Corsa dei Gemelli experienced a bittersweet conclusion to the 2026 Investchem MSA4 Championship at Zwartkops Raceway on Saturday, 17 October. What began with a promising qualifying performance and two podium finishes in the opening race ended in disappointment for the team's leading contenders, Mikel Bezuidenhout and Troy Dolinschek. However, rookie Wianko Fourie made progress in the second race, while Andrew Horne secured two runner-up finishes in the Formula Ford Kent category.
The seventh and final round of the championship formed part of the National Extreme Festival, with the Pretoria circuit providing the setting for the conclusion of another fiercely contested season of South African single-seater racing.
For Bezuidenhout, the weekend carried particular significance as he arrived determined to finish his championship campaign on a high. Having been among the title contenders throughout the season, the young driver was hoping to make his final opportunity count.
Saturday morning's qualifying session gave the team an encouraging start. Bezuidenhout secured second place on the grid, narrowly missing pole position to Aqil Alibhai. Dolinschek was equally impressive, qualifying third to give Corsa dei Gemelli two representatives among the leading three starters.
Fourie faced a more challenging qualifying session, securing 13th position in the MSA4 field, while Horne qualified second in the Formula Ford Kent category aboard the team's Mygale FF Kent entry.
In the opening 10-lap race, Bezuidenhout stayed near the front and finished second behind Alibhai. Dolinschek remained firmly in contention, bringing his car home third to complete an excellent double podium for the team.
It was a particularly satisfying result for Corsa dei Gemelli, with both drivers demonstrating the pace and consistency needed to compete at the sharp end of the field.
Further down the order, Fourie finished 13th, completing the full race distance as he continued gaining valuable experience in his rookie MSA4 campaign.
Meanwhile, Horne delivered another podium for the team, finishing second in the FF Kent behind Nicholas van Weely.
With three podium finishes secured across the two categories, Corsa dei Gemelli headed into the afternoon's final race hoping to build on its encouraging start.
Unfortunately, the second race produced a very different outcome for the team's leading MSA4 contenders.
Bezuidenhout's final outing of the season ended prematurely after completing just five of the scheduled 10 laps. He was subsequently classified as a non-finisher, bringing a disappointing conclusion to a weekend that had begun with considerable promise.
Dolinschek also endured a difficult second race. Having started the day among the leading contenders, he completed nine laps and was classified 13th, leaving him unable to repeat his earlier podium performance.
For Fourie, however, the afternoon brought a more encouraging result. Starting from the lower half of the field, the rookie worked his way into eighth position, improving by five places on his opening-race finish. His progress provided a positive conclusion to a demanding weekend and another valuable opportunity to build his experience in the competitive single-seater championship.
Horne, meanwhile, remained a consistent performer in the FF Kent field. Despite completing nine laps in the second race, he secured another second-place class finish, completing a double podium performance for Corsa dei Gemelli.
The combined results placed Fourie ninth overall in MSA4, while Dolinschek and Bezuidenhout were classified 13th and 14th respectively in their category. Horne finished second overall in FF Kent, delivering one of the team's strongest results of the weekend.
Although the final race frustrated Bezuidenhout and Dolinschek, the opening-race double podium underlined the team's competitiveness against a strong MSA4 field. Fourie's improvement in the second race and Horne's two podium finishes provided further encouragement.
With the 2026 season now concluded, Corsa dei Gemelli can reflect on a campaign that presented its share of challenges and competitive performances. While the Zwartkops finale did not deliver the ending the team had hoped for, its performances across both categories demonstrated its ability to compete for podium positions.
The focus now turns to evaluating the season and building on the experience gained as the team prepares for its next chapter in South African single-seater racing.
