Saturday’s Round 5 WPMC Karting Regional will go down as one of the race days of the season. Big entry lists across 9 action-packed classes arrived and delivered in fine style.
Packed grandstands withstood the nippy conditions to enjoy the extremely tight racing as they cheered on their favourite drivers. As is motorsport, some wins were easier than others.
The WPMC Karting Section put on another ripper of a race day, all of which the details from each class can be found below.
Let’s get stuck in.
Bambino (5th – 9th birthday)
In what was a titanic battle from the smallest drivers, Liam Wharton (Topkart) returned to the top step with a hard-fought win. It was just the result he needed to get his Championship hopes back on track. Throughout the day he was challenged by Jayden van der Merwe (Topkart), Michael O’Mahoney (RDSA Topkart) and Zac Boshoff (Topkart), whose DNF in race 2 all but ruined his overall result.
The biggest strides were made by van der Merwe, his National experience at away circuits certainly contributing to his impressive progress. He was right up there at the front and can be very proud to come away with his first Regional podium.
Behind the leaders, Carter Cedras (Topkart) fought hard but just didn’t quite have the pace of the top 3. He held off Caleb Lingeveldt (RDSA Topkart) who finished in P5, both looked very smooth out on track.
Jacques Lewis (Topkart) continues to get to grips with this competitive class and he finished ahead of the unlucky Zac Boshoff (Topkart). Boshoff was often the fastest driver on track but his race 2 exclusion for being underweight ended his hopes for a podium while Zach McAuley (Topkart) missed race 3, which caused him to drop points.
The Bambinos put on an incredible show as usual. It’s getting exciting now with only three rounds to go.
Kid ROK (6th – 10th birthday)
Local man Max Boshoff (Exprit) narrowly took an overall P1 after he was beaten to the line in the first two races by Aashay Nagura (Exprit). Nagura showed incredible speed before a mechanical issue forced him to retire early from race 3.
Behind them, Max Denisov (Tony Kart) was consistent enough throughout the day to claim a podium spot. He was right up there, an impressive feat considering his relatively little karting experience.
It was a tough day for Logan Roehrig (Exprit). He had the pace for a podium finish but just couldn’t convert his speed into points. He did however get a solid P2 in the final race of the day. Rounding out the top 6 were Aadiv Singh (Exprit) and Zac Boshoff (OTK). Both of them had a blast with some respectable results to boot.
Max Boshoff remains the lad to beat with Round 6 just around the corner.
Micro MAX (7th – 12th birthday)
Micro Max was one of the most action-packed and fiercely contested races on the day where any one of the top three drivers could have emerged victorious.
Having received an underweight exclusion in qualifying, Aiden Beaumont (RDSA Strive Racing CRG) then dished out some serious race 1 heroics, where he drove from the back of the grid to take the win. He followed this up with two narrow wins in races 2 and 3 to claim a full haul of Championship points and the overall winner’s trophy for the day.
The racing up front was incredibly close as Matthew Roach and Michael Danks ensured their CRGs joined Beaumont’s on the podium to lock out a CRG 1,2,3. Roach had one of his best performances of the season, enough for a maiden win in race 3 before a nose cone penalty relegated him back to third and Danks showed race-winning pace throughout the day but couldn’t convert. Ultimately any of these three talented drivers could have taken the win.
Bambino graduates Liam Wharton (CRG) and Zach McAuley (Zanardi) continued their improvement and will firmly be contenders once they make the full-time move to Micro Max.
Nicolas Lennox (Zanardi) made steady gains as he battled Ryan Falconer (Sodi Kart) from KZN while Ruan Lewis (CRG) struggled, but he is a talented kid and will come back fighting.
Beaumont has dominated the results sheets, but the racing here is tighter than ever and Round 6 is a mouth-watering prospect.
Mini ROK (8th – 13th birthday)
Gqeberha brothers Joshua (P1) and Jack (P2) Moore piloted their LN Karts to the top two steps of the podium to upset the local contingent of Mini Rokkers. The Moore’s are experienced National drivers and it was no surprise to see them in dominant form upfront. Local star William Marshall (Tony Kart) mixed it up with the Moore brothers in race 1 before suffering an engine failure in Race 2 and another mechanical failure in Race 3 rendering his chances over.
