Next year’s Kyalami 9 Hour – which once again stages the final round of 2021’s Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli campaign – will take place on December 3-4.
Confirmation comes two days before the same South African venue hosts this year’s championship showdown in which three manufacturers and nine driver crews can still win their respective titles.
The series’ provisional 2021 calendar, which was issued at the Total 24 Hours of Spa in October, only confirmed that Kyalami would take place at some point in December. Since then SRO Motorsports Group and the 9 Hour’s organisers have worked to find a suitable date for teams and manufacturers initially travelling from Europe but who may also wish to continue to Australia for the subsequent Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour.
December 3-4 offers the perfect scenario.
The FIA Motorsport Games, which are expected to feature an expanded GT element in 2021, conclude SRO’s European programme in late October. The following four weeks provide ample time for cars and equipment to be sea-freighted to South Africa.
The same then applies over Christmas and New Year for those wishing to race at Mount Panorama, which returns to Intercontinental’s schedule in early 2022. Its omission from next season’s calendar – due to Australia’s international travel restrictions – has resulted in a four-race #IntGTC calendar also featuring the Total 24 Hours of Spa (Europe), Suzuka 10 Hours (Asia) and Indianapolis 8 Hour (North America).
South Africa’s current covid-19 restrictions will prevent spectators from attending the Kyalami 9 Hour in person this year. However, locals and fans around the world can catch every session and all nine hours live and for free without interruption or geo restrictions on SRO Motorsports Group’s GT World Youtube channel this Friday and Saturday. SuperSport will also carry live coverage across South Africa throughout the weekend.
2021 INTERCONTINENTAL GT CHALLENGE POWERED BY PIRELLI CALENDAR
R1 – Total 24 Hours of Spa – July 31 – August 1
R2 – Suzuka 10 Hour – August 21-22
R3 – Indianapolis 8 Hour – October 16-17
R4 – Kyalami 9 Hour – December 3-4
Source. SRO Motorsports Group
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