Cecil Koorts Jr set a new track record of 35.19 seconds in the Junior Max class, while Rocco van Eeden set a new mark with an impressive 39.88 seconds in the Mini Rok class at the fifth leg of the national karting championships.
Both were racing under the Cema Racing flag.
To make the event more challenging, the organisers altered the track layout, forcing the drivers to race the Tony Rust Raceway circuit in reverse.
Before racing started, all karts were inspected to ensure full compliance with safety regulations.
Communication between drivers and their technical crews is vital, as racers must constantly report back on vehicle handling and mechanical issues.
Adriaan Nel, a driver across various motorsport codes, is one of many who dedicate time to helping young racers keep their karts in peak condition.
Pre-event preparation demands far more than just getting the kart to the circuit, he says.
“Pre-event preparation requires stripping the car, taking the motor off, cleaning the vehicle completely, and ensuring everything is tidy,” Nel says.
The smell of petrol and cleaning solvents, alongside the roar of revving engines, dominated the pits. Some teams arrived with fully equipped mobile workshops and trailers to ensure technical crews had every tool necessary for servicing and repairs.
Many teams also rely on high-tech laptop software to tune and update their karts – a process Nel describes as a form of motorsport science.
“Throughout the races we do some setup changes, whatever the drivers want, as drivers give some feedback after each heat to their technical teams in the pits,” Nel says, emphasising that constant communication ensures karts remain competitive throughout race day.
Tyres, though much smaller than those on standard race cars, play a crucial role, as incorrect tyre pressure can negatively impact handling and laptimes.
“A lot of setups can be done on these cars, like steering geometry, angular alignments of suspension and steering components – like camber, caster, toe and steering axis,” Nel says, noting that these technical adjustments make a massive difference on the track.
To guarantee a level playing field, all drivers race on identical fuel.
To prevent the use of unauthorised octane levels, drivers are required to drain their tanks on race day and receive fuel from a central control point.
Furthermore, the engines are sealed units, meaning victory comes down to setup precision and driver focus.
Results:
Bambino: 1) Franco Steyn, 2) Luna Dos Santos, 3) RJ van Tonder
Mini Max: 1) Nande Kaiyamo, 2) Gury Dos Santos, 3) Mandume Kaiyamo
Mini Rok under-10: 1) Rocco van Eeden, 2) Zian Nel, 3) Francois Gouws
Mini Rok: 1) Milla Botha, 2) Zune Viviers
Junior Max: 1) Cecil Koorts Jr, 2) Noah Holtz, 3) Nicolais Mostert
DD2 (Senior Max): 1) Marius Zandberg, 2) Heinrich Roos
DD2: 1) Kian Fussel, 2) Stefan Burosso, 3) Armand Botha
