Summarize

Rotax Max Challenge rounded off its karting season with a cracking Northern Regions finale to crown its 2024 Gauteng champions at the Zwartkops International Karting Raceway near Pretoria on Saturday. Jason Coetzee, Kent Swartz, Luke Hill, Brodi Dowling, Matthew Shuttleworth and Alonzo De Oliveira are this year’s champions, while Coetzee is the Senior, and Shuttleworth the Junior Ludorum for 2024.

Bradley Liebenberg was back in town for a thrilling three-way dice in premier class DD2, on a weekend that also saw the Volkswagen Rookie Cup step up as a karting sponsor on veteran Liebenberg’s machine, to take Toyota Gazoo racing up on the kart track. There was drama when heat 1 winner KC Ensor-Smith was excluded to hand the first heat to Liebenberg, who went on to stake the second race. Ensor-Smith bounced back to take the final, while Liebenberg won the day, but second was good enough to hand the 2024 NR DD2 title to Cape traveller Jason Coetzee. Olerato Sekudu ended third for the day from Karabo Malemela, Gabriel Fernandez and Shadine Nortje.

Jono Wilson beat Kent Swartz two races to one to take the Rotax Senior Max day, but that was not enough to prevent Swartz from clinching the title. Mauro Da Luz ended third for the day from Georgia Lenaerts and Roshaan Goodman on a splendid 15-kart regional championship grid. Junior Max was just as well supported. Luke Hill did enough to win the day and clinch the championship, while Cristian Verheul ended second on the day from Georgia Lenaerts, Caleb Odendaal and Emma Dowling.

Brodi Dowling beat Tshepang Shisinwana two races to one to take the equally well supported Rotax Mini Max victory for the day, but third was good enough for Rafael de Souza to clinch the under-13 title for 2024. Durelle Goodman, Kiyaan Reddi and Diego Antunes rounded out the Mini top six. Adriaan Steyn beat 2024 under-11champion Matthew Shuttleworth two races to one in Rotax Micro Max. Luke du Toit chased home in third for the day ahead of Kayde Cornofsky, Luhan de Wet and Alessio Britz.

The future of Southern African motorsport is in good hands, if the 17-kart baby Bambino grid boosted by a few Mozambican entries, and the on track action in those three races are anything to go by. Sebastien Shuttleworth edged Alonzo De Oliveira two races to one, but that would not stop young De Oliveira from taking the NR title. Daniel Resende was the best of the visitors in an impressive third from Rofhiwa Ndwambi, Anash Madikane and Enzokhule Ncwane.

The Rotax Max karters now take a welcome break from racing before it all starts again early in the new year with the first National at Killarney in Cape Town on the weekend of 21 March. Log on to www.kart.co.za to keep abreast with developments and for the full regional calendars, once released.