Summarize

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. 

Jamie Smith, Kian Spies, Brodi Dowling, Luhan de Wet and Michael O’Mahoney all claimed their Team Africa seats by winning the African Open final heats over the weekend. The rest of the team to travel to Portimão will be made up of drivers who clinch the titles at the National Finals back at Zwartkops at the end of August, to which some clear patterns emerged at the third round on Saturday.

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.

Cape drivers, Keagan Beaumont beat Jordon Wadeley two open age group 22 kW chain drive Senior Max wins to one ahead of upcountry rivals Kian Spies and Muhammad Wally. With the class split into heats to accommodate the huge 50-kart grid, another Cape lad Sebastiano Human followed from local lass Georgia Lenaerts, Matthew Carter and Tristan du Plessis. Kian Spies then turned the tables on Wally and Durelle Goodman to secure his Team Africa seat with the Open win.

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.

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.

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.

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 just in terms of numbers 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!”