KILLARNEY’S NATIONAL KARTING VENDETTAS

Rotax Max Challenge South Africa fires into life at Killarney

The wait is over. The 2026 Rotax Max Challenge South African Kart Championships explode into life at Killarney Kart Track this Saturday — and if early signs are anything to go by, Cape Town is about to host an absolute storm.

With 116 entries on the grid — up on last year — this is no gentle season opener. This is a statement. A battlefield. And with drivers ranging from 5-year-old Bambinos to 58-year-old veterans, every inch of the circuit will be alive with action.

Add to that international firepower from Namibia and Mozambique, and you’ve got a proper Southern African showdown brewing from lights out.

DD2 & DD2 MASTERS

At the sharp end of the field, DD2 delivers a brutal mix of power, precision, and racecraft — and Killarney will demand all three.

All eyes will be on Charl Michael Visser, who makes the step up into the premier DD2 category this weekend. But there will be no easy transition, with a competitive field ready to challenge from the outset. Among those to watch are local contenders Matthew Wadeley, Ethan Stier, and Storm Lanfear, while visiting drivers Jamie Smith and Dusan Radojevic add further depth to the grid. Namibian entrant Nikita Thieme also brings an international edge to the fight.

In DD2 Masters, experience takes centre stage. The ever-competitive trio of Jared Jordan, Michael Jordan, and Conor Hughes lead the local charge, with Jonathan Pieterse from KZN and Justin Allison representing the Free State, adding to what promises to be a tightly contested category.

Senior MAX

Expect fireworks in the 22 kW Rotax Senior Max category — the undisputed headline act of the weekend.

As the largest class on the grid with 26 entries, this is where the pressure is highest, and the margins are tightest. If recent regional form is anything to go by, Killarney is set for all-out war from the very first heat.

The local charge is led by proven contenders Jordon Wadeley, Geo Christl, Matthew Carter, and Jesse Swart, but they’ll have no room to breathe with a strong group of visiting drivers ready to shake things up. Among them are Eastern Cape racer Caleb Moss, KZN’s Travis Mingay, and Johannesburg duo Georgia Lenaerts and Tayla Scrimgeour, alongside Tristan du Plessis.

Adding even more intrigue are the Junior Max graduates, including Spice Mailula and Tshepang Shisinwana, stepping up into the senior ranks and looking to make an immediate impact.

With depth, experience, and hungry newcomers all in the mix, Senior Max is set to deliver relentless, wheel-to-wheel racing — and very little margin for error.

Junior MAX

If Senior Max is the headline act, Junior Max is where the future stars come out swinging — and it’s set to be just as intense.

This year sees a major shake-up in the class, with nine drivers stepping up from Mini Max, making Junior Max the biggest moving-up category of 2026. Among those making the jump are Michael Danks, Aleks Praizovic, and Mikko Arries, all looking to establish themselves immediately against a stacked field.

But they’ll have their work cut out. A strong contingent of visiting drivers — including Brodi Dowling, Keenan du Plessis, Cristian Verheul, Retlotleng Thekiso, Jordan Klaasen, Ashaan Reddi, Matthew Shuttleworth, Ruvan Maritz, and Ronaldo Koen — ensures this will be a fiercely contested battleground.

With fresh talent, proven pace, and everything to prove, expect Junior Max to deliver high-pressure racing, bold moves, and no shortage of drama.

MINI MAX

Expect absolutely no quarter in the 10 kW Rotax Mini Max category, where the intensity is high and the racing is relentless.

The local charge features a strong lineup including Ruhan Victor, Michael O’Mahoney, Logan Roehrig, Yaqeen Gamieldien, Liam Wharton, and Zac Boshoff, all capable of running at the front on their day.

But they’ll be under serious pressure from a talented group of visiting drivers. Watch for Luhan de Wet, Luke and Callum du Toit, Christian Naidoo, Diego Antunes, Adriaan Steyn, Kireev Chetty, and Luwashe Mathebula, all bringing depth and competitiveness to an already stacked field. Adding an international edge, Namibian Gury dos Santos is another driver who could shake things up.

With tight packs, constant battles, and no margin for error, Mini Max is set to deliver some of the most exciting racing of the weekend.

MICRO MAX

Don’t be fooled by the size of the karts — Micro Max delivers some of the fiercest racing on the programme.

Home favourite Radhi Harris comes into the weekend as one to watch, but he’ll be pushed all the way by a strong local lineup including Caleb Lingeveldt, Lehan Fourie, Slater Smith, and Juan Stander.

The challenge doesn’t stop there. A determined group of visiting drivers — Alonzo de Oliveira, Rofhiwa Ndwambi, Jordan Jurgens, and Aston Verheul — add serious depth, while international contenders Teresa Bettencourt from Mozambique and Namibia’s Russell Josephat bring an extra layer of unpredictability.

With the new controlled exhaust draw system levelling the playing field, this one is set to be flat-out from the first lap — expect bold moves, tight racing, and zero margin for error.

BAMBINO

Never underestimate Bambino — this is where the journey begins, and where future stars first show what they’re made of.

The 2 kW, 5 to 9-year-old category may be the foundation of karting, but the racing is anything but gentle. Expect fearless moves, big moments, and drivers already showing serious determination to win.

Among those to watch are Yerhu Malabie, Tiyani Malabie, and Zonkizizwe Holomisa, who will go head-to-head with Tyler Stanyer, Siyanda Nkwanyana, Zaid Panday, and Gerrard Martin — the youngest competitor on the grid.

It’s a glittering field of emerging talent, and while this may be the first step for many, the competitive spirit is already very real.

With national titles and international opportunities on the line, the stakes could not be higher. Each Rotax class champion at season’s end, along with winners from the Rotax Max African Open, will earn coveted tickets to the Rotax Max Grand Finals — the “Olympics of Karting” — set for 21–28 November 2026 at the Kartódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão, Portugal.
Following strong regional participation earlier this year, anticipation is high for the first national showdown in Cape Town.

If the numbers — and the depth of talent — are anything to go by, the 2026 Rotax Max Challenge South Africa is set to deliver one of its most competitive seasons yet.