The second round of the Northern Regions Karting Championship at Zwartkops International Kart Raceway provided an action-packed day of racing, where young drivers battled for crucial points in their respective classes. With five categories in action, the weekend saw dominant performances at the front, hard-fought midfield battles, and crucial moments that could shape the rest of the championship season.
In the Cadet class, Caleb Rogers continued his reign at the top, securing pole position with a lap of 1:03.820 and backing it up with three commanding race wins. His ability to control the pace and manage his lead was evident throughout the weekend, with his fastest lap of 1:02.703 coming in the opening race. Behind him, the competition was fierce, with Grayson Venter and Giuliana Saladino swapping positions throughout the heats. Venter found form in the latter part of the day, securing two second-place finishes, while Saladino remained consistently in the mix to take third overall. Ethan Zitha delivered a solid performance, staying within reach of the battle and collecting valuable points. Though Rogers’ dominance was clear, the fight for podium positions is shaping up to be one of the season’s most competitive storylines.
In Mini ROK U/10, it was a weekend to remember for Noah Cronje, who stamped his authority on the championship with a perfect set of results. After securing pole with a time of 48.186, he never looked back, winning all three races and setting the fastest lap in each. His 47.993 in the final heat made him the only driver in the class to break into the 47-second range. Behind him, Riley Van Staden and Lwashu Mathebula were locked in a battle for second, trading places across the races. Van Staden ultimately edged out Mathebula in the final heat, securing a strong points haul. Hunter North and Egor Grishin delivered consistent performances just outside the podium positions, while Parker van der Molen’s weekend ended in frustration as he was unable to start the final race. Masenya Mohumi and Alonzo De Oliveira showed steady improvements, despite Mohumi receiving a nose cone penalty in the last heat. While Cronje has taken an early championship lead, the competition behind him remains wide open.
The Mini ROK class saw one of the tightest battles of the weekend, with multiple drivers taking turns at the front. Kayde Cornofsky set the pace in qualifying, securing pole with a 48.162, but once the races began, it became clear that Logan Billau and Kiyaan Reddi had the speed to challenge him. The first race was a back-and-forth affair, with Billau briefly taking the lead before Cornofsky responded to secure victory by just 0.044 seconds. Santi Frade was right in the mix, finishing just 0.430 seconds behind the winner. The second race saw Billau turn the tables, claiming the win after a close fight with Reddi, who had to settle for third after receiving a five-second penalty for a start infringement.
The final race of the day saw another shake-up at the front, with Billau taking his second win of the weekend and strengthening his championship position. De Sousa Rafael and Reddi completed the podium, while Frade and Diego Antunes remained in contention throughout. Cornofsky, despite his strong pace, dropped to seventh in the final race, leaving him tied for third in the championship standings with De Sousa. With five different drivers standing on the podium over the three heats, the Mini ROK category is proving to be one of the most unpredictable in the championship so far.
In OK-J, Amani Kinyua was the driver to beat, delivering a dominant display that saw him secure pole and win all three races. His best lap of the weekend, a 42.290, came in the final heat, where he maintained control from start to finish. Behind him, Reagile Spice Mailula was consistently the closest challenger, finishing second in two of the three races and securing valuable championship points. Emma Dowling had a strong drive in Race 2, taking second place ahead of Mailula, while Aashay Nagura and Aleksandar Praizovic remained in contention throughout the weekend. Penalties played a role in the results, with both Nagura and Praizovic receiving five-second penalties in Race 2 for nose cone infringements, while Jordan Klaasen endured a difficult weekend, retiring in the final heat. With Kinyua delivering a maximum points haul, the pressure is now on the rest of the grid to close the gap in the upcoming rounds.
OK-N followed a similar pattern, with Gianna Pascoal delivering a flawless performance across the weekend. After taking pole with a 42.134, she went on to win all three races, showing metronomic consistency with her lap times. Ethan Bostander and Emile Van der Wateren traded positions behind her, with Bostander finishing second in two races and Van der Wateren securing third despite receiving a five-second penalty for a nose cone infringement in Race 1. Hannah Daniel worked hard to stay in touch with the pack, showing improvements in lap times across the weekend. With Pascoal leading the standings after two rounds, the focus for the rest of the OK-N field will be on finding the extra pace needed to challenge for victories in the next event.
With Round 2 complete, the championship battle in each class is beginning to take shape. While some drivers have built early momentum, others will be looking to fight back in the upcoming rounds. With the next race weekend fast approaching, the stage is set for another chapter in what is proving to be an unpredictable and hard-fought season.
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