racing Series saw this competitive series return to the recently saved Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit on Saturday 20 September. A strong field of twenty eight cars qualified for the two 8 lap races scheduled on the day. As always the action on the track was fast and furious! BMW Car Club Gauteng
It was no surprise when Lee Thompson (E46 M3 CSL GT) grabbed pole position. Manny Ribeiro (E36 325i Turbo) claimed the top spot in class B with Dino Fameliaris (E36 M3) starting on the front row of class C. Johan Dreyer (E46 330i) put in a great effort to claim his first ever pole position in class D.
Kris Budnik (E46 M3 GT) had a disastrous start to the weekend however when a gearbox related fire prevented him from qualifying.

Race 1
Thompson was in unbeatable form
Thompson was in unbeatable form
 The drama began before the race had even started when Thompson, Gianni Giannoccaro (E46 M3 GTR) and Thouca Mechanicos (E46 M3 Ti GTR) all had to start from the pit lane after not getting out of the pits for the warm up lap in time.
The customary rolling start saw the field charge through the first two corners at a rapid pace. Ribeiro led the pack down the back straight with MBS Carriers team mate Jonathan Araujo (E36 328i Turbo) in tow. Carlo Garbini (E46 M3) was hot on their heels with Desmond Bloem (E36 325i), Dino Fameliaris (E36 M3) and Justin Robertson (E36 328i) in pursuit. Garbini grabbed second position on the opening lap with a great out braking manoeuvre at the bottom of the “Mine Shaft”.
Budnik who had started at the back of the field was already up to seventh position and was being hassled by the equally fast starting Thompson. The pair had grabbed fourth and fifth positions respectively by lap two. Garbini was also on a charge as he proceeded to take the lead on the third lap. Thompson then grabbed fourth position from Budnik on the same lap. The race went pear shaped on the fourth lap however when Budnik succumbed to the same problems he experienced earlier in the day at the bottom of the “Mine Shaft”. The race was quickly red flagged as the fire and rescue crews were dispatched to put out yet another gearbox related fire.
Fameliaris continued his fine form in the first race
Fameliaris continued his fine form in the first race
 When the race was restarted, a 4 lap sprint would see the eager field charge through the first few corners once again. Ribeiro grabbed the lead ahead of his team mate for the second time in a row. Thompson had blasted his way into third position with Garbini hanging onto his coat tails. Mechanicos also made a great start as he slotted into a strong fifth position. His impressive start was short lived however when mechanical gremlins put paid to his chances a lap later.
Thompson grabbed the lead on the second lap with Ribeiro and Araujo shadowing him all the way. Garbini was fighting back as he took third position on the penultimate lap of the race. Giannoccaro was also on a late charge as he relegated Araujo to fifth position with a great move through turn twelve.
Thompson went on to take an impressive Overall and class A victory, with Ribeiro taking second overall and first in class B. Garbini held on for a strong third position. Fameliaris continued his fine form with a lights to flag victory in class C. Mike Salt (E36 323i) had the race of his life in class D but unfortunately lost the victory when he broke out of the allocated lap times for the class. Dreyer was thanking his lucky stars when he was awarded the class D victory after the race.

Race 1 Class Results

Class A

Class B
  1. Lee Thompson – Best lap: 1:48.397
  2. Gianni Giannoccaro – Best lap: 1:53.528
  1. Manny Ribeiro – Best lap: 1:51.906
  2. Carlo Garbini – Best lap: 1:51.180
  3. Jonathan Araujo – Best lap: 1:53.398

Class C

Class D
  1. Dino Fameliaris – Best lap: 1:57.657
  2. Desmond Bloem – Best lap: 1:57.346
  3. Justin Robertson – Best lap: 1:58.863
  1. Johan Dreyer – Best lap: 2:03.051
  2. Shane Grobler – Best lap: 2:03.676
  3. Bruce Turner – Best lap: 2:08.140

Race 2
Ribeiro dominated class B
Ribeiro dominated class B
 The inverted grid for the second heat set the tone for another action packed event. It started with the charge down through turn one – after making slight contact with the leading pack Paul Hill (E90 335i) shot across the track to collide heavily with the unforgiving barriers. The red flag was brought out to clear the carnage.

Thompson grabbed the lead at the restart with Ribeiro, Giannoccaro, Araujo and Garbini in hot pursuit once again. Robertson grabbed the class C lead and was closely followed by Mike Grobler (E90 330i) and Warren Dodd (E36 325i).
Araujo was on a charge and grabbed third position from Giannoccaro on the third lap. Giannoccaro’s G&H Transport team mate Mechanicos was also scything his way through the field from the back of the grid as he slotted into seventh position on the same lap. The mid pack battle was just as close with Dodd fending off Fameliaris, Grobler and Nicholas Smythe (E46 330i).
Robertson powered his way to victory in the second race
Robertson powered his way to victory in the second race
 Thompson had left the rest of the field in his wake by mid race, with the real battle going on for the rest of the podium positions. Ribeiro was holding onto second position with Araujo playing the tail gunner role. Garbini was trying hard to find a way past Araujo and eventually made his move on the penultimate lap of the race to slip through and grab third.
Thompson crossed the line to take the chequered flag and claimed another dominant Overall and class A victory. Ribeiro took second prize once again, claiming the double in class B in the process. Despite setting the fastest lap in class B, Garbini had to settle for yet another third place. Robertson romped home to victory in class C with Salt fighting back to claim a well deserved victory in class D.

