FORMULA 1600 | Bezuidenhout Passes East London Test with Strong Drive

Rookie Mikel Bezuidenhout achieved a top-six finish at the weekend, gaining valuable experience at the fast East London Grand Prix Circuit for the first time. Despite having to overcome a steering issue in Race 1, Bezuidenhout performed admirably to record an eighth-place finish while improving to six in Race 2.

Still, in his first year of circuit racing and competing in South Africa’s premier single-seater class, Bezuidenhout has overcome several challenges this season, including learning new circuits. The East London circuit, steeped in history and notorious for the fastest sweep/curve in South Africa, is a test of a driver’s courage and skill.

The driver backed by MTN-CosmoNet is not competing for the championship this season. Instead, he is preparing for the 2025 season, which will introduce a new class called MSA4. These cars will be developed in South Africa and are expected to be safer, stronger, and more advanced. A downsized turbocharged Volkswagen engine will power them and run on slick tyres, as with the current formula.

“Certainly was an exciting weekend and a privilege to race around this amazing circuit. Not only does it test you but the support here is unreal. For my first time out, I thoroughly enjoyed. Unfortuantely some contact in Race 1 bent the steering and I had complete the race with some damage. The team, who were phenomenal again, made the repairs and we had a better second race,” said Bezuidenhout.

While the championship takes a short break, Round 6 will return to the Killarney International Raceway in Cape Town on 20-21 August.