Overcoming Challenges and Showcasing Talent at Killarney
Wadeley Racing, with their two talented drivers Matthew and Jordon, participated in the thrilling RMC South African Kart Championships Round 3 at Killarney International Raceway in Cape Town. Both drivers have enjoyed success in the regional championships, and this weekend was an opportunity to showcase their skills on a bigger stage.
Starting with Matthew in the Senior Max category, he demonstrated great pace during practice sessions, despite the tricky track conditions. However, luck was not on his side during Friday’s qualifying session, as the rain began to fall just as he embarked on his two-lap super pole. Qualifying is crucial in high-stakes events like this, and Matthew found himself starting race one from the last position on the grid.
Undeterred by the setback, Matthew worked his way through a highly talented field. However, overtaking was challenging due to the closely-matched pace of the competitors. He finished race one in a commendable 10th place. Throughout Saturday, Matthew faced engine performance issues but fought valiantly to secure 9th place in race two. For the final race, the team made an engine change, and Matthew climbed up the ranks to finish in 7th place. His overall result of 10th was not reflective of his abilities, as he had consistently shown his capability of running with the front runners in the regional races.
Matthew reflected on his performance, saying, “Friday’s qualifying threw me off with the weather, qualifying last. I did my best to make overtakes throughout the day, but we struggled with engine performance before changing engines for race 3, which definitely showed improvement. I made a few mistakes during the races and will learn from them going forward. I raced as hard as I could and look forward to doing the same at Zwartkops in August. A big thank you to my dad for all the support.”
Moving on to Jordon in the Junior Max category, he consistently showcased his potential for a top result during practice sessions. Qualifying went exceptionally well for Jordon, securing an impressive 5th place in a highly competitive class. In race one, Jordon remained in contention for a top finish and brought the kart home in 4th place. Although he faced some struggles in race two, he fought with determination to finish 6th. The highlight of Jordon’s weekend came in heat 3, where he demonstrated an exceptional performance. Starting from 11th, he carved his way through the field and took the lead with just two laps remaining. Unfortunately, in the midst of the intense competition, he lost out during a chaotic moment and finished in 4th place.
Jordon’s overall result of 4th was commendable, but it could have been even better, with a potential win or podium finish within reach. He displayed remarkable speed throughout the day and can be proud of his achievements. Jordon, a man of few words who lets his racing do the talking, shared, “Our weekend was really good. I was so nervous for qualifying, but I’m very happy with how it went to take P4 overall and to lead the final race at my home national made me very proud. I’m feeling confident going into the final round at Zwartkops. Thank you to my dad, brother, and sister for all the support.”
Brad, the father and team boss of Wadeley Racing, expressed his thoughts on the event, saying, “The event was amazing, and I’m very proud to be part of WPMC. What a show! Matthew faced difficulties after a challenging qualifying session due to the weather. We continue to learn together, and although he may be disappointed with his result, he will bounce back. With Jordon, we made some radical changes for race two, which didn’t work as expected, and he started the final race in 11th place. However, his fight to the front was truly special, and he came very close to victory. We are looking forward to a strong end to the Championship with both boys and thank you to everyone who supports and follows our progress; it means so much to us.”
After this event, Wadeley Racing will return to regional action before heading to Zwartkops raceway in Pretoria for the RMC South African Kart Championships Finale on August 26th.