Round 2 of the South African Rotax MAX Challenge (SARMC) National Kart Championships promises to deliver another exhilarating and action-packed weekend as numerous drivers descend on Zwartkops Kart Raceway, situated on the western outskirts of Pretoria this coming weekend. This event will gather the finest Rotax karters from across the nation, with the added flair of competitors from Mozambique and Namibia.
With the prestigious South African championship at stake, drivers will push their limits to claim victory on the challenging Zwartkops circuit. This event holds significant importance not only on the national karting calendar but also on the international stage. It forms part of a four-round championship where national champions and the recently crowned African Open champions secure coveted spots in the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals (RMCGF), a global event scheduled to be held in Italy later in the year.
Following an electrifying opening round in Cape Town, which witnessed intense competition and arguably one of the best events in recent seasons, expectations are high for the second round. The Zwartkops Kart Raceway, a unique circuit just over 1000m long, hosts a one-of-a-kind flyover, where the circuit crosses over itself. The sloping terrain of the track offers excellent spectator viewing points and promises the drivers an exhilarating and challenging ride. The circuit also hosted the 2002 RMCGF.
Several Capetonians took advantage of competing at their home circuit in the opening round, but the momentum is expected to shift back to the Gauteng-based drivers this weekend.
In the premier DD2 class, defending champion and Round 1 winner, Sebastian Boyd will have to fend off the challenge of multiple DD2 champion Bradley Liebenberg, along with Toyota Gazoo Racing Junior Academy (TGRJA) drivers Jason Coetzee and Karabo Malemela each in their first season with the academy. Notable challengers include Nicolaos Vostanis, Matthew Wadeley, Ethan Stier, and Dusan Radojevic, any of whom could upset the competition. Jared Jordan heads up the championship in the DD2 Masters, having dominated the opening round. Bjorn Roos, Justin Rogers, Grant Veenstra, and Llewellyn Sutherland are set to take the fight to Jordan.
Multiple karting champion Charl Visser left Cape Town having claimed two of the three victories on offer in Senior MAX and can expect stiff competition from local drivers Kent Swartz, Roshaan Goodman, Mikel Bezuidenhout, Ethan Bostander, and Muhammad Wally, to name but a few. Wally, a seasoned campaigner with international experience, will be one of the drivers to watch.
William Marshall is currently leading the Junior MAX championship standings, and he is joined by two other Western Cape drivers, Keagan Beaumont and Reese Koorzen. However, they will face tough competition from three skilled female drivers, Georgia Lenaerts, Gianna Pascoal, and Emma-Rose Dowling, as well as local drivers Kegan Martin, Rafael Da Silva, Amani Kinyua, and Luke Hill, all of whom are quick at the Zwartkops circuit.
In a class where any one of several Mini MAX winners could emerge victorious, Brodi Cooper Dowling will need to fend off his stablemate Max Boshoff and former national champion and TGRJA driver Tshepang Shisinwana, who are both in good form. Durelle Goodman, who displayed impressive speed in Cape Town, is also a strong contender for the win, as is Ronaldo Koen, who has consistently improved.
Michael O’Mahoney, Liam Wharton, and Jayden van der Merwe head up a strong Western Cape contingent. The trio is heading to Gauteng on the back of a solid opening-round Micro MAX performance. Matthew Shuttleworth, Luhan de Wet, Adriaan Steyn, and Luke du Toit, all of whom call the Rand Kart Club home, will be looking to upset their rhythm and reign victorious.
In the most junior class for drivers starting in karting, another trio of in-form drivers from the Western Cape is set to challenge their northern Bambino rivals. Radhi Harris, Yaqeen Gamieldien, and Caleb Lingeveldt, all of who recorded a heat win in Round 1, will face locals Alonzo De Oliveira and Sebastian Shuttleworth, who will be eager to leave Zwartkops leading the championship.
As the karting community eagerly awaits another rousing weekend at Zwartkops Kart Raceway, all eyes will be on the drivers vying for glory and the opportunity to represent Team South Africa at the “Olympics of Karting.” Spectators are encouraged to attend with entry to the circuit free of charge.
Published by: Motorsport Fanatix
Picture Caption: Sebastian Boyd leads out the DD2 field at Round 1.
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