Summarize

Rotax Max Challenge hosted two crucial karting regionals with Gauteng Northern Regions races going down at sunny Vereeniging, while a Western Province meeting entertained at a cooler and cloudier Killarney on Saturday. 

Regional points, although they only contribute a tiny portion of a driver’s annual score, still count towards their National tally. So an extra point scored at home versus your upcountry rival, can often be the difference between winning that coveted title and a seat on the National Team at this year’s Italian Grand Finals, and missing out on both. So rest assured, Rotax regionals are more than just a little Saturday afternoon fun.

The top class Cape DD2 action was among the best of the day. Sebastian Boyd, Joseph Oelz and a delighted Matthew Wadeley shared out the wins, with Ethan Stier in close attendance. Jared Jordan meanwhile beat Conor Hughes two races to one to take the Cape DD2 Masters, with Neville Chapman third from Niel Lambrechts. It was more straightforward upcountry, however. Bradley Liebenberg trotted to a triple win, leaving travelling Capetonian Jason Coetzee to fend Karabo Malemela, Bjorn Roos, Olerato Sekudu and Dusan Radojevic off, as Justin Rogers took Masters honours.

It was a country-wide day domination in Senior Max. Muhammad Wally took all three Gauteng race wins as Kent Swartz, Mauro Da Luz, Roshaan Goodman, Mikkel Bezuidenhout and Jordan Moodley fought over the scraps. And Charl Michael Visser did the Cape Town triple as Luca Wehrli emerged best of the rest from Jude Stuart, Cole Hewetson, Ethan Deacon and Julius Schwager.

William Marshall took Cape high school Junior Max honours two wins to one from Keagan Beaumont, ahead of Sebastiano Human, Jordon Wadeley, Anwill April and Aiden Beaumont. It was a similar scenario on the Vaal, where Gianna Pascoal beat the thorn among the roses, Luke Hill two Junior heats to one with Georgia Lenaerts third from Reece Butz, Jesse Swart and Cristian Verheul.

The future of South African motorsport is clearly in very good hands if the weekend’s primary school action is anything to go by. Brodi Dowling beat Tshepang Shisinwana to take a close upcountry under-13 age group Mini Max win with Ronaldo Koen, Durelle Goodman, Kiyaan Reddi and Rafael De Sousa in chase. It was all about Max Boshoff down in the Cape however, as he sped to a triple-Mini win from Michael Danks, Zac Hindley, Zach McAuley, Ruan Lewis and newcomer Hugo Aggett.

Under-11 Micro Max delivered spectacular racing north and south. Killarney dished up three different winners in three heats. Michael O'Mahoney, Liam Wharton and Ruhan Victor each won a race to finish in that order. They had Jayden vd Merwe, Slater Smith and Jake Steyn snapping at their heels. Final race winner Luke du Toit benefited race 1 and 2 winner Matthew Shuttleworth not starting the final to beat Adriaan Steyn, Luhan de Wet, Alessio Britz, Ronald Venter and Kireev Chetty in the Gauteng under-11 action.

Last but not least, Sebastien Shuttleworth beat Alonzo De Oliveira two races to one to take Vereeniging baby Bambino honours, with Aston Verheul, Anash Madikane, Enzokuhle Ncwane and newcomer Rofhiwa Ndwambi in chase. Down in the Cape meantime, Radhi Harris likewise took two Bambino heats to Caleb Lingeveldt’s one, with Divaaj Govender, Lehan Fourie, Aleena Doutie and Ashlyn Beaumont completing the top six.

With this regional action now out of the way, all eyes now shift to Zwartkops for the Rotax Max National Finals at on 31 August. That weekend will crown the 2024 South African National Champions, as well as the SA team to travel to Naples to fly the flag at this year’s ‘Olympics of Karting’ Rotax Max Grand Finals in October.