What Rotax Max Challenge National & African Open Preview
Where Zwartkops International Kart Raceway, Pretoria
When 4-5 July 2026
Community South Africa National
National & Open to shape Team SA at Zwartkops
The Zwartkops International Kart Raceway is set for South Africa’s biggest karting meeting of the year when over 140 karts tackle both the third round Rotax Max Challenge and the 16th annual wildcard Rotax African Open go down at the Pretoria facility on the weekend of 2 to 4 July.
While Saturday’s third of four Nationals will contribute to who becomes champion in each class to represent South Africa at November’s ‘Olympics of Karting’ Rotax Max Grand Finals in Portugal, Saturday’s winner take all African Open presents a unique wildcard chance for drivers to jump that queue and secure a joker Team Southern Africa seat at the Grand Finals. So karting weekends simply don’t come bigger than this…
Western Cape driver Charl Michael Visser holds a sizable 25 kW direct drive two-speed Rotax DD2 advantage over compatriot Matthew Wadeley. They have Gauteng’s Jamie Smith, Durban lad Shrien Naidoo, Dusan Radojevic and Ethan Stier in chase. But do not put it past an unexpected wildcard like Olerato Sekudu to shock them all. And watch for Jonathan Pieterse, Justin Allison, Jared Jordan, and Conor Hughes in DD2 Masters
Being the African Open with over 40 entries, a knockout system will come into place for 22 kW chain drive Senior Max drivers from as far afield as Kenyan Alvin Kioko and Zimbabweans Zach Craft and Elij Pilosoff will want to make an impression. But they have their work cut out against national log leaders, Eastern Cape lad Caleb Moss, Sebastiano Human from the Cape and Jozi karter Spice Mailula. Let alone KZN kid Travis Mingay, Kian Spies, Jordon Wadeley, and wildcard Mo Wally.
Gauteng drivers hold a distinct advantage in 17 kW high school Rotax Junior Max, where Brodi Dowling leads the chase to Pretoria with a reasonably comfortable championship advantage over compatriots, Ronaldo Koen, Kiyaan Reddi, and Declan Jurgens, Ruven Maritz, Rafael da Souza, Cristian Verheul, and Keenan du Plessis. Also keep an eye on WP lad Michael Danks, Logan Billau, and Namibian Cecil Koorts.
10 kW under-13 Rotax Mini Max is another true African continental affair, with Mozambicans Daniel Resende and Igor Estevez and Namibians Mandume and Nande Kaiyamo in town to take on the locals. Among them, Gauteng lad Luke du Toit leads Cape lad Liam Wharton, Adriaan Steyn, Christian Naidoo, Luhan de Wet, Kireev Chetty, Diego Antunes and Joe Buckham in the National chase on yet another packed Rotax Max grid.
Like DD2 leader, Radhi Harris is a Cape kid who races in Gauteng and he too leads the 6 kilowatt under-11 Rotax Micro Max chase over WP lad Slater Smith, Gauteng trio Alonzo de Oliveira, Jordan Jurgens and Rofhiwa Ndwambi, and Mozambican lass Teresa Bettencourt. She has intercontinental opposition from Kenyan Ahm Elmi Abdulnassir and one cannot ignore locals Yaseen Panday, Aston Verheul, and Zwothe Magoda.
Although the baby Bambinos do not compete in the Rotax Grand Finals, the National and African Open is just as big a weekend for them too. Jozi kid Tiyani Malabie leads Cape lad Zaid Panday, Gauteng trio Yerhu Malabie, Tyler Stanyer and Zonkizizwe Holomisa, and KZ driver Ndlovu Melohkule to Pretoria. Mozambican Tiane Resende adds a little continental spice.
A full day of club racing follows on 5 July, with three standalone races each Bambino, Micro and Mini, Junior and Senior and DD2 classes out in support of the kart Rotax E10 Mini Challenge. The E10 winner earns a ticket to the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in Portugal this November.
Should the E10 winner also earn a Grand Finals ticket in one of those classes in the National Championship or the Africa Open, they keep the E10 ticket and the ticket in the other class passes to its runner-up.
“2026 has been an epic year for Rotax Max Challenge karting in South Africa and we expect this weekend’s blockbuster third round National and African Open weekend to be one to really remember,” Rotax South Africa’s Jennifer Verheul points out. “Ladies and gentlemen from across the continent of Africa, start your engines!”
The South African Rotax Max Challenge races over four National rounds. Each champion and this weekend’s wildcard African Open winners will represent Southern Africa at November’s ‘Olympics of Karting’ Rotax Max Grand Finals in Portugal. The Zwartkops International Kart Raceway hosts round 3 on Saturday 4 with the African Open being the final heat on the day. Learn more at www.kart.co.za.
Issued on behalf of Rotax Max Challenge
Photography by: Motorsport Fanatix
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