Summarize

Delays Only Serve to Draw National Karting Lines Tighter

The start of South African National Rotax Max Karting Challenge may have been delayed for a number of reasons, none of which will diminish the extreme action when it finally commences at Killarney in Cape Town 29-30 March 2022. Not only are monster grids expected from across the country across the board, but the racing is predicted to be tighter than ever, if the action in the various regions so far this year, are anything to go by.

Entries were still pouring in at the time of writing, but rest assured that there will be no quarter asked or given as Gauteng’s finest will be out to unsettle the best in the Cape on their home ground, with a good few from KZN, the EP and elsewhere running interference too. It starts on top, in the premier direct drive gearbox DD2 class where local lads Joseph Oelz, Sebastian Boyd, Jason Coetzee and Storm Lanfear have far more than just each other to deal with in their own back yard.

There’s every chance local wildcards Jurie Swart, Luke Herring and Charl and Kyle Visser will pop out of the woodwork. Never mind, KZN's multiple Rotax Max world champion finding winning form at the last Gauteng regional was ominous. Talking about Gauteng, expect Jamie and Brandon Smith, Nicolas Spanoyannis, Wayland Wyman and Niko Zafiris to be competitive. As will Kian Grottis, Hamza Jassat and Divan Braak. And never underestimate KZN DD2 trio Brent Walden, Nick Wuite and Riley Horner.

DD2 Masters race alone in Max nationals, so it remains to be seen if Morgado competes in the elder class, or if he takes on the younger men. Local lad Conor Hughes is the likely Masters man to beat alongside compatriots Marco Viegas, Jared Jordan and Andrew Thomas. Upcountry men Nick Verheul, Eugene Brittz, Tinahe Ncube, Carlo Gil, and another hot newcomer, Bjorn Roos cannot be overlooked. And then there’s the KZN gang, Jono Pieterse, Shane Foley, Bev and Richard van Heerde and Alistair Mingay… 

The top chain drive solid axle class, Senior Max is another national melting pot. Local lads, double champion Tate Bishop, Charl Visser, Jason Coetzee, Andrew Rackstraw and Storm Lanfear, are all top contenders in national main circuit racing and they’re backed by karters Matthew Wadeley, Ethan Stier and Gio Hartman. They will be up against the best out of Gauteng, Karabo Malemela, Moosa Kajee, Ethan Bostander and Daniel Kruger, and Yifan Li, Jack Rowe and Juandre Nel out of KwaZulu Natal.

Expect fireworks in high school Junior Max. Upcountry kid KC Ensor-Smith has been on form in Gauteng against former SA champion Muhammad Wally, Nicolaos Vostanis, Jayden Goosen, Erich Heystek and Wian Boshoff. But they are up against local Killarney experts, Reza Levy, Reese Koorzen, Joshua Smit, Ethan Deacon and Ashton Repsold. And then there’s also SA champion Troy Snyman leading the KZN attack alongside Uzair Khan, Dhyvien Naidoo, Dylan Watkins, Maahir Wahab and Jonno Wilson…

In the primary school classes Jordon Wadeley may be a surprise under-13 Mini Max favourite alongside Cape neighbours Sabelo Ntuli, Keagan Beaumont, Dale Hobbs, Liam Koekemoer and Matthew Chiwara. But Gauteng lads Caleb Odendaal, Amani Kinyua, Spice Mailula, Georgia Lenaerts, Aadam Kajee and Kegan Martin will have different ideas. As will Travis Mingay, who travels down from KZN looking to continue his winning form at home, along with Harry Rowe and Kyle Spies.

Moving on to under-11 Micro Max, Aiden Beaumont heads the local charge, backed by Michael Danks, Liam Wharton and Matthew Roach, John Norman and Zack McAuley. They will have the undivided attention of the Gauteng party, where Rafael Da Silva, not to be confused with Rafael De Souza, Taylin Patel, Emma Dowling, Matthew Shuttleworth, Santiago Frade and Logan Billau, as well as KZN kid Ryan Falconer, will all be out to upset the locals. 

Liam Wharton has been the kid to beat in baby Bambinos in the WP regionals at Killarney, in spite of Carter Cedras, Michael O’Mahoney, Zac Boshoff, Caleb Lingeveldt and Jayden van der Merwe’s best efforts. All of them have a strong Gauteng contingent to deal with, including the on form Noah Cronje and Brodi Dowling, Diego Antunes, Ronaldo Koen, Bophelo Molatlhegi and Jenson Dias, while Kayden Pistauer will fly the KZN flag.

The first of four rounds of the 2022 South African Rotax Max Challenge, Killarney’s action is open to the public, while out of town fans can follow the action via live streaming across Rotax Max South Africa’s social media, or on www.kart.co.za. The various South African champions over the four national rounds will then represent South Africa at the 2022 ‘Olympics of Karting’ in Portugal at the end of the year, alongside winners of the African Open at iDube in KZN in May.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Rotax Max Challenge

What:Rotax Max Challenge National Round 1 Preview
Where:Killarney Kart Track, Cape Town
When:29-30 April 2022
Community:South Africa National

For further information please contact jennifer@kart.co.za

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