Killarney International Raceway will play host to the National Extreme Festival’s opening round this weekend, where Mikel Bezuidenhout will also debut in the Investchem Formula 1600 single-seater championship.
The Formula 1600 is considered the top single-seater class in South Africa and is often seen as a starting point for drivers who aim to compete in international formula racing. Powered by an inline four-cylinder Duratec motor producing around 115 bhp, these cars run on slick tyres and are equipped with front and rear wings, making them agile and capable of lapping any circuit quickly.
The 2024 championship consists of seven national rounds in three provinces, including races at the historic East London and iconic Kyalami Grand Prix Circuits. Once again, the champion will receive R200 000, the runner-up R100 000, and the third-placed driver R50 000 in prize money.
The Johannesburg teenager has worked hard on his driving skills over the past year and is now prepared to take on the challenge of a main circuit. He hopes to continue his journey towards achieving greatness in motorsport and possibly pursue a racing career in the future.
“I am thrilled about the opportunity to compete in single-seater racing this season,” said Mikel. “Although I have had some practice laps in the car, it cannot compare to the actual race experience. Therefore, this weekend will be a challenging learning curve for me. However, I am confident that my prior experience in karting will help me grasp the car’s dynamics much faster. The plan on Friday is to focus on setting up the car to find the right balance ahead of qualifying and Saturday’s races.”
The weekend’s program will include three practice sessions on Friday before qualifying and two races on Saturday. All the Extreme Festival action will be live-streamed on the tour’s YouTube channel.
MTN Cosmo-Net and Huawei South Africa back Mikel.
Published by: Motorsport Fanatix
Picture Caption: Mikel Bezuidenhout
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