A1GP World Cup of Motorsport makes its first ever visit to South Africa's most famous motor racing circuit, Kyalami, this weekend for round five of the series, Go-GP.Org A1GP Gauteng9.

The Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit is located in Gauteng province, just north of Johannesburg and has a rich history of international motorsport events on four and two wheels. The balanced blend of slow, medium and fast corners and the fact Kyalami is nearly 2,000 metres above sea level will present a challenge to both the race drivers and engineers at this weekend's event.

The event is being supported by a number of commercial partners, including Go-GP.Org, the Gauteng government, SAB Miller, ABI and Neo Africa. Neo Africa will be hosting the exclusive Ignition and Podium parties and Pit Stop Party on the A1GP race weekend, as well as hosting a Charity Supercar Parade on race day for A1GP fans. Neo Africa will also be providing the facilities and communications infrastructure for the media centre at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit.

Home nation A1 Team South Africa, with 22-year-old Adrian Zaugg at the wheel of the distinctively-liveried Vulindlela ("clear the way"), is currently ninth in the championship standings.

"I am always highly motivated to do well for my country, but especially in front of the home fans. We didn't do so well in Durban last year and we haven't enjoyed the start to the season we would have liked, so the Kyalami round is a big opportunity to get some good results and boost our championship points," said the young South African.

Like the other drivers, Zaugg has no racing experience in an A1GP car on the 2.65-mile Kyalami circuit, although he completed a few demonstration laps in the previous A1GP car last year.

"Kyalami can be compared to Zandvoort (Netherlands) or Eastern Creek (Australia). It will present a real challenge to the drivers," he says. "There are ups and downs, quick turns, blind turns, it has a bit of everything. There are some slow and fast chicanes and it's quite bumpy in some places, but it's still a nice mix. Overtaking will be difficult, but there will be one or two places where it will definitely be possible.

"The key will be to have a car that works well over bumps and is good in direction changes. A responsive car will be important."

A1 Team Germany, as previously announced, will make its Season Four debut this weekend in South Africa. The car will be driven by Michael Ammermüller, who has 14 caps and one win to his name in A1GP, and overseen by Team Principal, Rolf Beisswanger.

Nicolas Prost will take on the driver duties in South Africa for A1 Team France this weekend. Prost will take over from Loïc Duval who has driven the majority of races for the team over the last two seasons. It will be the 27-year-old's second ever full race meeting following his run in Chengdu earlier this season.

"After a very positive outing in China the team decided to put its trust in me again, which I'm very happy about," said Prost.

"I'm really looking forward to racing in Kyalami, but I know it will be difficult because the level of competition between the top six or seven guys is really high. I still need to learn a little bit, however, but if I can get the pace we can fight up front."

He should also be able to call on his father for some extra insights into the Kyalami circuit. The last time the circuit was used for a Formula 1 race was 1993 with his father, Alain Prost, winning the race.

"It's difficult for me because everywhere I race my Dad seemed to win there sometime," Prost said in good humour. "I'm really used to that feeling. It's nothing new. If I go to Magny Cours, or wherever, people go ‘Hey do you remember that your Dad…' and I'm quickly like ‘Yes, I remember what my Dad did…' "

A1 Team New Zealand will see the return of Earl Bamber on what will be his first visit to the Kyalami circuit. Bamber will be in the cockpit of Black Beauty for his third A1GP weekend and for what will be his final weekend of being classed as an A1GP Rookie, which has allowed him to take advantage of the extra hour rookie practice on Friday mornings.

The 18-year-old has been in a three-week high performance training programme based in Oxford in the United Kingdom in preparation for the challenging conditions expected in Kyalami. The drivers will have to deal with the high altitude and hot conditions this weekend, which will be demanding on even the fittest drivers on the A1GP grid.

"I'm really excited to be back with the team for the next round of A1GP racing," said Bamber. "I feel the fittest I've ever been after the intensive training in the UK, so combined with a solid review of Taupo I feel we're in a good place as we head to South Africa.

"As a team we need to make sure we keep banking points, but I'd like to be back on the podium at Kyalami. We can't forget that the other nations have also made some good progress with the new car however."