Close Duels Define Opening Northern Regions ROK Karting Round at Red Star Raceway

The 2026 MSA Northern Regions ROK Karting Championship opened at Red Star Raceway, near Delmas, Mpumalanga, the home of ROK Cup South Africa, with a full day of competitive racing shaped by changing early conditions and tightly contested battles across every class.

Friday’s unofficial practice unfolded in warm conditions, allowing teams to establish baseline setups. However, a short rain shower on Saturday morning introduced a setup curveball ahead of qualifying. As the track dried rapidly, drivers had to adapt quickly to changing grip levels. The rain stayed away for the remainder of the event, producing stable conditions that led to close, disciplined racing throughout the day.

The first race of the 2026 season also saw several drivers step up into new categories, in some cases reigniting old rivalries. With ROK’s pool motor system continuing to promote parity and fairness, the emphasis remained squarely on racecraft, decision-making and execution rather than mechanical advantage.

OK-N

The OK-N category produced a disciplined but intense duel between Chase Haskins and Jack Moore, with the two front-runners rarely separated by more than a few tenths across the day. Qualifying saw Moore secure pole position, narrowly edging Haskins in drying conditions following the morning rain shower.

Heat 1 went Haskins’ way after penalties reshuffled the order, with Moore consistently demonstrating a strong race pace. Heat 2 again saw the pair separated by just over a second at the flag, reinforcing how evenly matched the category was under the ROK pool motor system. By Heat 3, Moore struck back, taking victory and the day’s fastest lap, but Haskins’ consistency across all three heats ultimately secured him the overall round honours.

Behind the leading duo, Aidan Calitz showed a steady pace throughout the event, remaining consistently competitive, while Brooke Loreti, despite an early exclusion, recovered strongly in the remaining heats to gather valuable points.

• Pole Position: Jack Moore

• Fastest Racing Lap: Jack Moore

Overall Results:

1. Chase Haskins

2. Jack Moore

3. Aidan Calitz

4. Brooke Loreti

OK-J

The OK-J field delivered one of the most compelling duels of the day, centred around Mattao Mason and Aleksandar Praizovic, with Max Boshoff, Jordan Klaasen, and Logan Billau repeatedly inserting themselves into the fight.

Qualifying saw Praizovic take pole in tricky drying conditions, setting the tone for a tightly contested day. However, once racing began, Mason emerged as the benchmark, leading all three heats and demonstrating composure under pressure.

Heat 1 saw Mason control the pace, with Klaasen and Billau locked in a close battle for the podium positions. Praizovic fought back in Heat 2, recording the fastest lap of the heat and pushing Mason all the way to the flag. In Heat 3, early position changes reshuffled the order before Mason once again settled into the lead, while Praizovic, Boshoff and Retlotleng Thekiso traded close margins throughout.

Further down the order, Ruvan Maritz, Matthew Shuttleworth, brothers Ashaan and Kiyaan Reddi, each showed measurable improvement as the day progressed, closing lap-time gaps and gaining confidence in stable, dry conditions. The narrow time spreads, with multiple drivers recording laps in the 53-second bracket, highlighted the equalising effect of the Vortex-powered pool motors.

• Pole Position: Aleksandar Praizovic

• Fastest OK-J Racing Lap: Aleksandar Praizovic

Overall Results:

1. Mattao Mason

2. Aleksandar Praizovic

3. Max Boshoff

4. Retlotleng Thekiso

5. Ruvan Maritz

6. Matthew Shuttleworth

7. Ashaan Reddi

8. Kiyaan Reddi

9. Jordan Klaasen

10. Logan Billau

MINI ROK

Mini ROK delivered some of the fiercest racing of the event, with a constant duel developing between Kayde Cornofsky, Noah Cronje, Riley van Staden, and Maddox Mason, while Ronald Venter (Mini U10) remained consistently in podium contention. Cronje secured pole position, setting the early benchmark.

Heat 1 saw Cornofsky take control and manage the pace, while Cronje responded with strong lap times, recording the fastest lap in the opening heat. Heat 2 produced another tightly contested finish, with Cornofsky edging Cronje and Van Staden in a closely grouped lead pack. In Heat 3, Mason briefly disrupted the order and claimed victory, demonstrating how narrow the margins remained.

Behind the leading quartet, Diego Berardone, Parker van der Molen, and Diego Antunes remained closely matched, while Ethan Tuttelberg, Hunter North, Zac Boshoff, and Omolemo Mfana showed steady improvement as the day progressed.

• Pole Position: Noah Cronje

• Fastest Racing Lap: Noah Cronje

Overall Results:

1. Kayde Cornofsky

2. Ronald Venter (Mini U10)

3. Noah Cronje

4. Riley van Staden

5. Diego Berardone

6. Parker van der Molen

7. Diego Antunes

8. Maddox Mason

9.  Ethan Tuttelberg

10. Hunter North

11. Nicholas Fleming (Mini U10)

12. Zac Boshoff

13. Omolemo Mfana

MINI U10

Within the broader Mini ROK field, the Mini U10 contest saw Ronald Venter and Nicholas Fleming compete on the same grid but were recognised separately in their age categories.

Venter demonstrated notable consistency, remaining within the leading pack and maintaining competitive lap times throughout the day. Fleming showed measurable progression across the three heats, reducing lap times and building confidence in changing conditions. The integration of Mini U10 into the Mini ROK grid continues to provide young drivers with valuable exposure while maintaining fairness through the equalised pool motor platform.

CADET

The Cadet class featured a compelling three-way contest between Yerhu Malabie, Grayson Venter, and Christopher Grimmick, with the lead changing hands across the three heats.

Venter secured pole position in drying conditions. Heat 1 saw Venter claim victory after a late charge, narrowly ahead of Malabie. Heat 2 shifted momentum as Malabie responded with a composed drive to the front. By Heat 3, Malabie capitalised on a strong start and controlled the race to secure the overall round. Malabie recorded the fastest racing lap of the day, while Grimmick demonstrated steady improvement and consistent pace throughout.

• Pole Position: Grayson Venter

• Fastest Racing Lap: Yerhu Malabie

Overall Results:

1. Yerhu Malabie

2. Grayson Venter

3. Christopher Grimmick

The 2026 Northern Regions ROK Championship began exactly as expected: tightly contested, professionally conducted, and performance-driven. With Red Star Raceway set to host the opening MSA National ROK Cup Championship round over 20-22 March 2026, this opening regional event provided critical preparation for drivers targeting national honours. The depth of competition across all classes, combined with the continued success of the pool motor system, reinforced the championship’s position as South Africa’s leading karting platform.

Round 1 has set the tone, and if the margins seen at Red Star are any indication, the 2026 season promises to be fiercely competitive.

For more information about the championship, please visit www.rokthenats.co.za or email John Duvill at john@ftwmotorsport.co.za.