Summarize

The 2020 South African Rotax Max Challenge finally gets underway with four races at the opening round of the National Championship at iDube near Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu Natal on Sunday 23 August following delays around lockdown. With social distancing measures still in place,  spectators are not allowed, but race fans can look forward to following the cracking action live via live streaming through www.kart.co.za.

And with SA’s top karters itching for national action almost eleven months since the 2019 titles were decided, the action can be expected to be extreme. Not only will they fight it out for what are sure to be rare 2020 national championship titles, but also for the right to represent South Africa at the delayed Olympics of Karting Rotax Max Grand Finals at Portimao in Portugal on 29 January 2021.

The acme of Rotax Max karting has to be the flying direct drive DD2 gearbox class, where Cape kids Sebastian Boyd and Jason Coetzee will be be up against Bloem star Justin Allison and Jozi aces Wayland Wyman and Nicolas Spanoyannis. Don't ignore KZN drivers Robert Whiting, Sharad Bantho and the Smith brothers out to make the most of that hometown advantage.

The over-30 DD2 Masters are also sure to excite as Jonathan Pieterse and Nicholas Verheul hope to start off where they left off at last year’s Rotax Max World Finals. Fast Eugene Britz and local boys Alistair Mingay and Eric Marzoppi will run interference alongside Jozi lads Brett Britto and Phillippe Chapat, PE hope Geoff Stephen and Cape men Conor Hughes and Roy Gruer, 

Local drivers are set to rule the roost in the chain driven Max 180 Masters for larger statured and older karters, where Shane Foley, Richard van Heerde and Dean Rice can be expected to dice up front. Don’t ignore Bev van Heerde flying the flag in this Ladies month race, or Richard Horner, Allan John Rice, Stan Whiting and Peter John Garbutt, while Pretoria driver Erwin Sterne will want to stem that local tide.

Perhaps the most competitive Rotax Max class right now, the open age group chain drive Senior Max plays host to some of SA’s finest young driving talent. There you can expect Cape lads, SA champion Charl Visser, Jason Coetzee and Kai van Zijl to do battle with KZN Kart Club stars Brandon Smith, Dane Van Heerde, Shrien Naidoo, Brent Walden and Riley Horner, while fast lady Daniela Marzoppi is also ready to pounce.

Another class local fans will be anticipating, is under-15 Junior Max, where great things are expected from class rookie and reigning SA Mini Max champion Troy Snyman and compatriot Dhivyen Naidoo. They won’t have it easy with a posse coming out of the Cape including SA champion Troy Dolinschek and Kyle Visser and Jozi lads Aqil Alibhai and young Nic Roos. Jordan Brooks makes his Junior debut and lady racer Tyler Robinson, Liam de Beer, Juandre Nel and Andre and Kyle le Riche are all keen to make a mark in this testosterone-charged cauldron. 

In primary school action, Cape kids Reza Levy, Ethan Stier and Ethan Deacon will have to deal with on-form Jozi lads Ghazi Motlekar and Luviwe Sambudla for under-13 Mini Max honours. They will also have their hands full with Joshua Smit, Jude Stuart, Lwandle Pule, Mahlori Mabunda and Berlin Robinson, among others.

Under-11 Micro Max is another hugely competitive class, with Gauteng lads Mohammed Moerat, Hriday Pooren and Ntiyiso Mabunda facing up to Cape Town lot Reese Koorzen, Joshua Smit and Jordon Wadeley, but local lads Travis Mingay, Uzair Khan have other ideas. He will be backed up by more KZN kids including Dylan Watkins and Kyle Spies, while the touring party will also include Owen Williams, Keagan Beaumont, Dale Hobbs, Eric Norman and Reagile Mailula. East London lad, while Caleb Odendaal enjoyed a brilliant last race, so expect big things from him.

Last but by no means least, the baby Bambinos have their own national championship again this year and that should deliver fireworks as the top upcountry drivers including Matteo Mason, Manelisi Nkomo, MJ Thekiso, Matthew Shuttleworth and Cristian Verheul go up against Cape kortbroeke Kai van Rensburg and Aiden Beaumont. 

They still all have to beat top locals Harry Rowe, Troy Pieterse and the Snyman brothers, while organisers expect a full grid here to include the likes of Maddox Mason, Frade Santiago, Rafael da Silva and Ruald Hartzenberg; John Norman, Sebastiano Human and Matthew Roach.

The iDube national will be followed by a double-header at each of the Zwartkops Kart Circuit’s newly renovated and resurfaced circuit in two day bonanza with 6 scoring races on 19 and 20 September, before a four-race Final at Killarney in Cape Town on 17th October. The best 10 of the 14 heats will count toward each driver's title tally, so it is plausible to be champion by racing the Zwartkops double header and either one of Cape Town or iDube. 

Remember, no spectators are allowed at the iDube meeting, while MSA and government lockdown protocols will be enforced through social distancing, the wearing of face masks at all times and various other measures for competitors and officials at the track. 

The event will however be live streamed on www.kart.co.za on Sunday 23 August and fans can also watch this space for results after the race.