Power Series 2 @ Killarney

After a dramatic opening round just four weeks ago, the 2023 Power Series presented by Wingfield Motors gets into top gear on Saturday 4 March with exciting racing featuring a number of new competitors, as well as familiar names in new cars and on new superbikes.

Battle lines have been drawn and challenges thrown down; this is especially true of the Thermo Fires Clubman Saloons, where Steven Heydenrych and his I Marketing/FAT Racing Skyline came out of nowhere to win both races in their Clubmans debut – but doubtless Raaziegh ‘Giant Killer’ Harris (Cool Touch Racing Golf 1) and oval-track veteran Jesse Huggett (Rico Barlow Racing/Philwest Jetta 2) will have something to say about that.

With trophies up for grabs in six classes, the racing will be hot and heavy throughout the field.

The Alert Engine Parts GTi Challenge is the only category at Killarney where classes are determined by engine output; this makes for intense rivalries at the top of each of the three divisions - and very robust racing. Some GTi Challenge drivers say that if you finish the day without any dents on your car, you’re not trying hard enough...

The Laude Classic Cars often field the biggest grid on the programme, bringing back a golden age of racing in South Africa before electronics, when it was possible to build a race car in your garage and take on the best. All the cars in this category are at least 30 years old and their superb performance is as much a tribute to the technical expertise of the teams as it is to the drivers.

Spitfire Furniture Sports and GT races attract a wide variety of high-tech custom built race cars and wildly modified performance road cars. It’s no surprise that the ultimate lap record at Killarney is held by one of these rocket-ships.

They’ll be competing in the inaugural Wild Rose Gin 100km Challenge over 31 laps.

In addition, there are races for the one-make V8 Masters – thundering muscle cars, all identical under their colourful paintwork - as well as the combined Kaltron Formula Supercars and Bejo Trustees Fine Cars, and the Formula Libre single-seaters. While the top contenders are in a class of their own, the Formula Vee ‘brat pack’ can be counted on to deliver some of the tightest racing of the day.

For all three motorcycle categories – the Triumph Superbikes/Superbike Challenge/Masters/600s, the Clubman Motorcycles/Classic Superbikes & Breakfast Runners and the Bridgestone STC 650 & SSP 300 Motorcycles - the whole circuit is an overtaking opportunity and you can expect to see them taking full advantage of that: Anything could happen and usually does!

Pre-book at Computicket or pay at the gate; Qualifying starts at 8:00am and you get a whole day of world-class motor racing on two and four wheels for R80 for adults, R20 for scholars under 16 and free for children under 12; Western Province Motor Club members also get in free on production of their membership books at the gate.

Please bear in mind that if you purchase your tickets online, you will still have to collect the physical tickets, including the free tickets for children under 12, at Computicket or the Computicket outlet at the Money Market counter in your nearest Shoprite, Checkers, Checkers Hyper or Usave store.

There’s ample parking all around the circuit, so bring your beach umbrella or gazebo, bring your picnic basket and your cooler box, light up your skottelbraai, park next to one of our brick braais, or just pick a spot on one of our shaded grandstands and make the day your own.

There are outlets around the facility serving hot snacks and cold beverages – as well as children’s play areas, including the famous Kiddies’ Korner, the coolest party zone on the West Coast, which is available for hire year-round. On Race Day your kids get to use it absolutely free!

Spectators are free to move around throughout the day; grab a spot on the free shuttle service and watch the action from different vantage points. The pits are always open to spectators, so you can also see the cars and motorcycles up close.