WPMC Karting hosted the 7th Round of The Western Province Kart Championships at the Killarney International Raceway on Saturday, October 28, 2023. It was an action-packed event, showcasing the best Regional karting talent in the heart of Western Cape.
With fierce competition and heart-pounding races, the Karting Section delivered a spectacular show that left fans on the edge of their seats as they cheered on drivers jostling for position and chasing all-important Championship points.
Join us as we dive into the highlights.
Bambino (5th – 9th birthday)
In Bambino, it was a weekend dominated by young talent and determined spirit. Yaqeen Gamieldien emerged as the star of the show, delivering an exceptional performance by securing pole position and clinching victory in all three races, earning him the overall win and maximum points towards his Championship campaign.
Current Championship leader, Michael O’Mahoney, faced stiff competition and managed two second-place finishes and a third, which landed him in second overall, while Slater Smith showcased his skills, earning a well-deserved second place in race 3 and securing the final step on the overall podium.
The action wasn’t limited to the top contenders, with Radhi Harris putting in notable drives by claiming third place in the opening two races of the day, ultimately finishing fourth overall. Jake Steyn and Caleb Lingeveldt followed closely behind, rounding out the top six.
The results were completed by the talented trio of Carter Cedras, Ebrahim Khalfey, and Jacques Lewis, who showcased their abilities throughout the day.
In an additional heat, the Bambino’s revisited a missed race from earlier in the year, where Gamieldien once again emerged as the victor, with Smith and O’Mahoney following in his tracks. The stage is now set for an epic finale in 2 weeks.
Micro MAX (7th – 11th birthday)
Rotax Micro Max delivered surprises and outstanding performances. Kiyaan Reddi emerged as the unexpected star of the weekend, leaving everyone in awe of his remarkable efforts on track.
Championship leader Liam Wharton initially set the pace by securing pole position during qualifying and clinching victory in the first race. However, Reddi displayed impressive consistency by finishing second in each of the opening two races, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown. In a twist of fate, Wharton faced a difficult Race 2, finishing in P5, which opened the door for Reddi.
In a closely contested race 3, Reddi secured a narrow victory, marking his first overall win in the Micro Max Class. The combination of his consistent performance and Race 3 win was enough to claim the top spot on the podium. Wharton settled for second place, while Race 2 victor Michael O’Mahoney took the third step.
Jayden van der Merwe, though he showed moments of promise throughout the day, narrowly missed out on a podium finish, with his best results being P3 in races 1 and 2. The top 6 were rounded out by Carter Cedras and Ruan Lewis, who also had good scoring days in their machines.
Zac Hindley, Ashaan Reddi, and Mia Hermanus completed the Micro Max results, further highlighting the depth of competition in this exciting class. The unpredictable and highly competitive nature on display deems well for an exciting end to this Championship on 11 November.
Mini Rok (8th – 13th birthday)
Aaron Mason made a triumphant return to Mini Rok, showcasing his racing abilities to make an impact from the very get-go.
Mason made a strong statement by claiming pole position and following it up with victories in the first and second races. While he narrowly missed out on the top spot in the final race of the day, his consistent performance earned him the overall victory, making it a fantastic day for him and his team.
Sebastiano Human, the current Championship leader, displayed his resilience by securing second place in each of the opening two races. He then made a comeback in the final race, winning it and securing second overall.
The battle for the final step of the podium was nothing short of titanic, and it was Onwabile Mcinga who emerged victorious, bringing delight to his camp. Zac Boshoff claimed fourth place, followed closely by Max Denisov and Logan Roehrig, rounding out the top six.
Notably, regular front-runner Max Boshoff found himself in seventh place, indicating the intense competition and unpredictability of the day. Debutant Kiyaan Reddi showcased promise by finishing ahead of Aadiv Singh, Ashaan Reddi, and Ruhan Victor.
The Mini Rok Class will continue to deliver when they resume battle at the final race of the season on 11 November.
Mini MAX (9th – 13th birthday)
In the fiercely contested Mini Max races, it was all about Michael Danks. From the morning’s qualifying session to the three subsequent races, Danks demonstrated his dominance on track with a stellar pole position, and he continued to impress by securing victory in all three races, leaving no room for his competitors to disrupt his path to the top step of the podium.
Franco Bensch had an eventful day, experiencing its fair share of ups and downs. However, he ultimately secured second place overall, which he can be proud of. His day ended on a positive note with a strong P2 finish in the final race.
Matthew Roach delivered a solid performance, ultimately landing on the final step of the podium, showcasing his racing capabilities. The top six were completed by Nicolas Lennox, Zach McAuley, and Mikko Arries, all of whom demonstrated their desire to better themselves at each asking throughout the day.
Danks’ commanding display in Mini Max sets the stage for an exciting championship battle as the season comes to a close on 11 November. He will likely have the returning duo of The Beaumont Brothers to deal with, along with a bunch of others all hungry for the spoils.
Junior MAX (12th – 14th birthday)
Rotax Junior Max witnessed a dominant performance by William Marshall, as he left no room for doubt about his abilities around the Killarney Kart Track.
