Karters in hot form
ON SATURDAY 26 karts took to the Formula K circuit for the last round of the championship, in the hope of improving lap times and win heats to seal victory in the championship.
The majority of the classes in club championship were still undecided going into this last round. The DD2 and 60cc junior classes also scored points in the Eastern Province/Border Regional Championship.
A moderate to fresh north-easterly wind caused increased wind resistance on drivers and karts at certain sections of the circuit, which required drivers to adapt very quickly.
Algoa Karting Club from Port Elizabeth was represented by Bryn High and Murray Gil both in the DD2 class, and Kiesha Potgieter and Kenzo Barnard (60cc). Our Queenstown-based driver, Kyle Heideman (Clubman’s Class C), also made the long trip to East London to compete in the championship.
Even though the wind never abated, the superb racing produced by all classes did not disappoint the sizeable crowd of spectators that spent the day with the karters. The DD2 gearbox class had spectators on their feet every heat with the leading drivers changing race positions up to three times in the same lap.
The race results for the day: Cadets 50cc: 1. Redd Scholtz 2. Jordan van der Merwe 3. Heath Vallance.
Scholtz won all three heats, earning him valuable points, while Vallance and van der Merwe never gave up and kept the pressure, waiting for Scholtz to make a mistake.
Junior 60cc: 1. Sebastian Smith 2. Kenzo Barnard 3. Jordan van der Merwe 4. Kiesha Potgieter 5. Red Scholtz 6. Kaylim Padayachee 7. Jordan Dorning 8. Daniel van Zummeren 9. Heath Vallance. Smith had a superb day, winning all three heats, he also bids farewell to the 60cc junior class, and we look forward to see him competing in the bigger engine class next season.
Padayachee, had some misfortune on the day and could not finish higher up on the day, but is still looking strong in the championship. These young drivers and their parents put an enormous effort in to produce such good racing, each individual driver can be very proud of their achievements this season. Clubman’s Class A,B, C
Class A: This is the spot every driver wants to occupy.
Class B: 1. Geoff Stephen 2. Jared de Kock 3. Ashton Nel
Class C: 1. Kyle Heideman,
Rotax DD2:
1. Shaun Gradwell 2. Geoff Stephen 3. Richard Clarke 4. Kevin Vosloo 5. Brent Strydom 6. Craig Borges 7. Murray Gil,
8. David Burberry 9. Jared De Kock 10. Bryn High.
Gradwell and Stephen provided hair-rising racing action, without incident, and with full commitment and no backing-out when entering corners.
Border Karting will honour their 2017 club champions at a gala event on December 8.