21/09/09 - The international Superstars circuit racing series for V8-engined production cars will make its first appearance outside Europe when it comes to Kyalami in Gauteng on December 12 and 13 and not in November as originally planned. Tickets will go on sale at Computicket outlets countrywide from Thursday, October 1. Prices range from R80 (general access) to R180 (Gold Plus grandstand) on Saturday and R100 to R400 on Sunday. Special weekend packages (Saturday and Sunday) priced from R150 (general access) to R500 (Gold Plus) are available.

Superstars is in its sixth year and one of the fastest growing international saloon car series with strong backing by a number of manufacturers of luxury, high-performance four-door saloon cars. These include BMW (550i, M5 and M3), Audi (RS4), Jaguar (S-type R), Chrysler (300C SRT8), Chevrolet (CR8), Cadillac (CTS-V) and Mercedes (C-63 AMG). The regulations allow for four-door V8-engined production cars with a capacity between 3.0 and 7.0 litres.

“This is the first time this series be staged outside Europe and we are thrilled to be able to host these exciting cars in Gauteng,” said Stephen Watson, CEO of the Gauteng Motorsport Company. “Motor sport fans, particularly those who love the big sound and big performance of highly tuned V8s, for the first time presented in the kind of luxury cars that many aspire to own, can look forward to a family-oriented weekend to remember.”

There will be races on both Saturday and Sunday as well as supporting events featuring some of South Africa’s top circuit racing categories and drivers. Kyalami will be the finale of the nine-round series that started in Imola in Italy in April. The next round is at Mugello in Italy on Saturday (September 27).

Currently leading the championship after six rounds is former Formula One driver Gianni Morbidelli in a ROAL Motorsport BMW M3 with 151 points. Second and third, on 126 and 114 points respectively, are Stefano Gabellini (CAAL Racing BMW 550i) and former F1 driver Pierluigi Martini (Zakspeed Chrysler 300C SRT8).