12 Feb SEFAC AND A1

Continuing the racing red theme, red was the dominant colour when local Ferrari club SEFAC invited owners on a tour that included a visit to FMM, lunch, a museum tour and an introduction to a proposed new SA single-seater racing series planned for SA. No less than 29 Cavallino Rampante (Prancing Horse – the symbol of Ferrari) from around the country were given an opportunity to exercise their thoroughbred nature on Die Plaaspad and the sights and sounds were impressive. Adding to the occasion were two (non-red) Ferraris from FMM’s classic collection, which were on static display.

As part of the proceedings, a special presentation at the gathering was made by Afrix Motorsport, a South African organisation that has acquired all the cars, parts, jigs etc of the international A1 Grand Prix racing series that took place between 2005 and 2010. The cars are effectively the 2004 Ferrari F1 car, which was designed by South African Rory Byrne. For the new series, they will be powered by a race-tuned version of the 4,5-litre Ferrari 458 engine. A number of races are being scheduled for November 2016 to March 2017 (the European off-season) and it is hoped the series will attract both local and overseas teams and drivers. At present, races have been pencilled-in for Kyalami and Phakisa with a street circuit in Port Elizabeth and events in Durban and Botswana also being discussed. MM