A RECORD NATIONAL & AFRICAN OPEN ROTAX WEEKEND

150 karts thrill in Zwartkops blockbuster weekend

The Zwartkops International Kart Raceway hosted South Africa’s biggest ever karting meeting as drivers from across Africa delivered an epic weekend of racing. While the third round Rotax Max National continued on its mission to crown South Africa’s 2026 champions, the annual RMC African Open saw five karters earn their place to represent Africa November’s ‘Olympics of Karting’ Rotax Max Grand Finals in Portugal.

DD2 & DD2 MASTERS

Cape Town driver Charl Michael Visser continued to dominate the 25 kW direct drive two-speed Rotax DD2 in a straight three race rout. Gauteng lad Jamie Smith beat Jonno Wilson two seconds to one to stand on the second step with Dusan Radojevic fourth from Matthew Wadeley, wildcard Oleratu Sekudu, Shrien Naidoo, Ethan Stier and Tony Auby. Jamie Smith however turned the tables on Visser and Radojevic to win the African Open final and claim the first Team Africa DD2 seat for the Rotax Max Grand Finals.

Moving on to the over-31 DD2 Masters, it was a very good weekend for Bloemfontein driver Justin Allison. Starting with a triple National victory over Jonathan Pieterse each time Justin Rogers held Conor Hughes, Jared, and Michael Jordan off for the minor placings, Allison then added the wildcard African Open victory to his cart to close off a grand slam weekend.

Junior MAX

Perhaps the highlight of the weekend, 17 kW high school Rotax Junior Max delivered four winners in four races. Max Boshoff, Ruven Maritz and Keenan du Plessis shared out the National heat wins as du Plessis took the day from Boshoff, Brodi Dowling, Logan Billau, Munsanje Mukosa, Maritz, Cristian Verheul, and Declan Jurgens. But it was Brodi Dowling who stole the African Open win from Max Boshoff and Keenan du Plessis to grab the Junior Team Africa seat.

Mini MAX

Jozi lad Luke du Toit beat Cape rival Ruhan Victor two heats to one to take the 10 kW under-13 Rotax Mini Max day. Lwashu Mathebula was best of the rest from Diego Antunes, Zac Boshoff Adriaan Steyn, Namibian Nande Kaiyamo and Michael O’Mahoney on a huge 26 kart grid peppered with African continental visitors. Luhan de Wet then put in a magnificent drive to rise from ninth on the grid to take the hallowed African Open win and the Mini seat for the ‘Olympics of Karting’ over du Toit and Victor.

Micro MAX

Cape kid Radhi Harris, who prefers to race in Gauteng, dominated the 6 kilowatt under-11 Rotax Micro Max National day with a triple win on the day. Gauteng duo Alonzo de Oliveira, Jordan Jurgen and another WP lad Slater Smith followed from Rofhiwa Ndwambi, Mozambican lass Teresa Bettencourt, Nicholas Fleming, and Zwothe Magoda. Slater Smith however turned the tables on his compatriot to take the African Open Final from de Oliveira and Harris.

BAMBINO

The baby Bambinos impressed as ever as Melohkule Ndlovu beat Yerhu Malabie two heats to one take overall victory with cousin Tiyani Malabie, Siyanda Nkwanyama, Zonkizizwe Holomisa, Tyler Stanyer, Grayson Venter, and William Grant in pursuit. Melohkule Ndlovu went on to beat Tiyani and Yerhu Malabie to the African Open win to earn himself a splendid Team Africa race suit.

To close off the weekend, the brand new 10.5 kW fully electric Rotax E10 Mini class made its debut over the weekend, with the prize being a Team Africa E10 Mini seat in the Rotax Grand Finals. A truly international affair, Cape lads Michael O’Mahoney took the win and the seat from Ruhan Victor, Namibian Mandume Kaiyamo, Mozambican Eduardo Campos and Gauteng kids Adriaan Steyn and Lwashu Mathebula.

“Our third round Rotax National and African Open double header over the past weekend was the biggest meeting in the history of South African karting,” Rotax South Africa’s Jennifer Verheul concludes. “Not only in terms of the number of karts and drivers entered, but also in great racing across the classes on a weekend, we also welcomed our first electric class. Congratulations to all the winners and our first Team Africa members for the Rotax Grand Finals. Now for the National Finals at the end of August!”

The South African Rotax Max Challenge races over four National rounds. Each champion and this weekend’s African Open winners will represent South Africa at November’s ‘Olympics of Karting’ Rotax Max Grand Finals in Portugal. The Zwartkops International Kart Raceway hosts the National Finals over the weekend of 27-29 August.