African Kart Champions Crowned at Zwartkops

More than 140 competitors from across Africa contested the Rotax MAX Challenge Africa Open, with selected class winners earning entry to the Grand Finals in Portugal.

The 2026 Rotax MAX Challenge Africa Open brought two days of high-pressure karting to Zwartkops Kart Raceway, where more than 140 competitors from across the continent fought for one of the most important titles on the African Rotax calendar.

Drivers from Kenya, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa were represented at the Pretoria circuit, with the event again carrying major international significance. With the exception of Bambino, Micro MAX, and DD2 Masters, the Africa Open class winners earned automatic entry to this year’s Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals (RMCGF) in Portimão, Portugal.

The event was held alongside the third round of the South African Rotax MAX Challenge Championship, which also served as the season's penultimate national round. The three national championship heats doubled as qualifying races for the Africa Open finals, with the combined results determining the grids for the decisive fourth heat in each class.

That format gave the weekend added weight. Drivers not contesting the full South African national championship, where another RMCGF ticket is available, had a direct opportunity to qualify for Portugal through the Africa Open.

“The Africa Open remains one of the most important events on our calendar because it gives drivers from across the continent a genuine opportunity to compete for a place at the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals,” said event promoter Mr Ed Murray. “This year’s event delivered exactly what we hoped for: strong fields, close racing and worthy champions. The fact that the national championship heats also formed part of the qualifying process for the Africa Open finals added another layer of pressure, and the drivers responded with some outstanding racing.”

Bambino

The Bambino field produced a thrilling contest among the youngest drivers of the weekend. Melokuhle Ndlovu took the opening heat ahead of Tiyani Malabie and Yerhu Malabie, before Yerhu Malabie responded with victory in Heat 2, beating Siyanda Nkwanyana and Zonkizizwe Holomisa. Ndlovu then returned to the front in Heat 3, with Yerhu Malabie and Tiyani Malabie again on the podium.

The final was tightly contested from the start. Ndlovu led early, Holomisa then moved ahead for two laps, and Tiyani Malabie also had a brief spell in front. Ndlovu, however, regained the lead in the second half of the race and held on under pressure to win the Bambino Africa Open title. Tiyani Malabie finished second, with Yerhu Malabie completing the podium.

Micro MAX

Radhi Harris was the benchmark through the Micro MAX heats, winning all three races ahead of the winner-takes-all final. He opened with victory over Alonzo de Oliveira and Thendo Mulaudzi, followed that with another win ahead of Jordan Jurgens and De Oliveira, and then completed the heat sweep in front of Slater Smith and De Oliveira.

The final told a different story. Jurgens led the opening laps before De Oliveira briefly moved into the lead. Smith then made the decisive move on lap five and controlled the race from there to claim the Micro MAX Africa Open title. De Oliveira finished second, while Harris completed the podium after a dominant run through the heats.

Mini MAX

Mini MAX delivered one of the standout finals of the weekend. Luke du Toit won Heat 1 ahead of Luhan de Wet and Zac Boshoff, before Ruhan Victor took Heat 2 from Lwashu Mathebula and Adriaan Steyn. Du Toit then returned to the front in Heat 3, beating Mathebula and Victor to firmly establish himself among the favourites.

Victor led most of the Africa Open final and looked set to convert his strong weekend into the title. De Wet, however, produced his best drive when it mattered most. After working his way into contention, he took the lead in the closing stages and held off Du Toit and Victor to win the Mini MAX Africa Open crown and secure his place at the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals in Portugal.

Junior MAX

Junior MAX built towards a dramatic final after three competitive heats. Max Boshoff won Heat 1 ahead of Retlotleng Thekiso and Cristian Verheul, while Ruvan Maritz took Heat 2 from Keenan du Plessis and Brodi Dowling. Du Plessis then strengthened his challenge with victory in Heat 3, beating Dowling and Logan Billau.

The final developed into a proper fight between the main contenders. Du Plessis led the early stages, Boshoff briefly moved to the front, and Dowling then timed his challenge perfectly. After several changes at the head of the field, Dowling took control in the second half of the race and held off Boshoff to win the Junior MAX Africa Open title and book his ticket to Portugal. Boshoff finished second, with Du Plessis third.

Senior MAX

Senior MAX attracted one of the strongest fields of the event, with 40 drivers entered. The class used a grouped-heat format before the field was narrowed for the final stages. Keagan Beaumont and William Marshall won the opening group races, while Beaumont and Guido Bidoli took the second set of heat wins. Muhammad Wally and Marshall then won the final group heats, moving closer to the Africa Open final.

The pre-finals shaped the front of the final grid, with Durelle Goodman winning Pre-Final A ahead of Kian Spies and Jesse Swart, while Caleb Moss took Pre-Final B ahead of Tristan du Plessis and Jordon Wadeley.

Goodman started the final from pole, but Swart made the early running and led the opening laps. Spies then made the decisive move and controlled the race from there, with Wally keeping him honest to the flag.

Spies crossed the line to win the Senior MAX Africa Open title and earn his place at the Grand Finals. Wally finished second, with Goodman third.

DD2

Charl Visser was the form driver through the DD2 heats, winning all three races. He opened with victory ahead of Dusan Radojevic and Jamie Smith, then backed that up with wins over Smith and Jonno Wilson in both Heat 2 and Heat 3.

But the Africa Open final belonged to Smith. Starting alongside Visser on the front row, Smith took control from the opening lap and led all the way to the flag. Visser kept the pressure on, but Smith held firm to win the DD2 Africa Open title and secure his Grand Finals entry. Visser finished second, with Radojevic completing the podium.

DD2 Masters

Justin Allison set the tone in DD2 Masters by winning all three heats, with Jonathan Pieterse finishing second on each occasion. Justin Rogers, Jared Jordan and Conor Hughes were all in the podium mix during the build-up, but Allison entered the final as the clear favourite.

He converted that form when it mattered most. With Pieterse out of contention in the final, Allison drove clear in the Masters classification to win the DD2 Masters Africa Open title. Hughes finished second, with Rogers third.

2026 Rotax MAX Challenge Africa Open Champions

Bambino: Melokuhle Ndlovu

Micro MAX: Slater Smith

Mini MAX: Luhan de Wet — Grand Finals qualifier

Junior MAX: Brodi Dowling — Grand Finals qualifier

Senior MAX: Kian Spies — Grand Finals qualifier

DD2: Jamie Smith — Grand Finals qualifier

DD2 Masters: Justin Allison

The 2026 Rotax MAX Challenge Africa Open once again underlined the strength and depth of karting on the continent. Across the weekend, drivers had to perform through the penultimate round of the South African Rotax MAX Challenge before delivering in a single, decisive final.

For De Wet, Dowling, Spies, and Smith, the reward is now a place on the world stage at the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals in Portimão, Portugal.