Regional karting returns to WPMC after what has been a very long break in the racing calendar. The excitement is building as we get closer to this weekend’s Round 5 of the WP Kart Championship.
Throughout all the classes the Championship fights are heating up and 2022 has delivered some of the best Regional racing we have seen in years and some of the biggest entry lists since that horrible virus.
As this weekend also sees Round 5 of the Extreme Festival hosted by the East London Grand Prix circuit, the clash will sadly see a number of the Capes’ finest drivers missing out at Killarney. The clashes are unfortunate, but nonetheless, the WPMC Karting Sections sends out its best wishes to all the local stars competing as they represent the club. These drivers are a testament to the very purpose of kart racing in the Cape as they now tackle the best drivers from South Africa across Touring Cars and Single Seaters.
It’s the last month of Winter so expect some chilly temperatures, especially on race day morning.
Bambino (5th – 9th birthday)
We’ve seen numerous winners so far this year in Bambino and there should be plenty left in the tank for these youngsters. They just don’t seem to ever run out of energy.
Liam Wharton (Topkart) still holds onto the top spot in the Championship, but 2022 has been a very competitive year for Bambino racing. He will have his hands full to hold off rookie sensations Michael O’Mahoney (RDSA Topkart) and Zac Boshoff (Topkart) who are competing in their first ever full season of racing. Boshoff is fresh off a win in Round 4 while O’Mahoney has shown serious race pace as of late.
Zach McAuley (Topkart) is another very fast young man who has also tasted victory and is still in contention and Carter Cedras (Topkart) has been in the mix grabbing a few podiums and unsettling the usual top guns. They are joined by Jayden van der Merwe (Topkart) who has been lightning fast in practice lately and Logan Roehrig (Topkart), who will be hoping to join the chasing pack as well.
Caleb Lingeveldt (RDSA Topkart) and Micah Corneilse (Topkart) are set to continue their entertaining on-track shenanigans and Jacques Lewis (Topkart) will be excited to continue his first-ever season of racing.
Kid ROK (6th – 10th birthday)
The usual contingent of Kid Rokkers is set to resume battle at Round 5 with Max Boshoff (Exprit) looking to be the odds-on favourite for a top step. The 2021 Champion has been in great form this season.
The battle for the remaining spots for the podium will certainly go down behind Boshoff though as regular National driver Aashay Nagura (Exprit) will look to keep out Logan Roehrig (Exprit), Max Denisov (Tony Kart) and Bambino star Zac Boshoff in his OTK machine.
If all goes to plan for the older Boshoff brother Max, then it should be plain sailing, but this is racing and it rarely does.
Micro MAX (7th – 12th birthday)
The Micro Max class continues to house the National heroes of tomorrow and this weekend is no different.
Aiden Beaumont (RDSA Strive Racing CRG) holds a commanding lead in the Championship but will be relishing the opportunity to go wheel to wheel with his good friend and Championship rival Michael Danks (CRG). Danks has improved to the point where he can competitively challenge Beaumont for the win. You don’t want to miss this.
Right behind them will be Matthew Roach (CRG), who has shown great potential and can pounce on the front 2 if they slip up while Liam Wharton (CRG) and Zach McAuley (Zanardi) will be in a close battle of their own once again.
Rookies, Nicolas Lennox (Zanardi) and Ruan Lewis (CRG) will be joined by KZN traveller Ryan Falconer (Sodi Kart), as all three will look to get in some quality performances this weekend.
Mini ROK (8th – 13th birthday)
Mini Rok is set to be a belter on Saturday with 10 karts all vying for glory.
Regular WP front runners William Marshall (Tony Kart), Sebastiano Human (Tony Kart), James Nash (LN Kart) and Kid Rok star Aaron Mason (LN Kart) all have a shot at the win, but the inform Marshall will need to falter for one of the other three to snatch it. Marshall has won all but one heat in 2022.
They will be joined by current Kid Rok Championship leader Max Boshoff (Exprit) who has been putting in the work to improve his Mini Rok pace. Let’s see how he fares this weekend.
Added to the melting pot, the local lads will have Gqeberha brothers Joshua and Jack Moore in their LN Karts to contend with. This is one fast set of siblings who will be right up there with the front runners.
Rounding out the grid are out of towners, Manelisi Nkomo (Sodi), Aadiv Singh (Exprit) and Namibian National driver Cecil Koorts (Tony Kart).
Mini MAX (9th – 14th birthday)
Keagan Beaumont (RDSA Strive Racing CRG) leads out what has been an epic championship fight so far. His rivals have bridged the gap with him and there are no longer easy wins available. Every point and position has to be fought for.
Hot on his heels, Jordon Wadeley (EMR Kartsport CRG) and Sabelo Ntuli (CRG) are raring to go. Ntuli took the overall victory last time out and is on fire. While Wadeley returns after some great showing at National level.
Matthew Chiwara (ANGRI Sodi kart) is looking rapid of late and will be pushing to get back into the top 3.
Dale Hobbs (BirelArt) and Liam Koekemoer (Nashua Cape Town LN Kart) will have their heads down to catch the top dogs. They have the experience and the ability to be right up there, they just need a good weekend to boost their confidence. Watch this space.
