KARTING | Van Der Walt Finishes Strong Despite Challenging Senior MAX Start
WORR Motorsport's Brandon van der Walt, a true testament to resilience, overcame a challenging start to his day and finished a commendable seventh overall in a hard-fought Senior MAX National round at Zwartkops Kart Raceway this past weekend.
Brandon came into the weekend brimming with confidence, determined to improve on what had been a challenging opening round to his national campaign. While trying to make the best use of Friday's official practice sessions, the Pretoria resident battled with the balance of the kart with so much rubber having been laid down over the three days the circuit was open for practice.
Regardless, he put in his best effort, which saw him start the opening heat from ninth on the grid. Making up several positions at the start, Brandon was off to a solid start before an opening lap multi-kart pile-up in Turn 7 saw him not only damage his kart but also lose several positions. Receiving a nose-cone penalty to add further insult to his injury saw him finish 12th.
Undeterred by the setback, Brandon remained steadfast in pursuing a strong finish. The race, a true rollercoaster of unpredictability, saw him put in a calculated display to finish just outside the top five for Heat 2. Despite being held up initially, he showcased his grit by running as high as sixth in Heat 3. However, the Senior MAX drivers, known for their frenetic pace and overtakes, lived up to their reputation, with Brandon getting caught up in a skirmish that sent him offline and three places down the order. Yet, he recovered one of those positions, crossing the finish line in eighth.
"Overall, I'm happy with my performance today despite the results. They could have been better, but there wasn't too much I could do today to change the outcome. Every race is a learning curve for me, and I try to reflect on my races and see where I can improve. With the team backing me I know I will continue to improve and become a better driver," said Brandon.
Brandon extends his thanks to everyone for their support. He will return to action on 17-18 May, competing in the National ROK Cup Kart Championships.
