Summarize

The cream of South Africa’s racing crop will be the men to beat when the second round of the 2017 South African Karting Championships visit Cape Town’s Killarney Kart Track Saturday 29 April. Dakar superstar and reigning SA Cross Country and SA Rally champion, Leeroy Poulter stole the headlines when he stepped back into a kart to deliver a brilliant performance to win last time out, but rest be assured that Sasol GTC Champion Michael Stephen will want to turn the tables at Killarney.

And with stormy weather predicted for the drought-ridden Cape for the first time in months later in the week, the weekend may well be quite a challenge for all the karters, most of whom may not welcome the rain on track but will all be more than thankful if it comes to break the dry spell. 

Whatever the weather, Poulter will head to Killarney straight from his Qatar international Toyota Gazoo Hilux cross country duty, while Stephen will travel to the Cape straight off his Kyalami races in his Engen Audi Sasol GTC to present Cape race fans with what is effectively a karting clash of the titans.

Leeroy (Imperial Toyota CRG) and Michael (CRG) will however have a target on their backs in the Rotax DD2 gearbox kart feature races with the likes of triple-SA DD2 champion and GTC2 racer Bradley Liebenberg (Birel), hot Cape locals Umpie Swart (EMR CRG), Investchem SA Formula 1600 championship leader Julian van der Walt (CRG) and Jonathan Thomas (Partners Hair CRG) baying for their blood.

Add on-form Jozi F1600 racer Cameron O’Connor (FA Kart), Durban Polo Cup racer Benjamin Habig (Kartking Birel), the lovely Ivana Cetinich (Birel), local CRG pilots Andrew Rackstraw, Delano Fowler and Tristan de Nobrega, Justin Allison from Bloemfontein and Masters drivers the like of Richard Fuller and you have a full grid certain to deliver the best racing action anywhere in the world this weekend.

Cape Town drivers will want to keep up their great form from the first round at Vereeniging a month back, not least of all Dino Stermin, whose RKT WOrr Kosmic was one of several visitors to steal the glory from his Gauteng rivals with a two-race-to-one win to Senior Max victory over Cameron O’Connor (FA Kart) last time out. Do not rule out Cape heroes Luke Herring (RKT Kosmic), Umpie Swart (EMR CRG), young Jason Coetzee (RKT Kosmic) and top visitors, Ballito Polo Cup pilot Daniel Duminy or Jozi gang Joshua Dias, Tiago Rebelo, Shannon Jackson, Oliver Gunner, Carlo Olivier and Nicholas Spanoyannis.

Consistent Cape rookie Charl Visser (Charl Electrical FA) may be a surprise high school Junior Max championship leader, but he will certainly receive the full attention of Vereeniging race winners, fellow Cape lads Jason Coetzee (RKT Kosmic) and Sebastian Boyd (Boyd Boss Freight Kosmic) and top Jozi driver Blaine Rademeyer all intent on taking that championship lead for themselves. Never forget Jozi lasses Cameron Dias and Tiffany Napier, Durban driver Dominic Lincoln, Mini Max world champion Jayden Els, Kwanda Mokoena, Wayland Wyman and Simon Simpson-Heath among others likely to upset in this lot.

Another Cape driver, Tate Bishop (TPB Kosmic) leads the under-12 Maxterino title chase ahead of compatriot Kyle Visser (Charl Electrical Zanardi) and they will be depending on their home knowledge to increase that advantage, but not without the efforts of Jozi gang Joshua de Paiva, Muhammad Wally, Jordan Brooks Aqil Alibhai and Nikolas Roos, Troy Dolinschek and the rest of the Cape gang locals and even Mozambican lad Carmo Novela Junior, to turn it around.

Young Gauteng driver Leyton Fourie (Kosmic) will be out to keep his grip over the under-14 Mini Max title chase, but local lads Kai van Zijl (SAKRA Kosmic), Sibo Solomon, Tate Bishop and Thaqib Meyer will want to turn the tables on their visitor this weekend. Of course there’s a strong contingent to deal with from up north too, including Daniel de Paiva, Aqil Alibhai and Jarrod Waberski, Matthew Morrell and Jagger Robertson.

Another on-form Gauteng driver, Muhammad Wally (Tony Kart) is in charge of the baby Micro Max championship chase, but he and his fellow Gauteng raiders, Joshua de Paiva, Mohammed Moerat, Reece Fuller, Jayden Goosen, Moosa Kajee, Kyle Beukes and Dhivyen Naidoo will need to first have to deal with Cape locals the likes of Reza Levy (Jive CRG) and FA Kart trio Valentino Hoffman, Joaquin de Oliveira and Reese Koorzen this weekend. 

Don’t miss what’s likely to be among the finest racing action of the year at Killarney Saturday 29 April — Killarney Raceway is on Potsdam Road, Killarney Gardens with the kart track situated across from the main circuit pit complex. There’s always a cool atmosphere at the track, especially on packed national race days with entertaining commentary and great grub and drinks at the clubhouse in the pits. Adult entry is R60 per adult, R20 for under-16s and under-12s are free. 

See you at the Killarney karts!