The most competitive South African motorsport series will be decided in Cape Town on October 5 with the running of the 2002 South African ROTAX MAX Challenge karting finals. –
– And with South Africa hosting the international 2003 Grand Final of the MAX Challenge at the new Zwartkops in January 2003 (15 – 19) next year, the competition has an added intensity. –
– Only five local drivers will qualify for a place in the world-final event, which will see 70 drivers from 35 countries taking part in what is fast developing into the most successful karting series in the history of the sport. –
– The top four positions in the South African MAX series so far are held by drivers from four different regions, and Cape Town’s Ricky Perdigao heads the points log by a scant quarter point from Gauteng’s Mark Cronje. –
– Filling the next two positions are Michael Stephen from Eastern Province and Christiano Morgado from KwaZulu Natal. Hot on their heels are Scott Falconer and Graham Rousseau while in seventh place is the top female driver in the series, Jennifer Murray from Pretoria. –
– With the unique scoring formula of the ROTAX MAX Challenge, drivers score points throughout the season in their regional championships, counting their four best results out of five events. The drivers’ regional points are divided by four and then an additional point for each race appearance is added – hence Perdigao’s quarter point lead at the start of the finals. –
– The final race at Killarney in Cape Town on Saturday, October 5 is the most important race of the season. The weekend’s events will see the first time in the season where karters from all four regions will compete against one another. –
– “This complex points scoring structure is just one reason for the success behind ROTAX MAX Challenge” says Ed Murray, organiser of the local series and the Grand Finals in 2003 at the new Zwartkops circuit, now under construction. “It equalises the chances of drivers competing in a competitive region versus those with a relatively easy ride in regions where the fields are less strong”. –
– “The other reasons are just as important. No engine modifications are allowed and the motors are all sealed throughout the season. And the competitors all run on the same Bridgestone tyres. The only advantages are through chassis set-up and driver skill,” he added. –
– The ROTAX MAX series is particularly important to South Africa as the first two world final events held so far have both been won by South Africans. In 2001 Gavin Cronje took the honours in South America, while in January this year Claudio Piazza-Musso won the world title in the Malaysian Island of Langkawi. –
– Gavin Cronje has not competed regularly in the ROTAX series this year, but Piazza-Musso will be going all-out to gain a place in the national team on October 5. –
– Claudio currently lies 15th in the S.A. series, thanks to what he says is a mixture of “slight horsepower deficiencies and the need to go on a diet.” But thanks to the points structure he is only seven points behind series leader Perdigao and he could still win the South African title on October 5. –
– The series also incorporates a MAX Masters championship for drivers over the age of 35, designed to encourage older karters back into a sport dominated world-wide by youngsters. The Masters drivers compete for their own title but also compete in the overall Challenge. Thus, theoretically a Max driver over the age of 35 could win both titles. –
– Supporting events on the day will include the Junior MAX class for teenagers as well as the MAX 172 class for heavier and older drivers. 50cc Cadet and 60cc GP Juniors for the youngsters will also feature on the day. –
– For further information on the ROTAX MAX CHALLENGE visit: www.kart.co.za-
– For more information contact Ed Murray on (012) 807 4884. –
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