Summarize

While the 2024 South African National Investchem Formula 1600 championship seemed a foregone conclusion only a month ago, it took just one race weekend to turn the title chase on its head, as is so often the case in motor racing.

Johannesburg karting prodigy KC Ensor Smith may not have won a race in his two seasons since stepping up to Investchem Formula 1600 last year, but when he finally did win, he did so with enough style to rocket into the championship lead aboard his African Heating Mygale at Aldo Scribante in Gqeberha last time out. He may have benefited erstwhile championship leader, Liqui Moly lad Jagger Robertson missing the opening race, but KC held his rival at bay to also win the second heat that weekend.

All of which leaves Smith in a six point title lead over Jagger with six races to go in the 2024 title chase, so it’s all to play for. Whatever happens, 2024 will crown the final Formula 1600 champion as the series morphs into the all-new Investchem MSA4 championship from 2025. So there’s more than just a little honour at stake here. Smith and Robertson are not the only drivers in title contention, however. The experienced Jason Coetzee’s Mint Wrapworks Mygale remains close enough in third to still pose a title threat, while KMFT Morita lad Karabo Malemela also stands an outside chance.

For the rest, Durban lad Shrien Naidoo will be itching to add a second win to his opening round success in his Production X entry, Alex Vos is keen on a first win of the season in his DV Building Supplies Mygale, and Siya Mankonkwana can be expected to add a degree of excitement in his Investchem machine. Nicholas van Weely is out to make up for lost time after missing the previous round in his Magnificent Paints Mygale, and Storm Lanfear is edging ever closer to the front in his Mantellis version.

NBR rookie Mikel Bezuidenhout has shown great improvement, with fellow first year racer Renzo Ribeiro Metal Used machine, Ewan Holtzhausen’s Bee Tee car and 15-year old newcomer Ndzalo Khoza’s Makaselaair Mygale all out to impress. The gentlemen of Formula Ford Kent join the 1600 lads again in East London. Ian Schofield will be back to take on Investchem teammates, Rick Morris’ Mygale and Allen Meyer’s Van Diemen, PE winner, Graham Hepburn’s Qualipak JHB Van Diemen, Duncan Vos’ DV Building Supplies Swift and Ron van Weely’s similar Magnificent Hardware car.

The home of South African single seater racing, the East London Grand Prix Circuit can look forward to some epic Investchem Formula 1600 Extreme Festival thrills on Saturday 27 July. Sounds like a great way to spend your Saturday, should you be in the Border region that weekend! The East London Extreme Festival Investchem Formula 1600 races will be live streamed on https://extremefestival.co.za/live/.