Round 6 marks the entry into the final third of the 2022 Western Province Karting Championship. Can you believe it’s August already? Seems like just yesterday we kicked the season off.
With only 9 races left per class, it’s going to get very lively from here on out. The stakes are as high as ever and many of the classes still have tight fights for the championship. It’s getting really interesting.
Clear skies will set the tone for what will be a fantastic day of kart racing.
Get your tickets and join us for an epic day. The racing will be fierce, the food will be delicious and the stands ought to be packed when that familiar 2-stroke aroma fills the air around.
Let’s get into it.
Bambino (5th – 9th birthday)
2022 has produced some amazing Bambino stars, whose futures look bright. With multiple winners so far this year, the pot could be nearing boiling point.
Liam Wharton (Topkart) managed to return to the top step on the podium in Round 5 but it was no easy task. Wharton is also the current championship leader but Zac Boshoff (Topkart) and Michael O’Mahoney (RDSA Topkart) have been on a relentless hunt of late. Their on-track battles have been sublime and this weekend should be no different. If you can predict the winner you might just win the lotto as well.
Hot on their heels is the duo of Carter Cedras (Topkart) and Jayden van der Merwe (Black Widow Racing Topkart). Packed with loads of quality, these drivers have not been far off and are right up there fighting for the podium spots. Huge praise must go out to van der Merwe who has been a different driver since coming back from the away Nationals.
Moving on to a newer driver, Caleb Lingeveldt (RDSA Topkart) enjoyed a clean and consistent result in the last round. They have been working hard in practice and are on the verge of joining the front runners.
Micah Corneilse (Topkart) is the only remaining C50 kart on the grid but will need to be sharp to beat returning C52 driver Slater Smith (Topkart).
Kid ROK (6th – 10th birthday)
The 2 brothers, Max and Zac Boshoff will get the chance to challenge each other for an overall win. I’m sure their dad will be rooting them on from the sidelines as they manage any threats from Logan Roehrig (Exprit) and Max Denisov (OTK), who will be offered the opportunity to grab the final spot on the podium.
Micro MAX (7th – 12th birthday)
Aiden Beaumont (RDSA / Strive Racing CRG) continues to lead the pack. The youngster in only his 2nd year of Micro Max has stood on the top step for all but 1 Regional in 2022.
Matthew Roach (CRG) and Michael Danks (CRG) have been forced to improve and improve they have. They have pushed themselves to bring their very best to every race and it has allowed them to compete for wins. Let’s see if they can knock Beaumont off his throne on Saturday.
Trailing behind the front pack but by no means slow are Liam Wharton and Nicolas Lennox. They will be wrapped up in their own battle but will be aware that they can score a podium if anything happens up ahead.
A very warm welcome to Aston and Arron van der Merwe who will be making their racing debuts this weekend. We hope you thoroughly enjoy it. Nothing quite like strapping your helmet on for your first-ever race.
Mini ROK (8th – 13th birthday)
Mini Rok looks set for another clash this weekend.
Championship leader William Marshall (OTK) struggled with some reliability issues in the last round which saw him finish well down the order. He will be fully focused on taking home maximum points to make up for it. He will have to keep an eye out for Ethan Lennon (FTW OTK) who is a superstar in his own right. We will be in for a treat to see these 2 top-class drivers go head to head.
Contenders James Nash (Stier Racing LN Kart) and Sebastiano Human (OTK) have shown their potential and have had a strong 2022 season so far. Don’t count them out for a surprise win on Saturday. Max Boshoff (Exprit) has also shown a good turn of pace and has podiums at the back of his mind.
Rounding off the grid are Troy Ribeiro (OTK), Cecil Koorts (OTK) and Aaron Mason (FTW OTK). Both are new drivers to the Mini Rok class and will be looking forward to getting another weekend’s worth of racing experience under their belts.
Mini MAX (9th – 14th birthday)
As we approach Round 6, this has undoubtedly been one of the classes to watch all year long. The high level of competition and the closeness of the racing has been phenomenal. Let’s see what this weekend dishes up.
Keagan Beaumont (RDSA Strive Racing CRG) holds onto a narrow lead in the championship which has been difficult to control. He has received challenges from all angles so expect this one to go down to the wire.
Jordon Wadeley (EMR Kartsport CRG) and stablemate Sabelo Ntuli (CRG) have been bang on form and pose the biggest challenge for the overall win. Wadeley has grown leaps and bounds this year and is showing great composure, while Ntuli has brought raw speed that is unmatched at times. It’s going to be a thrilling fight.
Matthew Chiwara (ANGRI Sodi Kart) and Dale Hobbs (BirelArt) have had uncharacteristically tough seasons. They were regulars on the podium in 2021 but so far haven’t been able to crack the code to get consistent podiums in 2022. Will this weekend finally be the one to propel them onto better results?
Rounding off the grid is another competitive lad, Liam Koekemoer (Nashua Cape Town LN Kart) who is edging closer to the front runners step by step. If there are any mishaps up ahead he will surely capitalise on them.
