The Algoa Kart and Motorcycle Club (AKMC) recently hosted Round 3 of the National ROK Cup Kart Championships. Mini ROK racer Diego Antunes improved throughout the weekend to claim a top-seven result at Celso Scribante Raceway, Gqeberha.
Despite the team’s struggle during Friday’s practice to fine-tune Diego’s setup, the former Gauteng regional champion showed remarkable determination. He qualified 12th on Saturday morning and continued to push himself. Diego’s perseverance paid off as he improved by two positions, securing a top-ten finish in the opening heat. His resilience was further demonstrated in the second heat, where he crossed the finish line in seventh. However, a Nose-Cone Infringement Penalty (NCIP) would see the Johannesburg resident drop to eighth.
Diego’s performance reached its peak in the final heat, which was his best result of the day. The TrevPar World-backed driver took the chequered flag in an impressive sixth after dropping back to ninth initially. His determination and skill were evident as he battled his way back up through the order, making a few passes on the final two laps. This significant improvement in his performance is a promising sign for the remaining round. His combined results saw him sixth overall.
“It was a good day for me after we struggled somewhat yesterday. We couldn’t find the correct setup, but the kart was so much better today, and the more time I spent in the kart, the better it felt. From where we were yesterday to fighting for a top-five finish in the last heat shows we can be amongst the top teams. I must thank my dad and NBR Racing for all the hard work as well Uncle Derek from TrevPar World for the support,” said Diego.
The final round of the national championship takes place on 9-10 August at Red Star Raceway.
Published by: Motorsport Fanatix
Picture Caption: Diego Antunes
MSA Publishes media releases from a host of different sources on our website as a service to the sport. It is not practically possible to vet/approve every release that is published. Some news items and articles are written by correspondents and do not necessarily represent MSA’s views.