De Beer dominated podium
It was a case of experience and old age overcoming youthful exuberance at Saturday's opening round of the South African National Karting Championships.
SOUTH AFRICAN GP3 exponent Roman de Beer, who resides in Alberton, dominated the top steps of the podium of the first ever national IAME X30 Shifter races.
It was a case of experience and old age overcoming youthful exuberance at Saturday’s opening round of the South African National Karting Championships in Port Elizabeth February 28, when triple SA production Car champion Michael Stephen and De Beer dominated the top steps of the podium of the first ever national IAME X30 Shifter races.
Former kart star Stephen had little trouble settling back in as he stamped authority on the X30 field, beating the Tony Kart-mounted De Beer to second in the first two races, with Kosmic man Nathan Parkins the best of the regular karters second in the third race en route to third overall. De Beer, Parkins and young Keegan Masters (Tony) shared third positions in the races.
The weekend also played host to the opening Vortex Rok class championship rounds, where Charl Visser beat his similarly-mounted compatriot JP Hamman and Joshua Coertze in the first primary school age Mini Rok 60cc national round.
SA champion Hamman then took races two and three from Topkart duo Blaine Rademeyer and Mikaeel Pitamber each time to get his title defence off to a great start, winning overall from the consistent Aidan Strydom, Pitamber and Coertze.
The second round of the SA Karting Championship goes down at Killarney in Cape Town April 25, when the Rotax Max Evo classes join the action alongside the X30 Shifters and Vortex Rok classes.