Sebastiano Human (Tony Kart) was the best of the rest as he did enough to secure the final step of the podium ahead of Aaron Mason (LN Kart), who hasn’t been in Mini Rok long and pulled off a great result personified by placing third in race 2.
Stier Racing’s James Nash (LN Kart) endured a challenging day in the saddle on his way to 5th overall, but he will bounce back in 2 weeks’ time.
Kid Rok winner Max Boshoff (Exprit), Cecil Koorts (Tony Kart) from Namibia and the unfortunate Marshall rounded off the final placings.
It’s yet to be seen if the Moore brothers will return for more blood at Round 6, but if they do, it could well throw a spanner in the works as Championship leader Marshall needs a good race day to keep his ambitions on track.
Mini MAX (9th – 14th birthday)
Probably one of the most tightly contested classes in South African Karting at the moment both at Regional and National level, the Rotax Mini Max class delivered terrific action as the top 4 drives engaged in a mega fight for the win.
Positions changed every lap throughout the day and although Jordon Wadeley (EMR Kartsport CRG) took pole position and 2 race wins, he could only get P2 overall after his engine cut out in the middle of race 1.
The ever-consistent Keagan Beaumont (RDSA Strive Racing CRG) was right there to capitalise on Wadeley’s bad luck and did enough to extend his Championship lead with a Race 1 win followed by 2 seconds.
Also part of the 4-way duel for victory was Sabelo Ntuli (CRG) and Matthew Chiwara (ANGRI Sodi Kart). Both applied constant pressure and had the pace to challenge for the win, but it was a P3 for Ntuli and a P4 for Chiwara when all was said and done.
Right behind the four upfront were Dale Hobbs (BirelArt), who pushed incredibly hard in one of his better performances of the season and Liam Koekemoer (Nashua Cape Town LN Kart).
Like his brother in Micro Max, Keagan Beaumont holds a handy lead over his rivals in the Championship. It’s all to fight for though with three rounds left this season.
Junior MAX (12th – 16th birthday)
Standout performances were the order of the day in Junior Max, headlined by Reese Koorzen (RKT Parolin) who was as clinical as ever. He cruised his way to another three Junior Max wins as his dominance continues.
Earning himself an awesome second overall was Jude Stuart (CRG). It was one of his finest displays in a kart and was a pleasure to see his hard work coming together to give him the results he deserves.
Unlike Koorzen, Stuart didn’t have it easy with constant pressure from behind in the form of Ashton Repsold (Lidicious CRG), Ethan Deacon (Stier Racing OTK), Joshua Smit (S&S Racing LN Kart) and impressive debutant Jordan Wadeley (EMR Kartpsort CRG).
There wasn’t much to separate P2 – P6 in terms of lap time as it came down to being in the right place at the right time while consistently getting the kart to the checkered flag. Sadly for Deacon and Smit, they both suffered DNFs during the day which spoilt their overall placings while Wadeley gave race 2 a skip in an attempt to not tire himself too much for his Mini Max challenge.
An exciting day of close action behind Koorzen, who truly now holds one hand on the title, having dominated so much of the season. With Round 6 around the corner, it is all to play for in terms of the remaining Championship position though.
Senior MAX (14th birthday +)
When it comes to Senior Max, one can always expect some of the fastest and closest racing and Saturday’s Round 5 action was no different.
Overall winner Storm Lanfear (RDSA / Cycle of Life Kosmic) was in fine touch as he powered his way to wins in races 1 and 2 before Reza Levy (EMR Kartsport CRG) showed how a true champion makes a comeback. His win in the final race of the day, adding to his couple of seconds ensured he stood proudly on the second step of the overall podium.
