What Rotax Max Challenge Nationals Preview
Where Zwartkops International Kart Raceway, Pretoria
When Saturday 28 March 2026
Community South Africa National
Rotax karting chase kicks off in the Cape on Saturday
The 2026 Rotax Max Challenge South African karting championships will start with a significant north versus south grudge match at the Killarney Kart Track in Cape Town on Saturday. With home honour at stake, Province drivers will want to establish the status quo, but never discount their Gauteng, KZN or other rivals with national titles and plum Team South Africa seats on the line for November’s Portuguese Rotax Max Grand Finals.
The weekend has attracted six visitors c from South Africa, Namibia and Mozambique in a field that spans all ages from 5 to 58 years old. Another interesting facet this weekend will be the migration of some 30 drivers who move up a class from last season with no less than nine Mini Max kids progressing to Rotax Junior Max alone.
In another measure to further level the Rotax Max plying field, the derries has introduced a controlled exhaust system draw in Micro Max and Mini Max. This also addresses concerns around the use of special exhaust pipes to gain an unfair advantage. The Exhaust draw was successfully trialled at a recent regional race meeting where it worked very well.
Looking ahead at the weekend’s races, home hero and multiple Rotax Max Charl Michael Visser steps up top class 25 kW direct drive two-speed Rotax DD2, but it won’t be easy. Local rivals Matthew Wadeley, Ethan Stier and fellow senior graduate Storm Lanfear, upcountry men Jamie Smith and Dusan Radojevic are all in with a shout. And don’t ignore Namibian Nikita Thieme. Local DD2 Masters men Jared and Michael Jordan and Conor Hughes, KZN driver Jonathan Pieterse and Justin Allison from the Free State are always quick.
Expect war in the 22 kW top chain drive Rotax Senior Max if recent regional grids are anything to go by. With upward of 25 karts on the grid, the local contingent led by 2024, Jordon Wadeley, Geo Christi, Matthew Carter and Jesse Swart will likely have their hands full with upcountry visitors. They include Eastern Cape visitor Caleb Moss, KZN lad Travis Mingay, Jozi girls Georgia Lenaerts and Tayla Scrimgeour, and lads Tristan du Plessis and Junior graduates, Spice Mailula and Tshepang Shisinwana, and the rest.
It’s set to be just as wild in 17 kW high school Rotax Junior Max. Local nine Mini Max graduates among them, drivers the likes of Michael Danks, Aleks Praizovic and Mikko Arries have it all to do to keep visitors Brodi Dowling, Keenan du Plessis, Cristian Verheul, Retlotleng Thekiso, Jordan Klaasen, Ashaan Reddi, Matthew Shuttleworth, Ruvan Maritz and Ronaldo Koen Musso, among others to deal with, in place.
Expect no quarters asked in the primary school action. Local 10 kW Rotax Mini Max heroes include Ruhan Victor, Michael O’Mahoney, Logan Roehrig, Yaqeen Gamieldien, Liam Wharton, and Zac Boshoff. They have a crack contingent of upcountry kids to contend with including Luhan de Wet, Luke and Callum du Toit, Christian Naidoo, Diego Antunes, Adriaan Steyn, Kireev Chetty and Luwashe Mathebula. Namibian Gury dos Santos will add that little extra spice.
Home hero Radhi Harris starts as the 6 kilowatt under-11 Rotax Micro Max favourite backed by local rivals, Caleb Lingeveldt, Lehan Fourie, Slater Smith and Juan Stander. They have Jozi visitors Alonzo de Oliveira, Rofhiwa Ndwambi, Jordan Jurgens and Aston Verheul, as well as Mozambican Teresa Bettencourt and Namibian Russlell Josephat to beat in what promises to be another most entertaining spat.
And finally, the 2 kilowatt 5 to 9-year old nursery school of karting Bambino kids should never be underestimated. Watch for the likes of Yerhu Malabie, Tiyani Malabie and Zonkizizwe Holomisa taking on Tyler Stanyer, Siyanda Nkwanyana, Zaid Panday, Gerrard Martin and the rest in this glittering field of future racing stars.
“Considering the unqualified success and almost National status of our opening Northern and Western Cape regional meetings, we cannot wait to witness what goes down at Killarney’s first actual National round on Saturday,” Rotax South Africa supremo Ed Murray concludes. “We wish all our Rotax Max karters the very best for what promises to be a vintage National season ahead. May the best men or women win!”
Starting with Killarney’s races on Saturday, each Rotax class National Champion at the end of the season, as well as the winners of July’s wildcard Rotax Max African Open classes, qualify for the ‘Olympics of Karting’ Rotax Max Grand Finals at the Kartódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão, Portugal from 21-28 November 2026. Learn more and follow Rotax Max Challenge South Africa at www.kart.co.za
Issued on behalf of Rotax Max Challenge
Photography by: Abri de Bruin
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