Story by Steve Wicks

30/08/08 - The final leg of the four round Engen Supa Kart championship took place in front of an appreciative crowd at the Bridgestone Adrenalin Raceway in Vereeniging on Saturday (30 August)

Michael Stephen might have won his third successive Super Rok kart championship, but it was young Sheldon van der Linde who made history when he won the 60cc GP Junior title.

A win and two second places were enough to give Autoquip backed vd Linde the title and thus become the third generation of the van der Linde family to write his name in the championship book. A feat no other family has achieved. Grandfather Hennie van der Linde is a legendary multiple SA motorsport champion as is father Shaun.

Nathan Parkins (Patch Tech) put up a tough fight and ended the day in second place, but a controversial clash with vd Linde cast some doubt on the points position. Tiaan Erasmus (Jacques Lemmens/Piazza Kartworld) put in a good performance to take third for the day as Michael Taylor did enough to end the season in third place ahead of Capetonian Marco Busi (Automan), Morgan McColl (Castrol/Toyota) and rookie Shayur Harpal.

The Junior Rok title fight ended with Birel drivers Sean Frost and Sam Tingle tied on points, then a count back revealed each had also scored two wins during the season so it was still all square. The decider was that Frost had won the final race which gave him the big trophy.* Then came the shock. Engen Xtreme driver Naomi Schiff was excluded after her kart failed a technical inspection and the points she lost elevated Tingle into top spot in the championship. (revised 01/09/08 ed.)

Engen Xtreme TonyKart driver Justin Allan was credited with third, only two points off the top and without the two compulsory drop scores he would have taken the title. Just one point behind was Adrian Wood (Birel). Fifth was Kwa-Zulu Natal’s Mitchell Licen (Equity TonyKart) with Nicholas Surguladze (Birel) three points behind.

Michael Stephen (Engen Xtreme TonyKart) dominated the Super Rok season and the final round was more of a formality than a ‘must win’ situation. Still two wins on the day saw him take the title in splendid style after either winning or finishing second in every race of the year. Fabienne Lanz (Jacques Lemmens/Piazza Kartworld/PCR) was in brilliant form, winning the final race to end tied on points with Shaun La Reservee (Alpine Motors/TonyKart), but the win gave her the advantage so she ended the year as runner-up ahead of the TonyKart driver.

Rory Atkinson (Birel) lost out on a top-three placing when he suffered a rare mechanical problem in the second race, but still got fourth ahead of Chassen Bright (Jacques Lemmens/Go Chain Wax/PCR) and Dylan Martin (TonyKart). Although not in the championship hunt, Tasmin Pepper went superbly in the other Engen Xtreme entry to finish fifth for the day in her first kart event of the year.

A new class, Kart Formula 2 was introduced as a national championship this year and Red Bull/CRG driver Caleb Williams grabbed the bull by the horns to dominate proceedings from the opening round, eventually taking 10 of the 16 wins on offer. Unlike other classes, KF2 has four races on the day as per CIK practice.

He was unbeaten on the day won the title ahead of Sodi driver Trent Williams (no relation) who had a troubled day. Knowing second place was secure he quietly went home after the second race. Mechanical problems put paid to Leeroy Poulter’s (Ferodo Birel) hopes of finishing higher than third.

Devin Robertson (Big Boss/Sodi) was fourth ahead of Vicki Kemp (Birel) and Marc Murray (CRG) who missed the final round.

Championship points (provisional)

Super Rok
1. Michael Stephen – 338
2. Fabienne Lanz (PCR) – 292
3. Shaun La Reservee (TonyKart) - 292
4. Rory Atkinson (Birel) – 285
5. Chassen Bright (PCR) – 266
6. Dylan Martin (TonyKart) - 262

Junior Rok
1. Sam Tingle (Birel) - Final points unknown as yet (01/09/08)
2. Sean Frost (Birel) - 293
3. Justin Allen (TonyKart) - 291
4. Adrian Wood (Birel) - 290
5. Mitchell Licen (TonyKart) - 269
6. Nicholas Surguladze (Birel) - 266

GP Junior (all Wildkart chassis)
1. Sheldon van der Linde – 316
2. Nathan Parkins – 312
3. Michael Taylor – 309
4. Marco Busi – 302
5. Morgan McColl – 296
6. Shayur Harpal - 259

KF2
1. Caleb Willams (CRG) - 414
2. Trent Williams (Sodi) - 364
3. Leeroy Poulter (Birel) - 360
4. Devin Robertson (Sodi) - 358
5. Vicki Kemp (Birel) - 333
6. Marc Murray (CRG) – 324