Revving up as rookies and juniors launch 2024 karting season! |06 March 2024
Group photo of the rookie drivers
The 2024 karting season kicked off in style last Saturday afternoon as the rookie and junior categories roared onto the track amidst unexpectedly glorious weather conditions.
After a three-month hiatus, Seychelles karting commenced its 2024 racing calendar with the inaugural round of the Rookie and Junior classes at the exhilarating Champions Park Raceway at Roche Caïman. This season promises an exhilarating nine-round National Championship showdown, set to unfold between now and November.
In the newly christened ‘Rookie’ class, drivers from the 2023 karting academy made their championship debut, showcasing early signs of their competitive prowess.
Among them, Nathan Nicette emerged victorious in the opening round, with Dwayne Seth securing second place and Brad Knowles clinching third. The final race witnessed intense competition, with Nathan initially challenged by South African talent Liam Venter.
However, Venter's misjudgment in the esses section led to a crucial off-track excursion after contact with Nathan, paving the way for Dwayne and Brad to seize the opportunity.
Hailey Benoiton, making a steady comeback, narrowly missed the podium due to a fuel shortage, allowing Sam Naya to secure fifth place. Nathan ultimately maintained his lead, crossing the finish line 2.410 seconds ahead of Dwayne, who held an 8.870-second advantage over Brad.
While the debutants needed time to shake off the rust accumulated during the extended break, anticipation brews for their performance in round two.
In the Junior class, Lecxus Liu Chit Chon continued his winning streak from the previous season's finale, clinching victory in the opening round. However, Chit Chon's triumph came somewhat effortlessly as his primary rival, Adam Ally, encountered accelerator issues during both the pre-final and final races, relegating him down the grid.
Keeno Leong Pon exhibited composed driving to secure second place, followed by Rudolph Camille in third.
Among the newcomers to the class, Mathieu Bristol claimed a commendable fourth position, with Chris Françoise and Keanu Teeroomooljee rounding out the top six. Despite his unfortunate setback, Adam finished in seventh place.
As the championship unfolds on this Seychelles karting’s 30th year anniversary, expect to witness a dynamic interplay of changes and surprises from the drivers vying for top honours in the ensuing months.
The excitement continues with the seniors hitting the track on Sunday March 17, while the Cadets and Inter C class commence their championship campaigns on Saturday March 23.