Junior MAX (12th – 16th birthday)
Junior Max has been incredibly competitive in 2022, but mainly so behind the dominant Reese Koorzen (RKT Boss Parolin). The young man currently leads things out, having not lost a single Regional race this year. He has been untouchable and if all goes right he should take another clean sweep of wins this weekend.
As we mentioned above, the competition for the remainder of the podium places has been fierce.
Joshua Smit (S&S Racing LN Kart) looked like he was the best of the rest 2 weeks ago before suffering a reliability issue. He will be gunning for P2 once again and will have Jude Stuart (CRG), Ethan Deacon (Stier Racing OTK) and Ashton Repsold for company.
Expect some proper wheel-to-wheel action between these gents.
Junior Max newcomer and Mini Max frontrunner Jordon Wadeley (EMR Kartsport CRG) enters what is only his 2nd race day in the class. He showed some real promise in race 3 of the last race. He looked smooth and cracked out some fast lap times. He will no doubt join the mix ahead.
Senior MAX (14th birthday +)
The big 3 of Andrew Rackstraw (RDSA CRG), Tate Bishop (ANGRI Kosmic) and Charl Visser (OTK) are back. 3 big names in South African Motorsport and proudly WP drivers. When they take to the track together you better be ready for the highlight reel they create.
It’s a proper show.
Another superstar who looks like a full-time entry now is Reza Levy (CRG). He will be relishing the chance to test himself against some of the best in the country.
There to play along is current Championship leader Matthew Wadeley (EMR Kartsport CRG) and Ethan Stier (Stier Racing OTK). Both have enjoyed an incredible first season in Senior Max and with each outing show, they have what it takes.
Jaden Jacobs (OTK), Gio Hartman (CRG) and Zac Laden (Kosmic) round off this grid of epic drivers.
Don’t miss this show on Saturday.
DD2 (15th birthday +) and DD2 Masters (32nd birthday +)
The DD2s are all set and truly ready for war. What a grid of drivers.
Joseph Oelz (LN Kart) won last time out in a CRG but will have his biggest rival Sebastian Boyd (Boss Boyd BirelART) back to contend with. With SARMC points up for grabs these 2 will go head to head to get the maximum points.
Kyle Visser (Kosmic) will be looking forward to the action that awaits while Jason Coetzee (Exprit) makes a very warm welcome back to DD2 racing. A talented driver who definitely adds presence to the class. It’s going to be an awesome race day for these drivers.
Don’t forget about Gil Simoes (Jordan Racing CRG) who will be smiling from ear to ear with the prospect of racing against the guys named above. He will be joined by Michael Jordan (Jordan Racing BirelART) and Sheldon Diedericks (BirelART).
In Masters, Conor Hughes (OTK) has been dishing out business as usual. He remains on top but faces a tough challenge from his rivals.
Marco Viegas (CRG) and Jared Jordan (Jordan Racing CRG) have been hot on Conor’s heels and have posted some very competitive times. It’s about time they take the top step on a race day.
Andrew Thomas (RaceBook / RDSA CRG) has been out of sorts this season but is motivated as ever to be fighting up front for wins once again.
Andre Steenkamp (Kosmic) has been rapid for a man who hardly practices. Always good to see him back behind the wheel and he is another driver capable of wins when he is back at his best.
Rounding off this exciting group soaked in experience are the trio of Neil Lambrechts (Zanardi), Johan Hamman (Birel) and Brendan Lennox (CRG).
WP Clubmans (14th birthday +)
Clubmans has seen a real resurgence of late and it’s great to see some of the old names coming back to dice it out.
Luca Wehrli (OTK) will be hoping to continue his dominance but one must wonder how he would fare in a class like Senior Max while the same goes for the very quick Andre le Riche (Racelab / Seleka Kosmic)
The Lanfear sisters Jade and Gabi are back for some more action and have AMD Engineering and Cycle of Life to thank for that. It’s ood to see Jade fit and healthy after her nasty crash at the last round.
Sean le Riche Racelab / Seleka Kosmic) had a great run to the podium last time out and will hope for another good day’s racing while Ethan Rutter (Racelab Arrow) will hope for a less eventful outing.
Another lady driver who you’ll remember from a few years ago is Caitlin Walker (OTK). Welcome back. She will have to be on pace quickly to deal with regulars Jade Smith (PCR), Nathan Selly (CRG) Declan O’Connor (AMD Engineering / Cycle of Life CRG), Dean Reichh (AMD Engineering / Cycle of Life CRG), PJ Garbutt (CRG), Chris Flack (FPE Arrow) and Jason McArthur (CRG)
All look locked and loaded for a titanic battle.
Let’s hope Jermone Alfred gets things ready to be out for his debut this weekend.
What a mix of drivers and boasting a large entry list, this looks set to be entertaining.
Conclusion
Round 6 is geared to be a showstopper.
2022 has been full of surprises. Here’s to many more. This is motorsport afterall.
The WPMC Karting Section will boast a second record-breaking number of entries in as many race days, what a treat.
See you at Killarney on Saturday.
Issued on behalf of Western Province Motor Club (WPMC)