Race 2 Class Results

Class A

Class B
  1. Lee Thompson – Best lap: 1:46.696
  2. Gianni Giannoccaro – Best lap: 1:53.712
  1. Manny Ribeiro – Best lap: 1:52.330
  2. Carlo Garbini – Best lap: 1:51.380
  3. Jonathan Araujo – Best lap: 1:52.208

Class C

Class D
  1. Justin Robertson – Best lap: 1:59.162
  2. Julian Fameliaris – Best lap: 1:58.401
  3. Warren Dodd – Best lap: 2:00.786
  1. Mike Salt – Best lap: 2:04.384
  2. Johan Dreyer – Best Lap: 2:03.005
  3. Shane Grobler – Best lap: 2:03.980
Dreyer and Salt traded victories in class D Dreyer and Salt traded victories in class D
Dreyer and Salt traded victories in class D

Race Report by Greg Reilly.
Website: www.BMWCarClub.co.za
Facebook: BMW Car Club Gauteng or
BMW CCG Club Racing Series
Twitter: @BMWCarClubGP
Event Photographs: www.RacePics.co.za
Media requests must please be forwarded to RacePics at Click-to-Reveal@racepics.co.za

Photographs of BMW Car Club Gauteng Events
BMW CCG Club Racing Series

Cedar Isle Auto BMW Track and Race Day – Photographs – 2014-09-20

Paul BlackburnBMW Car Club Gauteng, BMW Club Racing Series, Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit

Photographs from the Cedar Isle Auto BMW Track and Race Day held at Kyalami on 20 September 2014.
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Cedar Isle Auto BMW Track and Race Day – Kyalami – 20 September 2014

Paul BlackburnBMW Car Club Gauteng, BMW Club Racing Series, Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit

We are going big and going home!
We held our breath. We shook our heads. We feared the worst. What would the future of Kyalami hold, and would there be any future at all. Thankfully we and all other motoring enthusiasts can rest assured that our spiritual home is safe. To pay homage, we plan to have our biggest Kyalami Track Day yet! BMW Car Club Gauteng
Cedar Isle Auto is on board for the third year running as day sponsors for the event. They have become loyal and passionate supporters of the club and its activities and are looking forward to spoiling their customers with a day at the track.
This is the penultimate round of the BMW CCG Time Trial Championship before the finale in October. Ryan Herd (BMW 1 Series M Coupe) and Oscar De’Oliveira (BMW Z4M Coupe) are separated by a mere 2 points at the top of the leader board. Not far behind by a point is Varish Ganpath who will debut his brand spanking new BMW M4 Coupe. Who will top the time sheets in these evenly matched machines?
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 The popular BMW CCG Club Racing Series is now into the second half of the season, with leaders in all 4 classes battling for the overall title. Class A will be fought between Kris Budnik (E46 M3 GT), Gianni Giannoccaro (E46 M3 CSL GT), Mishal Sing (E92 M3) and at last we will see the Savspeed F30 335i we have waited so patiently for. Will this be enough to jolt ‘Boris the Animal’ out of the ADF Motorsport garage for a duel? Or will G&H Transport hand over the keys to the 135i aka ‘Il Monstro’ to Lee Thompson to battle the legendary BMW tuner from Edenvale?
Class B battles between Carlo Garbini (E46 M3), Ricky Giannoccaro (E46 M3 GTR) and Manny Ribeiro (E36 325i Turbo) will resume, with a possible new steed in the hands of Ribeiro from the MBS Carriers Racing Team. Class C has been dominated this year by Dino Fameliaris (E36 M3) leaving Justin Robertson (E36 328i) and newcomer Hein Strohm (E36 M3 GTR) to play catch up. Hein is getting quicker with each meeting so may just pull an upset on the crowd favourites.
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 Class D as always will be the pick of the scraps to watch. Just 5 points separate the top 5 in this class, with Mike Wentzel (2002 Turbo) leading the pack. The giant-killing 2002 from the seventies has a good turn of pace at Kyalami which will be hard to match, but puts Wentzel in danger of breaking out of his class and handing hard-earned points over to the chasing pack of Bruce Turner (E36 328i), Shane Grobler (E36 328i), Johan Dreyer (E46 330i) and Mike Salt (E36 323i).
Between the racing and time trial shootouts, visitors to the pits will be able to browse a wide selection of BMW Lifestyle and Accessory products on sale courtesy of Cedar Isle Auto. Club clothing, magazines and other collectibles will be on offer in the pits too. For just R100, our professional racing drivers will take you for hot laps around the circuit in the Bridgestone Hot Lap Vehicle, or you can grab a bite to eat and some refreshments in the pits. There is plenty for the enthusiast to enjoy.
Should you wish to partake in the activities on track, please visit www.bmwcarclub.co.za for more information and details of how to enter.
For eligibility details on the BMW CCG Club Racing Series, please contact the stewards on Click-to-Reveal@bmwcarclub.co.za.
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Website: www.BMWCarClub.co.za
Facebook: BMW Car Club Gauteng or
BMW CCG Club Racing Series
Twitter: @BMWCarClubGP
Event Photographs: www.RacePics.co.za

Media requests must please be forwarded to RacePics at Click-to-Reveal@racepics.co.za

Photographs of BMW Car Club Gauteng Events
BMW CCG Club Racing Series