Rotax Max Challenge
Grand Finals view
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Viana do Castello, Portugal -
18.11.2006
It was a weekend that started on a promising
note, but ultimately there was no silverware for the dozen
South African drivers at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand
Finals held on Saturday at Viana do Castello, Portugal.
Tasmin Pepper drove a blinder of a race
in the Junior Max Final to claim eighth place in the 20
lap encounter which was held on a wet track.
Caleb Williams initially held fifth
but slipped back as the race progressed and eventually
salvaged ninth. Next of the SA drivers was Devin Robertson
in 11th place with Kevin de Witt 14th after starting near
the back of the grid.
Victory went to Belgian driver Jorrit
Pex, three seconds clear of England’s Jack Hawksworth.
Things weren’t any different in
the Max Challenge final which was held in pouring rain.
Having been on pace during qualifying, Durban’s
Ralph Odendaal had his hopes dashed when he was shunted
off the track on lap five.
Race favourites Arnold Neveling and Wesleigh
Orr, the latter racing under a Belgian licence, were also
victims of misfortune. Neveling was due to start third,
but was moved to the back of the grid when a hole drilled
in his airbox to let water out was found to be a millimetre
bigger than specified. After a typically gutsy drive in
pouring rain he worked his way into the midfield before
dropping back to an eventual 24th after a late race off
track excursion.
Orr came through to bag 18th, just behind
Mathew Hodges who overcame the odds to end as the top
South African.
Holland claimed the top two positions
as Ricardo Romkema headed Mike Joossens across the line.
Capetonian Wiaan Swart drove the race
of his life to finish fourth in the Rotax DD2 class with
Arnold Neveling in his wheel-tracks despite battling with
a sticky throttle cable.
Orr’s chances were dashed early
when he started from the back after crashing out of the
Pre-Final and then a 15-second penalty dropped him to
ninth. Leeroy Poulter also crashed out of the Pre-Final
and was making good progress until he was hobbled by a
puncture and slipped back to 13th.
All in all it was a disappointing weekend
for the South Africans but there were flashes of brilliance
and had it not been for the weather there may well have
been a different ending.
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