Pretoria gears up for a major showdown in motorsport this Saturday, 5 July, as the Zwartkops Kart Raceway hosts the Rotax Max African Open. This prestigious event does more than determine Africa's 2025 karting champions; it secures their place representing the continent at December's Rotax Max Grand Finals, widely regarded as the 'Olympics of Karting', in Bahrain.
Adding significant international flavour, the 2025 event has attracted competitors from across Africa, including Zambia, Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, creating a truly continental contest.
Starting or running a small business and in need of a bakkie – click here
The stakes are exceptionally high. Winners in each African Open class final this weekend, excluding the Bambino category, will earn a coveted spot alongside South Africa's yet-to-be-crowned national Rotax Max champions on the team travelling to Bahrain. With the national championship seats themselves still undecided, securing victory at Zwartkops represents a direct route to the Grand Finals for many drivers, ensuring intensely competitive racing across all categories. The presence of fast drivers from neighbouring African nations further guarantees that progression to Bahrain is not solely a South African prospect.
The event schedule involves registration followed by practice sessions on Thursday and Friday, leading into qualifying later on Friday. Saturday's track action features qualifying heats culminating in the decisive winner-takes-all African Open Finals for each class.
For the very best in pre-owned cars, bakkies and bikes - click here
Focus on Key Classes:
Rotax DD2: Cape Town's experienced Jason Coetzee enters as a leading contender. Should he claim the title, the focus shifts to the intense battle for the remaining Bahrain seat. Challengers include his Cape compatriots Sebastian Boyd, Matthew Wadeley, Anwill April, and Ethen Stier. However, they face strong local opposition from KC Ensor-Smith, backed by Dusan Radojevic, Jamie Smith, Shrien Naidoo, and Tony Auby, plus a contingent of Namibian drivers like Zain Beuthin and Kobus Reynecke.
DD2 Masters: Multiple Rotax Max world champion Cristiano Morgado leads the over-30s field, contending with a mix of local and international talent such as Mozambican Cristian Bouché, Cape Town's Jonathan Pieterse, and Gauteng driver Justin Rogers.
Senior Max: A large, confirmed field of 25 karts promises fierce competition. Johannesburg's Gianna Pascoal and Georgia Lenaerts aim to challenge the established frontrunners, including Cape Town's Charl Visser and Jordon Wadeley, KZN's Troy Snyman and Travis Mingay, and local stars Jonno Wilson, Kent Swartz, Matthew Carter, and Ethan Bostander. Kenyan driver Krrish Vadgama adds an international element.
Rotax Junior Max: Expect another closely fought category. Johannesburg's Emma Dowling leads the local charge alongside Cristian Verheul, Keenan du Plessis, and Jack Moore, facing competition from Eastern Cape's Caleb Moss and Cape Town's Sebastiano Human. Zimbabwean brothers Yaseen and Zaidan Savania provide the African challenge.
Rotax Mini Max (Under-13): This class is a sell-out, potentially requiring heats to manage the large entry. It showcases emerging talent from across the subcontinent. Local hopefuls like Brody Dowling, Rafael de Souza, Rafael de Silva, Declan Jurgens, Christian Naidoo, and Cape Town's Max Boshoff must contend with strong challengers from Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
Rotax Micro Max (Under-11): Johannesburg's Luhan de Wet, Luke du Toit, and Adriaan Steyn face their regular Cape rivals Yaqeen Gamieldien, Radhi Harris, and Michael O’Mahoney, plus a determined Namibian team featuring Gury dos Santos, Russell Josephat, and Kristopher Koudelka.
Bambino: The youngest category features a diverse field of future talent. Local drivers Alonzo de Oliveira, Sebastien Shuttleworth, Yerhu Malaba, Sean Arde, and Yinhla Makhubele compete against Mozambique's Teresa Bettencourt and the best young karters from Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Looking for a safe car for a student then click here
Rotax South Africa CEO Ed Murray highlighted the event's significance: “The African Open is always among the highlights of the South African Rotax Max season. This year the event races on its own, rather than as part of a National weekend for the first time in a while, but that has done nothing to detract record entries from far and wide to Zwartkops for what promises to be a karting weekend to remember. Bring it on!”
The victorious African Open class winners will join the newly crowned 2025 South African Rotax Max national champions to form the official team competing at the Rotax Max Grand Finals in Bahrain this December.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
proudly ALL THINGS MOTORING
