Preview: WPMC Karting Round 3

It may have been a fair while since the WP Karting Section last did Regional battle, but they will be back this Saturday in a highly anticipated return to Regional and Club Karting action.

Brace yourselves. Round 3 of Western Province Karting is coming in hot. Now well into the Cape rain season, there is potential for some wet weather floating around this weekend which will add even more flavour to the melting pot.

The Killarney Kart Track is a world champion breeding ground and the next star could well be listed on the respective entry lists below.

Let’s take a look at what to expect this weekend.

Bambino (5th – 9th birthday)
Liam Wharton (Topkart) has been the driver to beat. His experience has turned him into a serious weapon on track. He was totally unmatched in the first 2 rounds and is the sure favourite going into Round 3.

If you’re looking for some contenders then look no further than the quartet of Carter Cedras (Topkart), Zac Boshoff (Topkart), Michael O’Mahoney (RDSA Topkart) and Zach McAuley (Topkart). These 4 have been putting in the work to bridge the gap with the current leader. Chances are at least one of them can do the impossible this weekend and take the top step.

Caleb Lingeveldt (RDSA Topkart), Jayden van der Merwe (Topkart) and Micah Corneilse (Topkart) are the next 3 that always find themselves in close proximity to each other. They will be looking to pick up any pieces that the top boys drop.

A very warm welcome to Abdul Doubt (Topkart) and Jacques Lewis (Topkart) who will be taking to the grid for the very first time.

Micro MAX (7th – 12th birthday)
Aiden Beaumont (RDSA Stive Racing CRG) has been untouchable this season. A really strong championship opening from this blisteringly fast driver. Still yet to be beaten, can he grab all 3 wins again on Saturday?

Challengers Michael Danks (CRG) and Matthew Roach (CRG) will be flat out to beat their CRG counterpart ahead. They have been a threat all season long and could very well take the top step if they catch Beaumont napping.

While Bambino stars Liam Wharton (CRG) and Zach McAuley (Zanardi) are adjusting to the Mirco Max class very nicely and their speed keeps improving. Their battle in the class has also been a joy to watch.

Keep an eye out for debutants Nicolas Lennox (Zanardi) and Ruan Lewis (CRG) as they join the grid to bring some flavour to what is already a spicy pot of talent.

Mini MAX (9th – 14th birthday)
Keagan Beaumont (RDSA Strive Racing CRG) is the current Mini Max National Championship leader and tied on points for the lead of the Regional Championship. A seriously quick driver with racecraft well above his years he will have stiff competition come Saturday from Jordon Wadeley (EMR Kartsport CRG) who took all the spoils at the last regional. The two are tied for first in the standings and it’s anyone’s guess who will emerge on top this weekend.

Also right in there with a chance of victory is young Sabelo Ntuli (CRG). He has shown that he has the pace to fight for wins and if he can get his consistency right he will be lethal. After a tough Rotax National back in March, he will be looking for redemption this weekend.

Keen for a solid race day will be Dale Hobbs (BirelArt), Liam Kokemoer (Nashua Cape Town LN Kart) and Matthew Chiwara (ANGRI CRG). Hobbs has suffered after his Parolin chassis had to be benched but don’t expect him to go down without a fight. Koekemoer is going faster and faster with every lap he completes and Chiwara will want to maximise his brand new chassis and climb up the leaderboard.

Junior MAX (12th – 16th birthday)
Reese Koorzen (RKT Parolin) has been a very welcome surprise this season. This youngster has made some big waves in Junior Max in a very short space of time and currently leads the Championship going into the weekend. Koorzen will be out for more wins but not if Reza Levy (EMR Kartsport CRG) has anything to say about it. Levy is a driver of the highest calibre but has been very scarce of late. Let’s see if he can bring it to Koorzen this weekend.

A very fast and capable Joshua Smit (S&S Racing LN Kart) will be out for some good points too. He has what it takes to fight for the overall win on Saturday.

Another top contender Ethan Deacon (Stier Racing OTK) has also enjoyed a good start to Junior Max racing as he gets ever closer to snatching his first win.

Ashton Repsold (Lidicious CRG) looks the part for sure and drives fast to add. Some further refinement and some more racing experience will see this young man become one top driver, while Oliver Roach (CRG) has been impressive and even enjoyed a good Rotax National on his home track. If he can string it all together then he could be in for a good points haul.

