FROM COUCH TO COMPETITION

In the fifth entry of 'Diary of an aspiring racer', Kyle Kock consolidates third place in the GR Cup Media Challenge championship, despite tricky East London conditions.

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All of this year's racing venues brought forth mixed emotions such as fear and anxiety ahead of each round, but none more so than the East London Grand Prix Circuit, which hosted the South African round of the Formula 1 World Championship before Kyalami was constructed in the late 1960s.

The oldest circuit in South Africa, the Prince George Circuit, as it was named, dates back to the 1930s and features the two fastest corners in local motorsport: Potters Pass and Rifle Bend turns 1 and 2.

For most of the media contingent, myself included, this year's GR Cup would mark our first time at the circuit - the exception being TimesLive's Phuti Mpyane, who visited the track on a hot-hatch launch in 2008. We avoided all talk about the historic venue throughout the year, and even after a brief bit of bravado post conquering the Mineshaft at Kyalami, I was extremely nervous ahead of round 5. Owing to the tricky nature of the circuit, the high speeds, and in light of a horrific crash at East London last year in the Media Challenge, Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa made simulator training mandatory ahead of this event.

Risk assessment