Eight classes of karting will tackle Celso Scribante this weekend, to contest this year's South African championship. Picture: Steve Wicks.
This year, for the first time since 2008, all eight of the country’s classes will compete on the same day, rather than in separate road shows.
In the twin speed Rotax DD2 class the obvious man to beat is current DD2 Masters World Champion Cristiano Morgado (TonyKart). Eugene Britz (CRG), Ryan Frost (Top Kart), Benjamin Habig (TonyKart), Nicholas Verheul (CRG) and Fabienne Lanz (FK) will try to make his life difficult.
Ewan Taylor (Birel), Luke van Rensburg (Zanardi) and young Bradley Liebenberg (Birel) could upset the applecart. Other news is that Wesleigh Orr (Energy) will return to racing.
The Max Challenge for drivers over 15 years old is a traditional kart class – single cylinder two-stroke 125cc engine, but with no gearbox whatsoever.
Gauteng’s Kyle Lawrence (CRG) will have his work cut out fending off the likes of 2013 champion Luke Herring (Zanardi) and Chad Maciver with Julian van der Watt (Zanardi), Jurie Swart (Birel) and Jonothan Aberdein (TonyKart) also sniffing for a win.
Junior Max (13 to 15) uses the same engine but in restricted form. This will be a bunfight of note as Jordan Sherratt (Birel), Clinton Bezuidenhout (Kosmic), Stuart White (Zanardi), Delon Thompson (Birel) and Joshua Dias (Haase) take on Capetonians Henry Bam (Zanardi), Kohen Bam (Kosmic) and Delano Fowler (TonyKart).
Mini Rok (8 to 12) could provide the biggest field of the day.
The current form man is Saood Variawa (Top Kart) with opposition from Wayland Wyman (Top Kart) and Dillon van Vuuren.
Junior Rok is another tough class to call but Keagan Masters (TonyKart), Kashen Naicker (Zanardi) and Delon Thompson (Top Kart) will fight at the front.
Super Rok (over 15 yrs) will be watched with great interest as the diminutive Chassen Bright (Zanardi) takes on Energy driver Simon Moss. Ayrton Goode and Benjamin Habig head the TonyKart runners and local ace Bryn High will be out to prove a point.
Last, but not least, the Cadet class for 4- to 8-year-olds is where the young stars of tomorrow learn racecraft and get the taste for
victory.
The first heats of the Rotax classes will be held on Friday, March 21, with the remaining races filling an action packed programme with racing starting at 9.30am. The Celso Scribante circuit is located in Victoria Drive and a grassy embankment in front of the clubhouse provides excellent viewing.