Summarize

A dramatic opening round of the Rotax Junior Max Challenge South African Karting Championships proved frustrating for Benoni, Johannesburg’s former Mini Max world karting champion Jayden Els and his King Price Extreme CRG, as changing conditions and an inconsistent weighbridge at the KZN Midlands iDube kart track came to bear on a promising performance. Els was en route to a strong result before the drama struck, but he still came home tenth to remain a dark horse in the high school Junior Max title chase.

“I ended up second in the opening race after the track dried and Jarrod Waberski’s gamble to run on slicks paid off — he stormed past as the track dried up,” Jayden explained. “Then disaster struck — we were found underweight despite being well within limits after morning practice and adding more than enough fuel to right after the race. “They re-weighed the kart — each time at a very different reading and refused to hear reason. At the end of the day I was one of a surprising number of karts in all classes to be caught out and our day ruined, which is a pity…

“We overcame the disadvantage of running used wets versus some of our rivals who were on new rubber after running slicks in race 1, to end up second in race 2 but I took a five-second penalty after my nose cone had come loose and we were notified too late to prove it was not my fault so I ended up fifth. “Then the track was coming to me when the final was red flagged five laps early and I ended up third.

“So overall it was a pretty unlucky day for us to end up tenth overall when we were on for a podium, but I can drop the underweight result and the other two races were pretty solid, so it was actually not too bad after all. “Now we must fight back and that starts at the next Northern Regional at Vereeniging in two weeks time! “Special thanks to my dad and the whole King Price team for all the effort on a very difficult day — I will still make you all proud!”