Summarize

A brand new Rotax Max karting class burst into action for the first time at Zwartkops’ season opener this past Saturday, and this one promises to grow strong into the future. Intended for drivers perhaps intimidated by racing in the regular, wild DD2 class, all-new DD2 Vets & Clubmans is set to become the domain of the karting ladies and gentlemen.

“DD2 Vets & Clubmans offers a great new karting home to older drivers and those not too concerned with winning at any cost,” Rotax Max South Africa CEO Ed Murray confirmed. “We’re confident this new class based on our rock solid, reliable and evenly-matched DD2 karts will attract a new breed of karting ladies and gentlemen more interested in racing much more for fun.”

With both classes running to a 182 kg minimum weight, DD2 Clubmans is for drivers 25 years or older, while DD2 vets is reserved to men and women over 45. Run across two, rather than three heats, DD2 V&C drivers are also restricted to one set of tyres over three race weekends. Twelve karts raced the past weekend’s DD2 V&C season opener.

 

Pro golfer Grant Veenstra loves racing karts, but his competitive spirit is not lost on his second sport. He wasted no time to win Saturday’s opening race, but never quite had it all his own way. Another professional, bodybuilder Shadine Nortjé raced Mini Max many years ago, but she has now returned to racing, and in quite some style too. 

Nortjé finished fourth in the opening race, but bounced back to take heat 2, to end up second overall behind Veenstra in Clubmans. The driving force behind the new Vets & Clubmans class, 62 year old Philippe Chapat took Vets honours for the day off second overall in race 1 and fourth in the second.

Chapat held Frikkie Cornelius, Jonathan Kairuz, Robert Fulton, and oval racer Johan Strauss off for the Vets win. They mixed it up with Clubmans men Llewellyn Sutherland, another Oval racer Bruce Gomes, Justin Rogers and Senior Clubmans winner Michael Hawcroft through the day. Talking Vets, Kurt Schultz is the oldest driver at 72 years old.

Are you interested in racing Rotax DD2 Vets and Clubmans? Don’t hesitate to contact Philippe Chapat now at 41red@telkomsa.net.