SA Racers Stared At Home and Abroad in Gazoo Racing Week 19
It was a quiet but diverse Mayday Toyota Gazoo Racing Week 19. It was highlighted by some impressive South African performances on the world stage and dramatic action home and away.
Van der Lindes shine in DTM
Van der Linde brothers Kelvin and Sheldon got their respective DTM seasons off to a decent start at Portimao over the weekend. Kelvin went from 17th on the grid to fourth in the first race in his Audi R8. Sheldon came in 7th in his BMW M3. Mercedes men Lucas Auer and Luca Stolzbeat Mirko Bortolotti’s Lamborghini to the win. Kelvin then came home sixth with Sheldon eighth as Audi driver Nico Muller dominated the second race. Felipe Fraga’s Ferrari was second from Bortolotti.
Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia held Fabio Quartararo’s Yamaha off to win an epic Spanish MotoGP. Aleix Espargaro’s Aprilia overcame Marc Marquez Honda and Jack Miller’s Honda for third. Brad Binder was again best of the KTMs in tenth. Brother Darryn’s Yamaha crashed after a promising run. Ai Ogura took his first Moto2 win and Izan Guevara won brilliant Moto3. And SA lad Ruche Moodley continued to grow in the Rookie Cup. He took a 13th and a 14th over the weekend.
Elsewhere, Mercedes man Stoffel Vandoorne denied Mitch Evans’ Jaguar a third Formula E win on the trot in Monaco to take points lead. Moving across the pond, Pato O’Ward held champion Alex Palou off to take the Barber Indycar win. Where Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque’s Acura also beat Oliver Jarvis and Tom Blomqvist’s similar car to IMSA Sportscar honours. And down under, Will Davison’s Ford and Shane van Gisbergen’s Holden shared the V8 Supercars race in Perth.
Cracking Rotax Max Kart Nationals
Closer to home on Week 19, the 2022 SA National Rotax Max Challenge commenced in truly spectacular style as record fields produced incredible racing at Killarney in Cape Town. Cracking racing was the order of a dramatic day. Local hero Sebastian Boyd DD2 honours as Joseph Oelz won two races but was excluded from the third. Upcountry drivers Eugene Brittz beat Nicholas Verheul two races to one in DD2 Masters. And Polo Cup duo Tate Bishop beat Charl Visser in Senior Max.
In the Junior classes, Jozi lad KC Ensor-Smith did the high school Junior Max triple. Local brothers Keagan and Aiden Beaumont used their home advantage to make the primary school classes their own. Keagan won Mini and Aiden took Micro Max honours in those two highly competitive primary school classes. And Pretoria kid Noah Cronje’s racing pedigree shone through. He took pole, set a new track record and led every lap to win the baby Bambinos.
