The FIA has released a diagram of the new World Rallycross track being built at Killarney Raceway in Cape Town for the Championship’s season-ender.
Killarney will host the 12th and last round of the international series on November 11 and 12, and preparations are underway for the new layout which in true rallycross style combines both tar and gravel sections. The track will be just over 1km long with six corners, including a joker lap section which drivers will have to complete at least once in each race heat.
Though Rallycross dates back to the late 1960s it only became recognised as an FIA-sanctioned racing championship in 2014. It’s a very spectator-friendly form of motorsport which mixes traditional rally with circuit racing, and tracks are never longer than 1.4km in length so it’s often possible to see the an entire lap from one vantage point.
Since its introduction three years ago, The Monster Energy-sponsored World Rallycross series has attracted big names such as ex-WRC Champions Sebastien Loeb, Marcus Gronholm and Petter Solberg, American drift star Ken Block, and two-time DTM Champion Mattias Ekstrom.
Current cars include the Audi S1, Ford Focus and Fiesta, VW Polo and Beetle, Citroen DS3 and Peugeot 208, all featuring all-wheel drive and up to 450kW of turbocharged four-cylinder power. Acceleration off the line is quicker than a Formula One car from 0-100km/h.
Of the season’s 12 rounds, 10 are held at venues in Europe including Catalunya and Hockenheim F1 Circuits, and one is staged in Canada. The Killarney round is the only event held in the Southern Hemisphere, and is the only FIA World Championship certified event held in sub-Saharan Africa.