Junior MAX (12th – 16th birthday)
Reese Koorzen (RKT Parolin) arrived in a big way this season, and all but in his rookie year. The Parolin driver has reached new levels as he continues to push himself to greatness. As the current leader, it looks like he won’t be beaten anytime soon.
Ethan Deacon (Stier Racing OTK) is another welcome surprise who has fitted right at home in the Junior Max class. His pace keeps improving as he continues to rack up podiums.
Ashton Repsold (Lidicious CRG) is a driver who only knows how to go flat out. He keeps going from strength to strength and continues to be a threat to the front runners.
Joshua Smit (S&S Racing LN Kart) has endured a tough first season in the class and will be looking for some consistent finishes without any incidents.
Jude Stuart (CRG) has also had a tough time getting to grips with the bigger faster kart but has the talent to join the pack.
Joining the grid for the first time is Mini Max star Jordan Wadeley (EMR Kartpsort CRG). He has been loving the new kart and will be looking to round off a good first weekend of racing in Junior Max.
Senior MAX (14th birthday +)
Once again some very big names are missing from the entry list as they travel for National Main Circuit duties.
High schoolers Matthew Wadeley (EMR Kartsport CRG) and Ethan Stier (Stier Racing OTK) will have top Senior Max driver Storm Lanfear (RDSA / Cylce of Life Kosmic) to deal with as he returns to the grid after some time away. This will be an epic duel to watch.
Add Junior Max star Reza Levy (EMR Kartsport CRG) to the mix. He is set to make his Senior Max debut this weekend as he is now old enough and big enough to play in the top chain-driven category in the province, watch out for his progress throughout the weekend. He might even grab a win or 2 if he gets comfortable.
Gio Hartmann (CRG) and Jaden Jacobs (OTK), are a duo who keep on delivering. The pair have been infused into their own battle which has been fiery, to say the least. They could also be in for some good points with the absence of some of our usual frontrunners.
Zac Laden (Kosmic) rounds out the grid and is set to make his karting debut.
DD2 (15th birthday +) and DD2 Masters (32nd birthday +)
Joseph Oelz looks set to be unchallenged in the Premier DD2 gearbox class this weekend. Not only is his National and Regional rival Sebastian Boyd missing from the entry list, but a healthy contingent of regular top DD2 runners will be in action at the Extreme Festival in East London.
This opens the door for the incredibly talented Storm Lanfear to step up and give Oelz something to worry about, Lanfear has shown for some time now that he has the speed in DD2, but we will have to wait and see what he can do this weekend.
Gil Simoes returns for some more gearbox action. He has come on very well of late and will be looking to continue his progress, while a big welcome is due to ‘The King Of Crypto’ – Sheldon Diedericks as he is set to make his karting debut this weekend.
In Masters, it has all been about Conor Hughes this season. He once again goes into the weekend as the favourite for a full haul of Championship points. Having recorded his first race win last time out, Jared Jordan will be keen to take it to Hughes once again when racing get’s underway on Saturday.
Firmly in with a shout at upsetting Hughes upfront is Marco Viegas. He is rapid on his day and will aim to convert his speed into solid points this weekend, while Andrew Thomas (Racebook | RDSA CRG) will be hoping for a better run than he had last time out.
Andre Steenkamp makes a welcome return to the grid having not raced since the Cape Town National and will have WPMC legend Johan Hamman looking for a scrap while Niel Lambrechts and Brendan Lennox return for more DD2 action in their relatively short karting careers.
WP Clubmans (14th birthday +)
Luca Wehrli (Tony Kart) has been miles ahead of the chasing pack so far in 2022, and unless his ROK OKJ motor gives way on Saturday, you can expect much of the same. The bulk of the fights will most likely go down in Wehlis’s wake.
Heading up the challenge from behind will be Andre le Riche (Seleka Racing Kosmic). This young karter had an impressive main circuit Formula Vee debut last weekend and will be keen to hang on Wehrli for as long as possible.
Right behind will be PJ Garbutt (CRG) and Andre’s father, Sean le Riche (Seleka Racing Kosmic). These elder statesmen certainly know how to peddle a kart and will be gunning for a podium this weekend.
Jason McArthur (CRG) Jade Smith (PCR) Ethan Rutter (Arrow) and Nathan Selley (CRG) are all very evenly matched on race pace. Who will emerge on top of this battle and will Christopher Flack (FPE Arrow) have anything to say about it? Only time will tell.
A big welcome back to Cycle of Life duo, Jade (Kosmic) and Gabi Lanfear (CRG). These lasses have proper karting experience and it will be intriguing to see how they tackle the ‘club men’ around them. Be prepared for them to find their feet quickly.
Declan O’Connor and Dean Reichh both running CRG come back for a second run in the class while Jermone Alfred makes his debut.
Boasting the biggest single class this weekend, WP Clubmans is set to be a cracker.
Conclusion
No one can wait to see the karting pits come alive once again this weekend. Western Province Karting is back and it’s set to be epic.
Boasting a record number of entries, the state of the club looks great.
It’s going to be an action-packed weekend so dress warm and come fill the stands for some 2-stroke racing fun.
See you there!
Issued on behalf of Western Province Motor Club (WPMC)