Battle of the Elements

Saturday 25 June saw the AVL Africa / Logisticor 250 Superkart Series head down to a wet, cold and very windy Aldo Scribante Raceway in Port Elizabeth for the fourth round of the 2011 season. The weather conditions may have been miserable but the action on the track was certainly red hot!

The Friday afternoon practice sessions were rather eventful. Eerik Horn (OTTR PVP Rotax) had the left front axle housing break on his kart in the morning but a visit to the local engineering works had the problem sorted out rather quickly. Giles Moore (Logisticor Rotax Superkart) then broke an engine but was also able to get the problem repaired within a few hours. Schalk Burger Junior (Cape Gearbox & Diff Anderson Rotax Superkart) also experienced engine failure when he took his father’s kart out to get some track time after experiencing jetting problems with his own Yamaha powered entry. Horn suffered his second setback of the day later in the afternoon when the engine on his kart seized properly. He had to work into the evening to make the necessary repairs before the Saturday morning qualifying session.

Qualifying

Veron Pappas (Rotax Anderson Kart) once again claimed pole position ahead of championship rival Sean Moore (Logisticor PVP Superkart). Andrew Greenslade (AVL Africa / Logisticor PVP Superkart) is clearly coming to grips with his new machine and qualified in third position ahead of Eerik Horn (OTTR PVP Rotax). Tyron Davis (AVL Africa PVP Superkart) would line up on the third row behind his team mate with Giles Moore (Logisticor Rotax Superkart) alongside him in sixth position. Schalk Burger Junior (Cape Gearbox & Diff PVP Yamaha Superkart) would line up on the fourth row after only getting three laps in the unfamiliar machine during qualifying.

Race 1

Pappas held onto the lead at the start of the first race with Moore and Greenslade hot on his heels. Chaos ensued behind them when Horn spun in turn six after collecting the back of Giles Moore’s kart as he attempted an overtaking manoeuvre, breaking the right side of Moore’s rear wing in the process.

The racing was the closest it has been all year...

The lead changed on lap two when Sean Moore passed Pappas coming out of turn three. Davis was holding onto fourth position with Burger Jnr and Giles in tow. Giles made his move on the fourth lap and took fifth position from Burger Jnr. Third placed Greenslade slowed on the seventh lap when the power valve on his engine jammed closed. Horn then retired from the race on the same lap when the water bleed plug came out of the engine head.

The battle for the lead couldn’t have been closer as Pappas remained glued to the rear bumper of Moore’s kart. Moore handed the lead to Pappas when he missed a gear through the hairpin on the eighth lap.

Pappas crossed the line to take the win ahead of Moore with Greenslade doing well to hold onto third position.

Race 2

Once again the now popular reverse grid format threw the cat amongst the pigeons for the start of the second race. Sean Moore caught everyone napping and took the lead through turn one after starting from the back of the field! Greenslade slotted into second position with Horn and the rest of the field in tow.

The racing couldn’t have been closer...

The drama from the first race repeated itself on the second lap. Horn got passed Greenslade for second position and then proceeded to challenge Moore for the lead through turn six. Moore missed a gear and was collected by Horn, with the latter spinning out in the process. Greenslade took to the grass to avoid crashing into Horn as the rest of the field took their own avoidance measures as well.

When the dust had settled Davis and Moore crossed the line side by side with Moore regaining the lead through turn one. Pappas found himself in third position with a recovered Greenslade slotting into fourth. The proverbial blanket could have been thrown over the four front running karts as they ran nose to tail around the circuit.

The drama continued when Pappas out braked himself going into turn one, running straight off of the circuit. Greenslade then proceeded to grab the lead in a moment of brilliance when he took the outside line through turn one to pass both Davis and Moore!

The action behind the leaders was just as close. Burger Jnr took third position from Davis on lap five. Davis then spun in the hairpin on the same lap, losing positions to both Pappas and Giles Moore. Pappas grabbed third position from Burger Jnr a lap later. He was driving like a man possessed and proceeded to pass Moore and Greenslade on the eighth lap to take the lead. Greenslade’s challenge came to an end on the same lap when recurring power valve issues forced him into retirement.

Burger made a welcome return with a well placed third position in the second race...

Report by: Greg Reilly. Photographs by: Dr. Mark Greenslade