Summarize

South African Rotax Max Challenge karting is gearing up for war at the second National at Formula K in Benoni, Gauteng over the weekend of 28 and 29 April. Judging by the extreme action at the opening iDube National in KZN, and the various recent regional meetings around the country, the Battle of Benoni is set to deliver yet another extreme weekend of karting.

Four-time DD2 champion Bradley Liebenberg is chasing a record fifth title and arrives at Formula K in the championship lead. He beat KZN Masters legend Cristiano Morgado at the season opener but was also beaten in the past two regionals. So watch for Jozi rivals Jamie Smith, Dusan Radojevic, Wayland Wyman and Kian Grottis, and reigning DD2 champion Sebastian Boyd, out of the Cape, while GR Yaris Cup driver Nicolaos Vostanis looks set to make his premier class DD2 National debut and talented Namibian Justus Beulker will make the long trip to The City of Gold in search for some.

It is yet to be seen whether Morgado will enter, but rest assured there will be a stiff Masters challenge from 2022 champion Eugene Brittz as he tackles the on form Kyle Lawrence and Cape man Conor Hughes as they welcome another Namibian 2 speed shifter in Mark Villinger.

KZN lad Troy Snyman, Charl Visser from the Cape and Jozi racer Muhammad Wally may have shared out the Senior Max wins in the opening National, but SA Junior champion KC Ensor Smith may well be the kid to beat at Formula K judging by his recent regional pace. Also watch for Storm Lanfear, Ethan Stier, and Julius Schwager out of the Cape, and Olerato Sekudu, Roshaan Goodman, and the rest from Gauteng among a 20+ kart Senior Max field.

Kent Swartz and Uzair Khan may have been the top under-14 Junior Max kids at that opening National, but they will certainly have more to think about at Formula K. Wian Boshoff and Georgia Lenaerts have starred of late in the Gauteng regionals, with Amani Kinyua and Mauro Da Luz also showing well. But the Cape contingent will be up in force too, so look out for Reese Koorzen, Jordon Wadeley, William Marshall and James Nash, as well talented rookie Travis Mingay from KZN. They will most certainly feature at the sharp end of the Junior Max pack.

In the primary school action, Gauteng kid Reagile Mailula may have started his season with the opening under-13 Mini Max win, but he will have his work cut out at Formula K. Hometown rival Caleb Odendaal has been in imperious regional form at home, where Emma Dowling, Taylin Patel, Durelle Goodman and Ewan Venter have also shown great form. Keagan Beaumont has meanwhile been the lad to beat in the Cape and he leads a strong WP contingent including Aaron Mason and Franco Bensch among others.

Rafael Da Silva may have dominated 2023 under-11 Micro Max until now, but he has to face up to his regular home rivals, Cristian Verheul, Brodi Dowling, Mathew Shuttleworth, Rafael De Sousa, Johan Nolte, Ronaldo Koen, Logan Billau, and the rest. Jayden van der Merwe will be the lone Cape Town hopeful and has been in good form of late as have Kiyaan and Ashaan Reddi who also make the trip to Benoni having recently been competing in the Cape. Another sibling rivalry set to light up Formula K comes from Namibian stars Nande and Mandume Kaiyamo. This is sure to be another dynamite day of Micro Max racing.

A treat awaits the youngest National karters in South Africa as the Bambino entry list grows substantially from Round 1 in KZN. It’s a Jozi show with Adriaan Steyn up against Luhan de Wet who took that first national win along with Caleb Rogers. Never mind the rest of the Gauteng home gang Sebastien Shuttleworth, Ronald Venter, Luke du Toit, Raidyn Reddy, Kiaan Pillay, and Alonzo De Oliveira. Doing the Cape proud will be Slater Smith and Radhi Harris with young Namibian Russel Josephat coming to taste what racing at the world class Formula K circuit is all about.

The second MSA RMC South African National at the Formula K Raceway in Benoni commences with practice and qualifying on Friday 28 April, before a full day of racing on Saturday 29 April. If the opening National, let alone the latest regional action was anything to go by, expect extreme karting action when they all come back together for the Battle of Benoni. Diarise it now!