Summarize

Great grids, close racing and a smattering of drama both on and off the track were all part of the deal as the fourth round Gauteng regional Rotax Max Challenge karting championship went down at Formula K in Benoni on Saturday. Something of a ‘pre national’ as some upcountry drivers joined the grid, the locals did well, while one young lady went home smiling after bating all the boys too.

Jamie Smith defended home honours in the premier gearbox class when he held Cape visitor Sebastian Boyd off for the win for the day. The two of them and the ever improving Kian Grottis shard out the race wins, but Grottis took a final race underweight exclusion to slip down the overall order. Which left Divan Braak to third from DD2 Masters winner Eugene Brittz, Brandon Smith and Nicolas Spanoyannis. Philipe Chapat was unbeaten in the DD2 Vets.

None of the three Senior Max winners won the day. That honour fell to consistent Roshaan Goodman, who pipped first and last race winners Karabo Malemela and Olerato Sekudu, Moosa Kajee, Kian Spies and Tristan Losch. Race 2 winner Muhammad Wally was excluded after also ending first in the final. Race 2 winner Wian Boshoff beat double winner KC Ensor Smith to high school Junior Max honours, with Muhammad Wally, Jayden Goosen, Erich Heystek and Nico Vostanis in chase.

Primary school action saw Aadam Kajee beat Kegan Martin two to one in under-13 Mini Max. Caleb Odendaal, Kent Swartz, Amani Kinyua and Durelle Goodman followed. GR Academy lass Emma Dowling’s first race win was enough for her to hold Rafael Da Silva, Tayln Patel, Aiden Beaumont, Logan Billau and Johan Nolte off in under 11 Micro Max. And Noah Cronje blitzed baby Bambino from Brodi Dowling, Ronaldo Koen, Bophelo Molatlhegi, Diego Antunes and Luhan de Wet.

One KZN round remains on 19 June before the real thing, round 2 of the Rotax Max South African National Karting Championship, back at Formula K on 24-25 June.