SARDA 2017 Round 1, Welkom, 04-05 March 2017

Ecco il report originale della gara:

The first round of the 2017 South-African ORE national championship was held at the Welkom RC

Arena over weekend 04 and 05 March 2017. This indoor asphalt facility is the venue that will host the

2018 IFMAR ISTC 1/12 world championship and that has revived the RC racing in South Africa. For the

first time in many years there were five TC Modified mains, a full 1/12 modified main as well as a full

main in 1/12 Stock as a new worlds class. The track had great traction with a technical but fast layout

for the event. The revival also saw at least 7 different chassis manufacturers represented in the TC

Modified class.

Touring Modified

For the first time in many years over 46 entries ensured there will be an E Main and the drivers had

to be at their best to qualify for the A Mains. The battle for the podium was really hot with great runs

from Hein Kotze, Anderton Smith, Antonio Caroli and Ashley Hurley. After missing the first qualifying

run it was Hein Kotze who put in great runs in Q2, Q3 and Q4 to secure the TQ spot. The youngster

Ashley Hurley improved Alexander Hagberg’s 2016 record to 12.7sec and showed that he was a force

to be reckoned with by qualifying in 2 nd with Antonio Caroli 3 rd and Anderton Smith in 4 th . In A1 there

were some accidents but it was Hein Kotze who took the main with his Xray T4 2017 with Antonio 2 nd

and Jason Hillcoat managed a great 3 rd after starting in 9 th place. In A2 Hein Kotze was unfortunate to

break his rear wing after which Antonio Caroli took the win with Shaun Schutte second and André

Greeff a good 3 rd . With all to win in A3 Hein Kotze drove a perfect race to victory with Ashley Hurley

second and again Jason Hillcoat achieved third spot with his Tamiya.

The final results for the Modified Touring A-Main:

1. Hein Kotze (TQ) - XRAY T4

2. Antonio Caroli - XRAY T4

3. Jason Hillcoat (Tamiya)

4. Shaun Schutte - XRAY T4

5. André Greeff - XRAY T4

6. Anderton Smith - XRAY T4

7. Ashley Hurley - XRAY T4

8. Willem Janse van Rensburg (VBC Racing)

9. Deon Gove - XRAY T4

10. Willie du Plooy - XRAY T4

1/12 th Scale Modified

With the premium 1/12 modified class an event at the 2018 Worlds, the entries are growing and a

full A main was on the cards. The local man Antonio Caroli showed awesome pace during practise

with regular sub 12 second laps already bettering Alexander Hagberg’s 13.7sec pace of 2016. He had

some bad luck during qualifying and it was Ashley Hurley who took TQ with great consistent runs

with André Greeff starting from third. Ashley had some bad luck during the finals but Antonio Caroli

was super-fast and improved the lap record to 11.347sec consolidating A1 and A3. It was up to Xray

team mates Ashley Hurley and André Greeff and the 2015 champion Wayne Joelson to battle for the

remaining podium positions.

The final results for the 1/12 th Scale Modified A-Main:

1. Antonio Caroli - XRAY X12

2. André Greeff - XRAY X12

3. Wayne Joelson (Yokomo)

4. Marius van Niekerk - XRAY X12

5. Ashley Hurley (TQ) - XRAY X12

6. Shaun Schutte - XRAY X12

7. Raymond Loots - XRAY X12

8. Anthony Smith - XRAY X12

9. Joseph Schauerte (Serpent)

10. Willie du Plooy - XRAY X12

1/12 th Stock (13.5 Blinky)

The new proposed 1/12 stock class as an event at the 2018 Worlds draw some new drivers to this

class which ensured a full A main. It was Xray team mates Francois Laubscher, Gerry Esterhuizen and

Jonathan Wilken who battled it out for TQ with Francois eventually managing great consistent pace

to secure TQ. Francois won A1, Jonathan A2 and with Francois again winning A3 wich gave him the

over-all win. Jonathan managed to finish second overall with Gerry Esterhuizen taking the remaining

podium position.

The final results for the 1/12 th Scale Stock A-Main:

1. Francois Laubscher (TQ) - XRAY X12

2. Jonathan Wilken - XRAY X12

3. Gerry Esterhuizen - XRAY X12

4. Anthony Smith (Serpent)

5. Bianca Landman - XRAY X12

6. Brandon Solomon - XRAY X12

7. Hannes Kruger - XRAY X12

8. Wayde Solomon - XRAY X12

9. Michael Rabe - XRAY X12

10. Jared Rabe - XRAY X12

Pro-Stock 13.5T Touring

The Pro-stock class was very competitive with fast laps recorded by these drivers. Some of last year’s

drivers moved to the modified class and it was a battle between Jean Wessels, Pieter de Villiers,

Francois de Jongh and Jonathan Wilken for the TQ spot. Jonathan won the first three qualifying

rounds and secured a great TQ. Jonathan Wilken managed to win both A1 and A2 to settle the win. It

was a great battle between Pieter de Villiers and Jean Wessels for the final podium positions.

The final results for the Pro-stock 13.5T Touring A-Main:

1. Jonathan Wilken (TQ) - XRAY T4

2. Jean Wessels (Team Associated)

3. Pieter de Villiers - XRAY T4

4. Francois de Jongh - XRAY T4

5. Christo Hitchins - XRAY T4

6. Michael Rabe - XRAY T4

7. Juan Wessels (HPI)

8. Fanie Viljoen Snr (VBC Racing)

9. Petrus Wasserman - XRAY T4

10. Willie Pienaar (Team Associated)

Formula 1 - 21.5T

It was the usual fast drivers Jonathan Wilken, Pedro de Gouveia and Tyronne Wilken who showed

great pace from the start. Tyronne Wilken made a great debut with his new Yokomo to secure TQ

and winning both A1 and A2 to secure the overall win. It was left to Xray team mates Pedro de

Gouveia, Willie Pienaar and Jonathan Wilken to fight for 2 nd and 3 rd .

The final results for the Formula 1 21.5T A-Main:

1. Tyronne Wilken (TQ) (Yokomo)

2. Jonathan Wilken - XRAY X1

3. Pedro de Gouveia - XRAY X1

4. Willie Pienaar - XRAY X1

5. Wayde Solomon - XRAY X1

6. Brett Ross - XRAY X1

7. Michael Rabe - XRAY X1

8. Jared Rabe - XRAY X1

9. Riaan Truscott - XRAY X1

10. John Fitzsimmons (VBC Racing)

13.5T FWD Touring

The FWD class was dominated by the Eugene Wessels and Francois de Jongh throughout the

weekend with Eugene eventually securing TQ and the win.

The final results for the 13.5 FWD Touring A Main:

1. Eugene Wessels (TQ) (TOP Racing)

2. Francois de Jongh (TOP Racing)

3. Fanie Viljoen snr (VBC Racing)

4. Paul van der Westhuizen (VBC Racing)

5. Christopher Dolphin (MTS)