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Top-class motorsport action returns to Kwa-Zulu Natal this month when the Idube circuit near Pietermaritzburg plays host to round three of the Engen SuperKart championships.
Over 150 drivers will tackle what is regarded as the most daunting kart circuit in the country as the championship race enters its second phase. After Idube there is only the final round at Zwartkops left, so the pressure in all seven championship classes will be intense.
Clayton Herbst is sitting pretty at the top of the points log in the Cadette class for drivers aged between four and eight years. An unbeaten record sees him leading by 25 points over Aedan van Vuuren while Liam Pienaar is a further two points adrift.
Likewise Aston Hare has a full house in the GP Junior class. At each event he's managed to break free of the squabbling pack. Currently Dewald Brummer lies second, just one point clear of former motocross racer Nicholas Surguladze. Jordan Williams, reigning champion Mitchell Licen and Bevan Williams complete the top six. Mitchell though has the home crowd support and by Saturday afternoon the order could well be very different.
It is incredibly tight at the top of the Junior Rok class as only nine points separate the top four. PE based Chassen Bright (Engen Xtreme/PCR) holds a slender three point lead over Benoni's Kyle Mitchell (TonyKart) with Simon Moss (Engen Xtreme/CRG) third ahead of local ace Alex Jacovides (Berea Brake & Clutch/TonyKart) as Daniel Rowe and Peter Daley complete the top six.
Multiple SA motorsport champion Michael Stephen (Engen Xtreme/PCR) looks to have the Rok Cup under control with fellow PE driver Christopher Cuyler (CRG) holding a comfortable second.
There's only two points between Castrol/Birel drivers Wiaan Swart and Brandon Auby in the battle for third with Simon Moss (Engen Xtreme/CRG) and Mike van Niekerk (TonyKart) also in the picture. Moving onto the Rotax powered classes and Caleb Williams (Red Bull/PCR) heads the Mini-Max class from Richard Napier (Birel). Mooi River based Sam Tingle (TonyKart) has made a superb effort to get into third and has the likes of Andrew Gatland (PCR), Ian Young (Castrol/Birel) and Olivier Calkoen (Birel) determined to claw their way back into contention along with Toyota' s Development driver Axcil Jefferies (Castrol/Birel).
Trent Williams (Sportstar/PCR) is on top of the Junior Max league, but Kevin de Wit (Magnum Paving/PCR) has shown good form lately and could upset the applecart. Caleb Williams (Red Bull/PCR) has surprised many with his pace in this class and lies third, seven points clear of Devin Robertson (Big Boss/CRG) who scored a orale boosting win at Vereeniging last month. Not far behind are Vicki Kemp (Birel) and Escourt's Riccardo Raciti (PCR).
So far this season the Max Challenge has provided the fireworks and Capetonian David Perel (PCR) has kept his head to lead the title race by ten points from Durban's Ralph Odendaal (PCR). Third, and more than capable of taking the championship lead, is Free State based Willem Botha (Marlim/CRG). Next up is Mathew Hodges (Birel). He's had his fair share of bad luck this year and has his sights firmly fixed on the chequered flag. Chasing him are Kyle Lawrence (Birel) and Dean Lester (CRG), but it is tight and any of the six could leave KZN and head into the final round with the championship lead.
Qualifying takes place from 2:00 pm on Friday with the first Pre-Finals for Junior Max and Max Challenge scheduled to start at 4:00 pm. Saturday's full day of action kicks off at 09:00. For more information please contact the organisers on 0783814962 |
