Summarize

The 2020 Rotax Max South African Challenge national karting championship will come to a thrilling head at the Killarney Kart Track on Saturday 17 October. Three drivers have already been crowned, but the other four classes will all race for national championship glory. And the honour of representing South Africa in January’s Rotax Max World Grand Finals in Portugal. 

Local Cape lad Sebastian Boyd leads a super-tight three-way premier class direct drive gearbox DD2 title dice to Killarney. KZN driver Robert Whiting and multiple DD2 champion Bradley Liebenberg from Gauteng are right in there too. Behind them, Jamie Smith, Nicolas Spanoyannis and Niko Zafiris are within striking distance. And they have Jason Coetzee, Divan Braak and a wildcard or two in close attendance too.

Pretoria man Nicholas Verheul is already the 2020 over-30 SA Rotax DD2 Masters champion and Jonathan Pieterse has secured second there. But Eugene Brittz in third has Alistair Mingay, Tinahe Ncube, Marouan Selmi, Pascal Acquaah, and Eric Marzoppi on his case. That should still deliver an interesting race as the others have a score to settle with Verheul.

Open-age chain-drive Senior Max is however wide open. Cape locals Tate Bishop and SA champion Charl Visser are separated by two points. And there’s a five-kart spat for third with eight points separating KZN lads Dane van Heerde, Shrien Naidoo, Brent Walden and Riley Horner, and local Jason Coetzee. Don't ignore Jozi kid Aqil Alibhai here — he does not drop points in the Cape after only stepping up from Junior after round 1.

Jozi kid Muhammad Wally is already the 2020 South African high school under-15 Junior Max champion, following a faultless eight-win rout in the opening rounds. That leaves KZN duo Dhivyen Naidoo and Tyler Robinson, local lad Ethan Stier and KZN kids Juandre Nel and Troy Snyman, Kian Grottis and Matthew Wadeley to fight over the crumbs.

In primary school action, Ghazi Motlekar has also wrapped up his 2020 SA championship in under-13 Mini Max. It’s still all to play for, for the rest of those podium places. Gauteng boys KC Ensor-Smith, Luviwe Sambudla, Erich Heystek and Mahlori Mabunda, and local chargers Reza Levy and Ethan Deacon have it all to play for. They'll have to deal with KZN’s SA champion Troy Snyman, too.

It is all up on the air in the under-11 Micro Max. Gauteng lads Caleb Odendaal and Reagile Mailula arrive with a point separating them in that title chase. Home hero and SA champion Reese Koorzen is close enough to ponce. And Mohammed Moerat, Ntiyiso Mabunda, Travis Mingay and Keagan Beaumont are ready to pick up the pieces. Local lads Joshua Smit and Jordon Wadeley and Josh Moore will run interference.

Last but not least, the Bambinos are again ready to steal the show. Consistent Jozi lad Mattao Mason leads the baby title chase, from PE kid Caleb Moss and the also ever consistent Manelisi Nkomo. You can never ignore locals Aiden Beaumont and Kai van Rensburg, nor MJ Thekiso, Harry Rowe and Jack Moore, Maddox Mason and Rafael da Silva. Rest assured, these junior primary school kids will put on a splendid show

Each 2020 SA National Rotax Max Challenge class will race four heats at Killarney on Saturday. It’s a big weekend — not only will the 2020 champions be crowned, but each earns a ticket to represent South Africa at the Rotax Max World Finals in Portugal in January. No spectators will be allowed at Killarney, but the races will be live streamed. Log on to www.kart.co.za for the feed all day Saturday 17 October.