Micro MAX Rookie Alonzo Set for SARMC Formula-K Test

OMP and Motorsport Fanatix™ brand ambassador Alonzo De Oliveira will return to national karting action next weekend when the second round of the South African Rotax MAX Challenge heads to Formula-K Raceway, Benoni, from 12–14 June 2026. The Benoni circuit has become one of the country’s key karting venues and a familiar battleground for many of South Africa’s leading Rotax competitors.

For Alonzo, the weekend marks another important step in his rookie Micro MAX campaign with the Stretton Racing stable. Having stepped up from Bambino in 2026 after clinching the national, regional and African Open title, the Johannesburg youngster has had to adapt quickly to a faster kart, stronger opposition, and a far more demanding racing environment.

His opening national round at Killarney Kart Circuit in Cape Town earlier this season provided a solid foundation. Making his Micro MAX debut, Alonzo qualified inside the top five before delivering a measured and consistent set of heat results. Fifth in Heat 1, seventh in Heat 2, and fifth again in the final heat saw him secure fifth overall for the round, a credible result against more experienced Micro MAX competitors.

While the Cape Town opener underlined the scale of the step up, it also highlighted Alonzo’s ability to manage a weekend intelligently. Rather than overreaching, he focused on clean racing, consistency, and learning the finer details of the class, key ingredients that will become increasingly important as the national championship develops.

A few weeks ago, Alonzo gained further valuable mileage at Formula-K during the second round of the Northern Regions Rotax Kart Championship. Competing against the Gauteng Micro MAX field, he gained crucial preparation at the same venue that will host the upcoming national round. That regional outing allowed him to become familiar with the Benoni circuit in Micro MAX machinery, sharpen his race craft, and better understand where improvements can be made before returning to national competition.

The upcoming SARMC round will therefore be about converting that preparation into progress. Formula-K is a circuit that rewards confidence, precision, and momentum, and Alonzo will look to draw on his recent regional experience to close the gap on the established front-runners.

“Cape Town was a big learning weekend for me because it was my first national in Micro MAX,” said Alonzo. “I was happy to finish inside the top five, but I also know there is a lot more to learn. Racing at Formula-K in the Northern Regions round helped me prepare for this weekend, and I feel more comfortable every time I get into the kart. The goal is to keep improving, work with Stretton Racing, and fight as hard as I can.”

With national championship points again on offer, the Formula-K weekend will be another key marker in Alonzo’s development. Still in his first season in Micro MAX, the focus remains firmly on progression, but his early-season performances have already shown that he has the commitment, support structure, and race-day temperament to grow into the category.

The championship round kicks off on Friday 12 June with six official practice sessions, followed by four more on Saturday, before qualifying brings the day to a close. Sunday will see the business end of the weekend with a warm-up session and three race heats to decide the overall round champions.

As the SARMC grid descends on Benoni, Alonzo will aim to build on his Killarney debut, make full use of his recent Formula-K preparation, and continue to establish himself as one of the promising young names in the Micro MAX field.