After a thrilling opening two rounds of the 2011 Engen Supa Karts championships there a lot at stake as the second half of the season begins. The third leg of this four round championship series is crucial and is a make or break event for many.

Drivers take on the daunting challenge of Idube just outside Pietermaritzburg, a circuit known for its technical difficulties. Built almost precariously on the side of a hill, the track has massive elevation changes and front runners in all the Rok classes get all four wheels off the ground as they begin the descent past the pits. Without doubt it is the most spectacular track anywhere in the world and a circuit that punishes mistakes and the cautious alike.

The Super Rok class is where the big names race and current champion Ian Young (Birel) who, despite two wins to his credit, is only 12 points clear of Port Elizabeth’s Chassen Bright (RKT/Zanardi) who has been a model of consistency but is yet to win.

Lying third is Pietermaritzburg’s Mathew Swanepoel (CRG) who won a race at the opening round while fourth placed Ricky Hill, like Bright, has yet to win a race. Duke Ridgway has also been consistent rather than a winner and he is only five points behind Hill.

RKT’s ebony lady racer Naomi Schiff put in a brilliant performance to win a heat in Cape Town, but mechanical problems have seen her lose a lot of ground in the title race. She never gives up, as proved at the last round, so expect her to be fighting at the front as she fights to improve her sixth place in the points table.

The other lady racer in the field is Fabienne Lanz who recently won an endurance kart race in Dubai and she holds seventh, just three points behind Naomi.

Junior Rok has been all about one man. In what can only be described as a stunning display of precision driving RKT/Zanardi’s Luke Herring has convincingly won every race this year and is sitting pretty with a 29-point lead. Next up is 15-year old Michael Taylor (The Grid/TonyKart) who earlier this year became the youngest winner of a national championship circuit race when, as a 14-year old, he won a Formula Vee race at Kyalami in April.

Chad Daniel is lying third for CRG but is only one point clear of Nathan Parkin who in turn has fellow Birel pilot, Ferodo’s Sheldon van der Linde snapping at his heels.

Holding onto sixth place is CRG driver Eugene Denyssen who is 14-points behind van der Linde.

This year Mini-Rok was granted national championship status.Built according to the new CIK technical rules the 60cc Mini-Rok is an air-cooled piston port design which features an electric start and centrifugal clutch for a simple hassle free start to kart racing.

Like Junior Rok, this class has only seen one winner. Kohan Bam has won every race for RKT/Zanardi and leads by a healthy 33-points. Kwa-Zulu Natal’s Clinton Bezuidenhout (Birel) might have a home advantage, but will have to watch his back as Henry Bam (RKT/Zanardi ) is only seven points adrift.

Liam Pinaar (RKT/Zanardi) holds fourth ahead of  Piazza’s Kartworld driver Keagan Masters (TonyKart) and Kashen Naicker aboard a Birel.

Running as a club championship, the Cadet class is led by Mikael Pitamber and he too has a 100% winning record. Twenty nine points behind is Goitsimang Ramogale who has Zan Jonah chasing him.

After Idube, the action moves to the Bridgestone Adrenalin Raceway in Vereeniging for the final round on 17th September.