Senior MAX (14th birthday +)
The class that features all our main circuit success stories and champions! Unfortunately due to the clash in the calendar with Round 3 of the Extreme Festival happening this Saturday as well, Andrew Rackstraw (RDSA CRG), Charl Visser (OTK) and Tate Bishop (ANGRI Kosmic) will all be away for main circuit National duties. In their absence, be sure that Matthew Wadeley (EMR Kartsport CRG) and Ethan Stier (Stier Racing OTK) are fully ready to capitalise. Wadeley and Stier will likely battle it out for what would be their first win in the class and a great chance for some handy points. Both are seriously talented young racing drivers, as they displayed at the recent National event.

Also looking to make hay while the sun shines will be Gio Hartmann (CRG) and Jaden Jacobs (OTK). Both of them have shown impressive gains so far this season.

DD2 (15th birthday +) and DD2 Masters (32nd birthday +)
Some big names are missing from the entry list for this one. In fact, only two DD2 regulars will be out on track on Saturday.

Masters National front runner Conor Hughes (Hughes RAcing OTK) will be keen to enjoy the open track ahead of him in the absence of the regular under 25’s usually up the road. It gives him a strong chance of taking the overall win as well as a class win for DD2 Masters.

Marco Viegas (CRG) continues to show his pace but hasn’t quite got the results to back it up. With a little luck, this could be his weekend to take some big points but he will surely have Jared Jordan (Jordan Racing CRG) back in full swing and as sharp as ever. The front pack fight will be very interesting for these drivers along with Hughes.

Andrew Thomas (RDSA Racebook CRG) has had a tough start to his campaign but is more than capable of pulling it all back together. No stranger to winning, if Thomas can find his best form he can very well challenge for the win.

Add to the mix Andre Steenkamp (CRG), has been plagued with mechanical failures in the past 2 rounds. He will be hoping with some good race prep that his luck can turn around, as he is more than deserving of a podium finish and ultimate racing dad Steve Beaumont (RDSA Strive Racing CRG) will be back on the grid having sacrificed his past few race days so that he could focus on his two sons.

Michael Jordan (Jordan Racing BirelArt) will be enjoying his first race outing in his new BirelArt machine. He will be keen to pick up points and climb the standings having missed the opening round, as will Gil Simoes (CRG) who is finding his rhythm of late.

Watch out for two new names on Saturday in Johan Hamman (CRG) and Nathan Victor (Summit Racing Kosmic). Hamman is no stranger to WP Karting and has a long history which has made him the legend he is today. He has plenty of racing experience and knows how to win races in a DD2 so expect him to get straight back on it while Victor, a main circuit GTI Challenge Class A contender, will be making his very first appearance in a karting race. He started racing cars last year after making the shift from MotoCross. Now he will be applying his skills in a kart. You can expect him to be right in the thick of it too.

WP Clubmans (14th birthday +)
Commence a club racing battle extraordinaire.

Sean le Riche (Seleka Racing Kosmic) will have the full responsibility of flying the family flag high as both his sons are set to miss Round 3. As the man who currently leads out, all eyes will be on him.

Jason McArthur (CRG) had a great on-track battle with Niel Lambrechts (Zanardi) the last time out and they will surely continue their on-track shenanigans as Jade Smith (PCR) makes his yellow submarine look like it’s on rails when on track. He will be keen to get back behind the wheel after such a long break.

Ethan Rutter (Arrow) is ever passionate and enthusiastic. He defines the Clubmans spirit and must be itching to get back into the race seat while Nathan Selley (CRG) has had the wrong end of mechanical reliability this season and will be hoping for his fortunes to change so that he can get the points he deserves.

Look out for fresh faces on the Clubmans grid in the form of PJ Garbutt (CRG) and Luca Wehrli (OTK). Garbutt recently moved down from Kwa-Zulu Natal and will have a trick or 2 up his sleeve having previously raced at iDube and Wehrli is a very quick youngster who comes from the OKJ class. He knows how to win and will be aiming for the same this weekend.

Conclusion
Unfortunately, due to a date clash with the Extreme Festival, a number of Cape Town’s top karters will be flying the Provincial flag at Aldo Scribante Raceway this weekend and miss out on the Regional Karting action.

Round 3 will dish up just as much entertainment no less. The weather looks like it may present an opportunity for the truly skilled drivers to come away with the spoils. Don’t miss it, just remember your umbrella.

See you on Saturday at Killarney Kart Track.

Issued Racebook Media on behalf of Western Province Motor Club (WPMC)

Cover Image Credit: Moment In Time Images