Saturday, November 4, will see the Investchem Formula 1600 field take to the Kyalami circuit for the final time this season. Julian van der Watt (42 – Race Driver SA) and Ian Schofield (10 – Investchem) have already claimed their championship titles for the year, but there’s still work to be done for the other racers.

For Stuart White (8 – Fantastic Racing) second place in the national championship is all but mathematically assured and he should have no trouble taking that second step for the season at Kyalami. The real battle is going to be for third place this season.

Alex Gillespie (50 – ERP Trucking Components), Cameron O’Connor (93 – Repro Supplies / Racing Factors) and Brad Beningfield (46 – General Energy Systems) could find themselves in the running for this final spot in the top three for 2017. Not allowing for the points drop on the eight round schedule, there is a 16 point gap between the competitors. Until the final race finishes, it cannot be calculated accurately how the points drop will affect the final outcome – but the impact could be significant.

In Class B of the Investchem Formula 1600 championship Schofield has the title. Allen Meyer (15 – Investchem) is primed to take second, but a late showing from Claudio Piazza-Musso (11 – Investchem) or Rick Morris (6 – Investchem) at Kyalami could make make an impact on the national standings.

With just the one round still to be run, attention has already turned to the 2018 season. In the continued evolution of Investchem Formula 1600 competition, there is another update that will be added to the mix.

For the 2017 season the Investchem Formula 1600 was reinvented as a wings and slicks formula, adding an aero package to the championship, updating the car and bringing it up to an international standard visually. The re-design was not allowed to impact on the driver experience, ensuring the single-seater series retained its engaging and driver-focused character.

“The changes continue in Investchem Formula 1600 in 2018,” says Ian Schofield of Investchem Formula 1600. “The new season will see the introduction of a sequential gearshift for the formula. This is a complete five-speed sequential gearbox and shifting system specifically for the series. This will bring the Investchem Formula 1600 another step closer to the modern open-wheel racing experience that is found internationally. Keeping the evolution going has kept the Investchem Formula 1600 series a popular motorsport category over decades in South Africa and this is another step in the process.”

Kyalami will mark the end of the 2017 national season for this open-wheel championship. Two races of competition to decide the overall outcome for the year and allow the competitors to set their goals for 2018.