Marshall’s day started with a commanding pole position, and he continued to impress by securing victories in all three races. He made winning look easy, taking easy wins in the first and second races. However, race 3 saw a spirited challenge from Jordon Wadeley, who pushed him to the chequered flag.
Wadeley’s consistent performance, with three second-place finishes on the day, secured him a handy second spot on the final podium.
James Nash also stood out with an impressive performance, clinching the final spot on the podium. The fight for the remaining positions was intense, with Ethan Deacon emerging as the best of the rest in fourth place ahead of Matthew Chiwara, Anwill April, Cole Hewetson, and a determined Joshua Smit, who faced a challenging return to the class.
In an additional heat, where drivers revisited a missed race from earlier in the year, Jordon Wadeley emerged as the victor ahead of William Marshall and James Nash, with the top three crossing the finish line within one second of each other, underlining how close this Junior Max field can be.
The excitement is building for the final round of what has been an epic year-long battle for supremacy in this talented class.
Senior MAX (14th birthday +)
The Senior Max spotlight was firmly on Charl Visser, the current 2023 Polo Cup Champion and he duly delivered while exhibiting sublime form this past weekend.
Visser’s day started with a pole position, and he continued to impress in the three subsequent races, securing victory in each of them. His dominant display has also kept his hopes alive for the Senior Max Regional title.
Julius Schwager delivered one of his best performances to date, securing second place in races 1 and 3, and a third-place finish in race 2, which earned him a well-deserved second spot overall and Matthew Wadeley also put on a strong showing, securing the final step on the podium.
Polo Supa Cup star Tate Bishop had a day that didn’t meet his usual high standards, finishing fourth overall while Ethan Stier, Gabriele Gazzilli, and debutant Jude Stuart completed the top-scoring positions, contributing to the talent of this competitive Senior Max field.
Visser’s dominant performance sets the stage for an exciting and closely contested Senior Max Regional title showdown when the final round of the season takes place on 11 November.
DD2 (15th birthday +) and DD2 Masters (32nd birthday +)
DD2 was as highly competitive as anticipated. The action was intense and quickly evolved into a thrilling four-way battle for top honours.
2023 National DD2 Champion Sebastian Boyd, wasted no time in making his mark. He secured pole position and went on to clinch victories in the first two races putting his head down and grinding out the lap times. Although he settled for a third-place finish in the final race, those earlier victories were enough to secure him the overall win and place him in a prime position to vie for the championship title when the final round takes place on November 11.
Joseph Oelz put on an impressive display, securing second place on the day. His best showing came in the final race, where he claimed a well-deserved victory, narrowly edging out Jason Coetzee in a closely contested battle for position.
Reza Levy meanwhile showcased his talent by finishing in second place in the final race of the day.
As has been the case all season long, DD2 promises an exciting championship conclusion in November as these top karters lay it all on the line for Regional Karting glory.
DD2 Masters continues to be fiercely competitive in the Cape and it took Jared Jordan in top-notch form, to emerge as the overall winner this past weekend.
Jordan’s campaign began with an impressive pole position. four-tenths clear of his rivals. He continued to impress with victories in the first and third races where his consistency on track earned him top spot on the podium, securing the overall win.
Current Championship leader Conor Hughes, put up a great fight, claiming a victory in the second race. His strong performance across the day landed him in second place overall ahead of Michael Jordan, whose trio of third-place finishes in each race was enough to secure him the final step on the podium.
The competition for the remaining positions was intense, with Niel Lambrechts showcasing grit and determination on his way to fourth place. Eugene Clark and Andrew Thomas rounded out the results.
The DD2 Masters Class has provided thrilling and closely contested racing action throughout the season. Expect this to continue as the title fight comes to a head on 11 November.
WP CLUBMANS
WP Clubman’s once again delivered its thrilling spectacle, and it was Luca Wehrli who emerged as the victor in the Gold Class. The competition was fierce, with Jade Lanfear making a strong statement early on by securing an incredible pole position during qualifying and a race win in the final race of the day, challenging Wehrli every step of the way. In the end, Wehrli’s consistency saw him come out on top, with Lanfear securing a well-deserved second place. Sean Le Riche claimed the third spot on the podium, while Christopher Flack followed in fourth place.
In the Silver Cup, it was Jade Smith who emerged as the victor, displaying his improvements of late. He was followed by Ethan Rutter and PJ Garbutt, who completed the podium.
With only one round left this season, the WP Clubmen and Women can’t wait to hit the track again for one last time in 2023.
Conclusion
Round 7 of the Western Province Kart Championships provided an unforgettable day of regional karting action. From the youngest talents in the Bambino and Micro Max Classes to the more experienced racers in the Mini, Junior Max, Senior Max and DD2, the event was filled with intense competition, surprising twists, and outstanding performances.
As the championship battles continue to unfold and intensify, one thing is certain: Cape Town’s karting scene is brimming with talent and promise, setting the stage for a thrilling season finale and beyond.
Make sure to not miss any of the final round action on 11 November at the WPMC Karting section, found in the middle of the Killarney Racing Complex.
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Issued on behalf of Western Province Motor Club (WPMC)