Mini ROK rookie and 2023 National Kid ROK Champion Kayde Cornofsky endured a challenging Eastern Cape round at the Celso Scribante Raceway this past weekend. Kayde participated in Round 3 of the National ROK Cup Kart Championships, finishing 12th overall.
Friday’s practice session marked the start of a demanding weekend for Gauteng driver, Kayde. Despite the team’s relentless efforts to match the pace of the front runners, they encountered a series of challenges. Kayde, supported by Allegiance Properties, entered Saturday morning’s qualifying session with the aim of securing a better grid position. The team worked tirelessly to enhance the kart’s performance, but their efforts fell short, and Kayde had to start from 11th for the opening race.
Undeterred by the setbacks, Kayde made a strong start, swiftly gaining several positions on the opening lap to secure eighth place for the remainder of the race. Despite incurring a five-second penalty for a nose-cone infringement and being demoted to 11th, Kayde remained resolute. He made an even more impressive start in the next race, moving from 11th to 6th by the end of the opening lap. In a fierce battle for sixth, he was unfortunately forced off the circuit by a fellow competitor, ending his race. Starting 15th in the final heat, Kayde demonstrated his resilience, putting in a determined performance to cross the finish line in eighth place.
“It’s been a frustrating weekend, to be honest,” said Kayde. “We just couldn’t get on top of the setup like I would have liked. We seemed to be chasing our tail for most of the weekend, and qualifying was a disaster. That really put us on the back foot, and while I tried my utmost to make up as many positions as possible, a penalty in Heat 1 and a DNF in Heat 2 ruined any chances of a decent result. While it is my first season in the class, I know I can compete with top guys, so that’s what’s so frustrating, I guess. But again, we will learn from this and put the experience gained to good use.”
The final round of the national championship takes place on 9-10 August at Red Star Raceway.
Kayde thanks Canario Cornofsky Attorneys, Calisto’s Restaurant, Allegiance Properties, Smith Garage, the 357 and the Xtreme Racing Team.
Published by: Motorsport Fanatix
Picture Caption: Kayde Cornofsky
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