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• Gymkhana GRiD World Finals in SA on 1 December 2018
• Celebrating Gymkhana GRiD’s 7th year of competition
• Totally unique competition format at Carnival City
• 50 international drivers, two classes
One of Motorsport’s most unique competitions – attracting a full grid of elite international drivers is set to hold its world final in South Africa this year. That’s right; Gymkhana GRiD is back, and returning to Carnival City Johannesburg, at the end of the 2018 competition season.
This not only means a one-of a kind racing spectacle will be going live on December 1st, but also, for all except two drivers, there’s a chance for redemption and a second shot at the coveted GRiD podium.
Testing man and machine
For the series seventh year of tyre slaying, GRiD returns to the vast Carnival City Resort complex, with a faster, and more technical track layout – offering a fresh set of challenges to test man and machine to the absolute edge of their performance.
Last year the Savannah of shred and a Braai of burnouts witnessed reigning FIA World Rallycross Champion Johan Kristoffersson (All-Wheel Drive) and four-time Gymkhana GRiD rear-wheel drive class champion Luke Woodham steal the show in the final battles, leaving the rest of the field in their dust. Now the scene is set for a sequel of epic proportions.
"It gets harder and harder every year. There are some big names coming over to South Africa, and I want to put up a good fight for the title again. Certainly I never expected to win it two times in a row, let alone three or four times in succession. But by all means I’m coming back in better shape than before – faster, and stronger," Luke Woodham explains.
A different experience
"There’s a lot of pressure for sure – most of which I put on myself, but mainly I’m just excited now to get there and drive at GRiD again. It’s the part of the race season I work all year towards, it’s on my mind nearly everyday; it’s one of the biggest and best events which I look forward to. It’s so much fun to drive because GRiD is so different from anything else," he adds.
FIA World Rallycross Champion, Johan Kristoffersson, continues: "It’s going to be a little bit different this year – now I know what to expect, and what to focus on to be quick! Gymkhana GRiD is very different to other events, and it’s a great challenge.
Image: Monster Energy
"I’ve raced in a lot of different categories and styles - rally, rallycross, and circuit racing; and Gymkhana is totally unique, as it’s a mix of so many skills. To see all the different drivers come to race with their own cars – which they have built themselves – is really cool to see too. So I’m definitely excited to be heading back to South Africa.
"I know that my team mate [Petter Solberg] is looking to reclaim the winning trophy too, and he will be pushing 110%, as he always says!"