Tarmac Specialists to Compete in Gymkhana GRiD

By Chad Lückhoff

Gymkhana GRiD, the brain-child of the original YouTube Gymkhana superstar – Ken Block, is set to descend on the tarmac of Carnival City in Brakpan over the weekend of 18 and 19 November.

This timed tarmac challenge will see some of the world’s best gymkhana specialists go head-to-head against the best that South Africa has to offer. Over the two days drivers will set out to navigate the tight and complex gymkhana course where obstacles and driving challenges will test their stills. Qualifying will have them doing 360s, reversals, parking box maneuvers and long drifts in a bid to set the best time before the elimination rounds that will follow on Sunday 19 November.

With special guest appearances by stunt-master Terry Grant and demos by Ken Block himself, the day promises to be an extravaganza highlighted by pyrotechnics and dotted with race fuel and tyre smoke.

AutoCircus, powered by AutoTrader, will provide entertainment and variety for the spectators with stalls and activations that will enthrall even the youngest enthusiast. Over 40 of the country’s best automotive suppliers and specialists will be displaying their wares over the weekend.

33 ‘local’ drivers have been selected to compete up against the best in the world in both the All-Wheel Drive and Rear-Wheel Drive categories, including multiple SA National Drift Champion, Monster Energy’s Jason Webb. Other noteworthy names include Otto Graven, Clare Vale, and Vic Pardal in the RWD class, while the AWD class will see the likes of Rob Inglis, Reghard Roets and Evan Hutchinson compete against some of the best AWD drivers in the world.

International entries will only be confirmed closer to the time but you can look forward to seeing the likes of Ken Block, Petter Solberg, Luke Woodham, Riku Tahko and Steve Biagioni (Baggsy) compete under the Monster Energy banner.

Tickets for the event are available through ticketpros.co.za with ticket prices ranging from R415 to R980 for day passes and weekend passes available for R900 (unreserved grandstand seating)

Check out the list of local talent that will be competing and carrying the South African flag proud:

RWD:

• Paolo Gouveia
• Paolo Gouveia snr
• Eric van Eyssen
• Jon van Eyssen
• Gavin Puren
• Brendan Puren
• Stuart Gregory
• Mathys Naude
• Vic Pardal
• Otto Graven
• Izak van Zyl
• Chris Long
• Joey Govender
• Jp van der Spuy
• Riaan Stokes
• Clare Vale
• Bronnie White
• Tommy Beirowski
• Yaseen Damon
• Lorcan Aylward
• Zain Raidan
• Zanil Satar (Moz)
• Jason Webb

AWD:

• Wayne Hay
• Carl van As
• Eric van Eyssen
• Mark Cronje
• Evan Hutchinson
• Reghard Roets
• Sean Pretorius
• Rob Inglis
• Ashley Haigh-Smith
• Chett Meyer