Curtain falls on successful 2021 karting season |16 November 2021
Special awards recipients: (Left to right) Dean Maillet (appreciation award), Delroy Lionnet (driver of the year) and Eric Maillet (appreciation award)
The Seychelles Karting Association closed the 2021 season on Sunday with the Liqui Moly Super Final which was the final round of its championship.
The day closed with the annual prize-giving ceremony at the Champions Park Raceway, Roche Caïman, meeting all public health protocols prevailing.
In what chairperson Liza Rene-Cosgrow described as a long but short season, the association was able to run eight rounds for all their categories from late July to Sunday, consisting of 32 races which are more than what is run in a regular full racing season.
The event started on a somber note, where a minute’s silence was observed after the passing away of past member and the time keeping official, Monique Simon, this weekend. Monique had been a keen supporter and official at the launch of karting back in the 1990s, proactively supporting her son Stephan and husband John through decades participating in the sport.
In the Intermediate category, Mitra Labrosse won the 15-lap final with Cedric Ah-Time second and Carlos Renaud third, while in the Junior class, newcomer Terence Anderson took his first victory with Arth Shah in second and Darrel Gabriel third. Finally in the Cadet class, Delroy Lionnet was the winner with Johan Cadeau second and Enzo Lionnet third. All races were action-packed and closely fought till the end.
The Liqui Moly representatives presented the prizes to the top three in each category immediately after their super finals.
Once the final points of the championship were added, verified and confirmed by the officials, senior committee members presented the championship winners with their prizes.
Fabio Williams was crowned the 2021 Intermediate champion with 227 points, with Loïc Scharfenberg taking the runner-up spot with 164 and Cedric Ah-Time third with 162.
Arth Shah became the 2021 Junior champion with 191 points, with Darrel Gabriel the runner-up with 166 and Tamnay Raghwani third with 150 points.
In the Cadet class Delroy Lionnet was crowned 2021 champion with 223 points while his twin brother Enzo became the vice-champion with 177 and Johan Cadeau third with 142 points.
One of the important awards of the day is the 2021 competition driver of the year award which was won by Delroy Lionnet for exceptional drive to winning seven out of the eight rounds held this year.
Another two awards were handed out to drivers who displayed exceptional all-round abilities both on and off track, and these went to brothers Dean and Eric Maillet.
In closing the event, chairperson Rene-Cosgrow thanked all the members and the committee for their determination and perseverance during these tough pandemic times in making this year’s championship happen in spite of all the restrictions that were imposed. Having organised its annual general meeting (AGM) via the internet with all members in early March this year, the association was all set to start a full season early when restrictions were imposed soon after and it had to abide by cancelling all its events until the end of July when permission was granted to resume.
She also thanked all the sponsors who have assisted the association in particular CSA Trading for the donation of a tent for the officials, oil for the karts and other promotional items for this event, as well as Penlac who sponsored some paint to brighten the circuit during the non-use period and which was done during the restriction period.
The SKA has already started drawing up plans for the 2022 season and has indicated that the new season will start early again and has scheduled to hold their 2022 AGM on Saturday January 22.
Meanwhile, the organisers are advising that though most of the classes have already been filled up by present members, newcomers wanting to join the sport will be informed in January about registration details through the media, while those who would like more information on how to join the association can contact any committee member or via the NSC karting liaison officer.
Contributed
