The Toyota Gazoo Racing Junior Academy (TGRJA) returned to Zwartkops Kart Raceway for Round 4 of the Northern Regions Rotax Kart Championships on 16 August, marking the start of the season’s second half. The regional championship has proven a vital training ground for the academy’s drivers as they prepare for the final stretch of the national campaign, with national titles still up for grabs along with tickets to the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals.
Senior MAX: Swartz Narrowly Misses Victory, Lenaerts Digs Deep
In Senior MAX, Kent Swartz came within a single point of the overall win after a brilliant weekend of consistent driving. Swartz scored two heat victories and a second-place finish, ending the day as the runner-up. The result underlined Swartz’s growing authority in the class and kept him firmly in the hunt for both regional and national honours.
Teammate Georgia Lenaerts continued her steady form. She placed inside the top seven throughout the heats and finished the weekend fifth overall. Her resilience and speed against a packed field again showed her ability to fight with the front-runners while flying the flag for women in motorsport in women’s month.
Junior MAX: Podium for Dowling, Shisinwana Back to Winning Ways
The Junior MAX class produced another highlight for the academy as Emma-Rose Dowling delivered a composed drive to finish third overall. Dowling, who has been competing abroad, collected consistent points across the three heats, reinforcing her title credentials ahead of the closing stages of the championship.
Former national champion Tshepang Shisinwana once again demonstrated raw speed. After a strong run including a brilliant Heat 2 victory, he narrowly missed the podium and was classified fourth overall. His results show that he remains one of the most dangerous challengers in the field.
Mini MAX: Kaiyamo Twins Building Momentum
In the fiercely competitive Mini MAX category, the Namibian brothers continued to progress. Nande Kaiyamo enjoyed a consistent run, highlighted by an intense third heat to secure seventh overall. Twin brother Mandume Kaiyamo bounced back from a tricky start to claim a superb seventh place in the final heat, which lifted him to 12th overall. Both showed clear signs of growth as they adapted to the relentless pace of the Mini MAX class.
Team Principle’s Views
Reflecting on the weekend, TGRJA Team Principal Leeroy Poulter praised the squad’s collective effort:
“Our academy drivers are showing fantastic development as we head into the business end of the season. Kent fought hard and almost took the win, Emma once again delivered a strong podium performance, and Tshepang continues to impress with his outright speed. The Kaiyamo brothers are learning fast, and every outing at this level sharpens their racecraft. Zwartkops was another step forward for the academy.”
Looking Ahead
With Round 4 complete, the regional competition moves closer to its climax with two more rounds in the championship. The academy’s focus, however, now turns to the remaining national round of the South African Rotax MAX Challenge on 29-30 August where several national champions are set to be crowned.
Published by: Motorsport Fanatix
Picture Caption: Brothers Nande and Mandume Kaiyamo
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