Summarize

The Vereeniging Kart Track hosted a thrilling fifth round Northern Regions Rotax Max Challenge karting raceday that delivered racing of the highest order to celebrate the arrival of spring in Gauteng on Saturday.

It could not have been closer in DD2, where Bloemfontein's Justin Allison and Smith brothers, Brandon and Jamie shared the race wins as Allison pipped Brandon and Jamie overall by virtue of his two second places to Brandon’s one. Anton Pommersheim beat Nick Verheul to fourth with Jurgen Pommersheim next up from Llewellyn Myburgh and a troubled Wayland Wyman, while Pascal Acquaah beat Philippe Chapat to three DD2 Masters wins with Tinahe Ncube, Carlo Gill and Steve Beaumont next up overall.

In other open age group action, Brandon Smith took two Senior Max wins to Jayden Els’ one, while title leader Wayland Wyman came home third overall from East London lass Shannon Jackson. Elder Max 175 racers Erwin Sterne and Nick Verheul meantime entertained as they diced hard all day.

In the schoolboy classes, Kwanda Mokoena beat old rival Aqil Alibhai two races to one to take under-15 Junior Max honours. Ndumiso Bungane was a surprise third ahead of Kgalema Mngadi, Jordan Brooks and Greg Malumane, while Mini Max star Troy Snyman made quite a big kart debut in seventh.

Snyman was however on top form in Mini Max, making no mistakes as he held Matthew Morrell, Muhammed Wally and Ghazi Motlekar off to win all three races in an excellent afternoon of under-13 racing. Mika Abrahams took fifth ahead of Mandla Mlangeni, Tyler Robinson and Godfrey Malumane.

Mohammed Moerat took the first two under-11 Micro Max races to secure overall victory over last race winner Luviwe Sambudla. Behind them, Erich Heystek overcame a tight tussle with Wian Boshoff, Kent Swartz and Ntiyiso Mabunda to steal third for the day as Mahlori Mabunda took seventh from Berlin Robinson. 

The weekend’s Mini and Micro action suggested great things to come from the Rotax Max primary school classes, which  will combine to a single specification class and make for one action-packed full grid race from the 2020 season, instead of today’s two smaller classes...

Last but not least, Tsepang Shisinwana bounced back from a first heat third to take two wins en route to baby Bambino honours for the day over race 1 winner Matteo Mason and Keegan Beaumont. Cristian Verheul took a second heat second place en route to fourth for the day ahead of Aiden Beaumont and Rafael da Silva.

The Rotax Max karters now prepare for the South African national championship Rotax Max Challenge Finals at Zwartkops on 21 September, before the Northern Regions finals on 2 November.