“It’s definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity,” says Wimmer, “I’m extremely excited to be included in such an event and need to thank ASA for the invitation.”
Wimmer is one of 26 drivers invited to race the race in South Africa at the end of January. While he’s raced in other countries before, it’s his first time traveling overseas to do so.
“I raced in Mexico a few years ago with the NASCAR Natiownide Series,” says Wimmer, “But traveling to a different continent to race is a new experience. Our cars are actually already there. They were shipped over a month ago, so it’s definitely different preparing for this race and I can’t wait to see what it will be like once we get there.”
Though Wimmer has never seen Phakisa Freeway Speedway, he might have a slight edge over a few of the other racers. “I’ve heard the track in South Africa was modeled after the old Las Vegas Speedway,” says Wimmer, “I got a chance to race there a few times in the NASCAR Series, so I have some idea what it might be like, but it will be a new experience for us all. From what I’ve heard the track has never really been raced on, so it will be interesting to see what it is like.”
Wimmer and his crew leave January 25th and spend a few days in South Africa and at the track before the race on January 31st. “We get almost four days of practice before the race, which will be very nice since none of us are really sure what to expect,” says Wimmer, “Besides the racing, I’m really looking forward to the whole experience. I head they are trying to put together a Safari and some other things for us to do while we are there and it’s going to be really cool to not only race but to take in the whole experience.
The ASA Transcontinental Free State 500k will be shown live on television in South Africa and then televised on the SPEED Channel during Speed Weeks in February.
- Wimmer Racing Public Relations Press Release