Killarney Finale to Settle ROK National Titles
The 2026 South African National ROK Karting Championship reaches its decisive weekend at the Killarney Kart Circuit from 10–12 September, with the Spring Nats bringing the eight-round season to a close.
Official practice is scheduled for Thursday, followed by two full National rounds on Friday and Saturday. Each round comprises qualifying and three heats, leaving six races in which the championship contenders can change the course of their seasons. One started heat may be dropped from each double-header weekend, making consistency across the remaining races crucial.
The championship began at Red Star Raceway in March, then moved to GT Raceway in Vereeniging and Formula-K Raceway in Benoni. Killarney now provides the first coastal stop of the National season and a different challenge for drivers and teams accustomed to racing at inland circuits.
The fast, flowing 12-corner layout combines high-speed esses, long sweeping bends and firm braking zones. Maintaining momentum will be important, but the heavier braking areas should also provide opportunities for drivers willing to attack.
Sea-level conditions will require teams to reconsider their set-ups, while Cape Town’s strong winds can introduce another variable during the weekend. Western Cape competitors will have valuable circuit knowledge, leaving visiting drivers to make full use of Thursday’s practice sessions before the first championship points are decided.
Cadet contest remains close
Grayson Venter arrives in Cape Town at the head of the Cadet standings, but Christopher Grimmick trails him by only 14 points.
Their seasons have followed different routes. Venter scored 158 points at the Red Star opener before taking the maximum points from the GT Raceway double-header. Grimmick opened his campaign with a strong points haul and returned to score well at Formula-K.
Yerhu Malabie remains third after winning all six heats at Red Star and collecting the maximum points from the opening weekend. William Grant, Declan Berowsky and Jaxon Holzapfel follow in the standings.
The Cadet National Champion will receive a ticket to the Tillotson T4 World Final in Spain.
Eight points separate Mini leaders
Mini ROK has produced the closest championship fight of the season. Kayde Cornofsky leads Maddox Mason by eight points, with Riley van Staden still within striking distance, 26 points behind the leader.
Cornofsky took a three-point advantage over Mason from Red Star and increased that margin to 17 points at GT Raceway. The picture changed at Formula-K, where Mason outscored Cornofsky and reduced the deficit to eight.
Van Staden has moved steadily closer after improving his weekend return at each event. Zac Boshoff sits fourth, 54 points behind Cornofsky, and remains capable of influencing the title outcome across the final six heats.
The narrow margins leave little room for error. A difficult result can be discarded, but a second setback could carry a high cost at a circuit where qualifying position and maintaining momentum through the faster sections will be important.
The Mini ROK National Champion will earn a ROK Cup Superfinal ticket, while the overall Killarney weekend winner will receive R25 000 in cash.
Mason carries perfect OK-J record
Mattao Mason has controlled the OK-J championship from the opening heat at Red Star. He has won all 18 heats contested this season, collecting the maximum championship points available after the three weekend drops.
Retlotleng Thekiso is second, 80 points behind Mason, with Logan Billau a further 13 points back. Max Boshoff has moved from eighth after the opening double-header to fourth following his strongest weekend of the season at Formula-K. Aleksandar Praizovic completes the current top five.
Although Mason holds a substantial advantage, 175 points remain available at Killarney. His opponents must deliver perfect weekends while hoping the leader’s uninterrupted run finally encounters trouble.
The greater speed of the OK-J karts should make the circuit’s quick direction changes and heavy braking areas particularly demanding. Drivers will need to combine outright pace with tyre management across two complete race days.
The OK-J title carries one of the largest opportunity packages in the championship. The national champion is set to receive a 2027 FIA Junior European Academy seat, a ROK Cup Superfinal ticket and an FIA OK-N Junior World Cup seat. The overall OK-J winner at Killarney will also receive R25 000 towards an MSA4 or Junior Ginetta testing experience.
Moore leads two-way OK-N pursuit
Jack Moore heads the OK-N standings following a season in which he has been the leading scorer at all three double-header events.
Moore began with 172 points at Red Star, added 160 at GT Raceway and then took the maximum 175 at Formula-K. That performance extended his championship lead to 51 points over Chase Haskins.
Only two points separate Haskins and third-placed Aidan Calitz. Both have remained consistent throughout the year, although Moore’s five victories from the six Formula-K heats created the largest shift in the title race so far. Ashaan Reddi is fourth, followed by Emile van der Wateren.
Killarney’s faster sections should suit the senior direct-drive machinery, but they will also increase the cost of a poor exit or missed braking point. Haskins and Calitz cannot simply concentrate on catching Moore, as their fight for second could change with every heat.
The OK-N champion’s winning package includes an FIA Senior European Academy seat, a ROK Cup Superfinal ticket, an FIA OK-N World Cup seat and R100 000 in MSA4 tyres for the 2027 season.
More than National trophies at stake
The championship prizes extend the opportunity beyond South African competition. Cadet offers a place at the Tillotson T4 World Final, the Mini champions earn ROK Cup Superfinal tickets, and the two OK divisions provide access to FIA Academy and World Cup competition.
Mini ROK begins the finale with only eight points covering the leading pair. Cadet has a 14-point margin at the front, while Haskins and Calitz must find a way to reduce Moore’s OK-N advantage. In OK-J, Mason has six heats remaining to complete an unbeaten national campaign.
Practice begins on Thursday, with the 2026 champions decided after Saturday’s eighth and final round.
Entries are open, and drivers can enter on the link below:
