Auby gears up for big race
Brandon Auby, the 18-year-old driving sensation from Johannesburg, is making the final preparations for his debut in the International
Superstars Series at Kyalami this weekend.
After a mad dash back from a test with the Gregg Murphy Australian V8 Supercar team near Melbourne in Australia, Auby, who hasn't even
had a chance to get over his jet lag, is now totally concentrated on his performance this weekend.
"This is an absolutely fantastic opportunity, but it is also without doubt the biggest race weekend of my career, and even though
it'll be at Kyalami, which I am very familiar with, it'll be little comfort, when you look around the grid and see who I'm driving
against!" he said. "I mean, this Superstars thing is really just that - the grid is filled with some of the best saloon car
drivers ever not to mention ex-Formula One guys too - so it will be massive for me to be part of that, absolutely massive!"
Auby will be driving a 6.2 litre, 600Nm Chevrolet Lumina CR8 for the Motor Zone squad, managed by former driver turned team principle
Fabrizio Armetta. Armetta won the first heat of last year's inaugural Kyalami Superstars event, so understands a thing or two about the
circuit and the series.
"Fabrizio has given me a great opportunity, but I will also be looking to him for advice and assistance over the weekend, because
not only does he know the car and team very well, but also Kyalami, so I am hoping with his experience and my enthusiasm we will be able to
collaborate well and achieve a good result," said Auby.
The youngster will also be up against his own team mate, Johnny Herbert. Herbert, a former Formula One driver for Benetton, Tyrrell,
Lotus, Ligier, Sauber, Stewart and Jaguar. Herbert started 161 grands prix and won the Le Mans 24-hour race in 1991, and is one of Britain's
most popular and celebrated drivers.
"MotorZone has entered Johnny Herbert, father-and-son duo Marco and Federico Bonamico in the second car, and the third car will be
driven by myself," said Auby. "Johnny certainly needs no introduction, and is one of motorsport's true characters and superstars.
It will be a really super experience to have exposure at this level of motorsport, and to see firsthand how a guy like Johnny operates over
a race weekend and I am really looking forward to it.
"I have no idea how competitive I'll be and to be honest that's not really the goal. I'm not going to say I'm going to go out there
and win. That would be unrealistic, but not impossible," said Auby with a smile. "What I will say is that I'm going to go out and
have fun and give it my best shot. I hope the crowd will be behind me and I will drive my heart out, but mindful of bringing the car home in
one piece and acquitting myself well for the team."
The 30-minute qualifying session for the International Superstars race is over 30 minutes and will take place from 15h00 on Saturday. The
first of the two 25-minute-plus-one-lap races will get under way at 11h45 on Sunday and will be followed by the rolling start for the second
race at 15h15.