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Kyle, Charl in thick of Max Final war zone

Durbanville, Cape Town South African Rotax Max national karting champions Kyle and Charl Visser both found themselves in the thick of the Rotax Max International Finals war zone in Pariaba, Brazil over the weekend. The brothers, who earned the right to race in the Finals by each winning a respective Mini and Junior Max national title this year, both endured a crunching weekend racing against national champions from around the world over the past week.

Kyle qualified 18th in primary school Mini Max, 0,3 seconds off pole position and made up six places into 12th in the first heat before enjoying a positive second to start the Pre Final 14th amidst the mid pack combat zone, where the younger Visser brother lost a handful of places in the first two laps in the rough and tumble of the mid pack, before patiently clawing his way back to qualify 19th for the Final.

Kyle started the Final steady but could not avoid a major crash that broke out in front of him, being turned around from behind to become entangled with another kart; dropping him to the back and prompting a come from behind charge back to 25th. “Wow, what a mad weekend,” Kyle conceded. “It was wild every inch of the way — the Mini Max champions from around the world do not give an inch and that tends to cause trouble that is difficult to avoid!

“Anyway, we earned the right to race here and the World Finals have been incredible and Brazil is an experience all on its own. “We have so many people to thank for even getting here — it’s been an incredible year all-round and I am proud to have raced in the South African green and gold in Brazil - thanks to everyone who made this possible!"

Older brother Charl had a promising start to qualifying in equally mad high school Junior Max and ran 11th early on in qualifying, but a late flurry by his rivals saw him end up 26th in his group — just half a second off pole on a day where 71 of the Juniors were within a second of the pole man! Charl moved up to 21st in his first heat and initially lost a few positions in the second heat before fighting back to 23rd with some excellent pace.

Charl had another tough few opening laps before once again making amends by gaining ten places in his third heat to qualify 21st for his Pre Final, where he once again enjoyed a good first few laps in the treacherous mid pack. The action became more physical as the race progressed before Charl was punted into a spin, dropping him well back. Still he fought back, making two or three places a lap, only to be eliminated by a kart he was overtaking, beached on a kerb and out of the Final.

“It was heartbreaking to go out like that, but we had an awesome weekend and it was an incredible experience to race in the Rotax Max Grand Finals,” Charl concluded. “I want to thank my dad and everyone else who helped us through the year and to the SA Junior Max title that earned me the right to race in Brazil and congratulations to my teammate Cristiano Morgado who won DD2 Masters today to become the only five time Rotax Max karting world champion. “See you all next year!"

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Visser Brothers

What:Rotax Max World Kart Finals Report
Where:Paraiba, Brazil
When:24 November - 1 December
Community:International, Western Cape

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