Ending third overall, Matthew Wadeley (EMR Kartsport CRG) would have maybe hoped for a little more after taking pole position in the morning qualifying. He was however firmly part of the day-long 4-way fight for the win as was Ethan Stier (Stier Racing OTK), who kept a steady watch on the action in front of him. He too had the pace for the overall win, but when the margins are that tight, a P4 can sometimes feel like a victory.
The ever-hard-working Jaden Jacobs (Tony Kart) impressed again. His head was down and he put in some very fast and consistent laps while Zac Laden (ANGRi Kosmic) gave his best on debut in one of the hardest racing classes in the province.
With Championship leaders missing due to National main circuit commitments, who knows how this Championship will play out?
DD2 (15th birthday +) and DD2 Masters (32nd birthday +)
Joseph Oelz cruised to 3 fairly easy DD2 wins in a loaned CRG. His only real competition came from Storm Lanfear (RDSA / Cycle of Life Kosmic) whose crazy race 1 crash saw his three-wheel kart go flying off into the tyres after one of his wheel hubs broke Other than that and having to start race 2 from the back of the grid, Lanfear showed his raw speed as he followed Oelz home in Race 2 and 3.
Conor Hughes (Hughes Racing Kosmic) put on yet another DD2 Masters masterclass. As per recent form, he claimed another 3 wins in the Master category to secure the top spot in Masters and a P2 overall.
If it sounds like Hughes had it easy, he certainly didn’t. Jared Jordan (Jordan Racing CRG) and Marco Viegas (CRG), who nursed a bent chassis home in race 1 after a start line incident which saw him with two wheels up in the air, were right there with Hughes in each race as they claimed P2 and P3 in Masters respectively.
Behind them, Andrew Thomas (Racebook / RDSA CRG) struggled to a fairly lonely P4 in Masters and will want to bounce back before the season is done.
Sheldon Diedericks (BirelART) was impressive on his karting debut as he beat out Andre Steenkamp (Kosmic), Brendan Lennox (FPE CRG), Lanfear, Gil Simoes (CRG) and Niel Lambrechts (CRG) who made huge gains in the right direction as he continues to work his way up in the class.
WP Clubmans (14th birthday +)
Luca Wehrli (Tony Kart) had stiff competition in Clubmans this time out as Andre le Riche (Seleka Racing Kosmic) brought the heat and the speed ensuring a titanic battle between two talented drivers. Andre was lightning quick all day long winning heat 1 before he broke out in races 2 and 3 seeing him demoted down the order.
Andre’s father Sean le Riche (Seleka Racing Kosmic), kept it smooth and clean to earn himself a handy P2 overall with lady racer Gabi Lanfear (Cycle of Life Kosmic) getting herself a podium upon her karting return. She seemed right at home in the kart, as did her sister Jade in her Kosmic. That was until she found herself flying through the air after contact with a lapped runner in the final race of the day. In dramatic scenes, the race was red flagged Gabi stopped out on track and ran to her sister’s aid. Thankfully Jade was fine and unless she has exams, we will see her back in action in two weeks’ time she assured us.
Due to his two demotions down the order, Andre le Riche (Seleka Racing Kosmic) could only manage P4 having been the fastest kart on track for most of the day.
Behind the front pack was PJ Garbutt (CRG) who struggled to find the pace he had earlier in the year but stayed out of trouble and emerged on top of an epic midfield battle with Jade Smith (PCR) who got better of Garbutt in the final race after a strong performance.
Meanwhile, Christopher Flack (FPE Arrow) struggled with a headache all day, assuring his fans it was his kart giving him the headache and not his Friday night exploits. He has the pace to get back into the mix near the front and Declan O’Connor (CRG), Nathan Selley (CRG), Jason McArthur (CRG), Ethan Rutter (Arrow) and Dean Reichh (CRG), had mixed days in the saddle but enjoyed the blast that is WP Clubmans none the less.
Conclusion
The anticipation of an epic Round 5 regional was high, and it duly delivered on all fronts.
To see full grandstands and full pit stalls at karting events in the Western Cape is always a blessing and here’s to an even bigger, better and more action-packed Round 6 in two weeks’ time.
Issued on behalf of Western Province Motor Club (WPMC)