Luhan de Wet will bring his 2026 Northern Regions Rotax Kart Championship campaign to a close at Formula-K Raceway on Saturday, 31 October, before turning his attention to the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals in Portugal. The 2025 National Micro MAX champion and OMP/Motorsport Fanatix™ ambassador heads into the regional finale with plenty still to fight for in his rookie Mini MAX season.
Currently second in the regional championship standings, Luhan has accumulated 342 points after drop-score allocation, leaving him 22 points behind the championship leader. With three heats remaining, the ten-year-old Centurion racer will be determined to challenge for victory and give himself the strongest possible opportunity to finish the domestic season on a high.
The 2026 campaign has been an important chapter in Luhan's karting career. Stepping up from Micro MAX, where he claimed national honours in 2025, he has faced a demanding introduction to the faster and more competitive Mini MAX category. Despite the challenges, he has continued to establish himself among the leading contenders, securing the Mini MAX Africa Open title and finishing third in the South African Rotax MAX Challenge national championship.
His most recent regional outing at Zwartkops earlier this month saw him secure third overall, including a runner-up finish in the second heat. Returning to the familiar Benoni circuit, Luhan will be looking to build on that performance and rediscover the winning form that has highlighted his season.
However, Saturday's racing represents more than the conclusion of another championship. It is also his final competitive outing on home soil before returning to the international stage for a second consecutive Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals appearance.
Having represented South Africa in Bahrain last year, Luhan will travel to Portimão, Portugal, as the reigning Mini MAX Africa Open champion, where he will compete against some of the world's leading young karting talents from 7–14 November.
Preparations for the international event have already been underway, with Luhan working to familiarise himself with the Birel ART chassis he will race in Portugal. The change presents another learning opportunity for the youngster, who will be eager to apply the experience gained throughout his first season in Mini MAX.
"I really want to finish the regional championship with a win. It hasn't always been an easy year moving up to Mini MAX, but I've learned so much and had some really good races. I'm going to give everything at FK because I want to end the season on a high. I'm also getting more comfortable in the Birel ART, and I can't wait to race internationally again. It's going to be a big challenge, but I'm really excited."
Regardless of Saturday's championship outcome, Luhan can reflect on a season that has added another major title to his growing list of achievements while preparing him for the next step in his karting career.
For now, his attention remains firmly on FK, where one final regional showdown awaits before he shifts his focus to representing South Africa on the world stage.
