Fresh from representing South Africa at the ROK Cup Superfinal in Italy, newly crowned National Mini ROK Champion Kayde Cornofsky returns to domestic competition this weekend for the sixth and final round of the 2026 Northern Regions ROK Karting Championship. The season finale takes place at Formula-K Raceway in Benoni on Saturday, 24 October, where the Xtreme Racing Team driver will look to conclude an impressive campaign with another strong performance.
The Johannesburg youngster has enjoyed a successful 2026 season, adding the National Mini ROK crown to the National Kid ROK title he claimed in 2023. Having finished runner-up in the 2025 National Mini ROK Championship, Cornofsky returned this year determined to go one better, eventually securing the title during September's championship finale at Killarney Kart Circuit in Cape Town.
His national campaign featured several victories, podium finishes and two overall weekend triumphs that earned him R50,000 in prize money. Those achievements underlined the progress Cornofsky has made in a category where consistency and racecraft have been essential to his success.
The national championship victory also secured Cornofsky an entry to the prestigious ROK Cup Superfinal, held at South Garda Karting in Lonato, Italy, this past weekend. Competing against an international field of Mini ROK drivers provided another valuable opportunity to measure himself against competitors from around the world and gain experience beyond South Africa's borders.
With his international duties behind him, Cornofsky now turns his attention to the Northern Regions championship, where he entered the season as the defending Mini ROK champion following his 2025 regional title success.
Formula-K Raceway is a familiar venue for the young racer, having hosted the fifth and sixth rounds of this year's national championship in July. On that occasion, Cornofsky demonstrated competitive pace, recording a heat victory, multiple top-five finishes and an overall podium despite a challenging weekend.
The Benoni circuit's combination of fast sections, technical corners and demanding braking zones will once again test the drivers' precision and consistency. For Cornofsky, the objective will be to build on his previous experience at the circuit and finish the regional campaign on a positive note.
As the curtain falls on a memorable 2026 season, Cornofsky can reflect on a year that delivered his second national championship, significant national success and another opportunity to compete internationally. A strong showing at Formula-K would provide a fitting conclusion to a campaign that has further established him among South Africa's leading young karting talents.
Kayde extends his sincere appreciation to the entire Xtreme Racing Team and his valued sponsors, Allegiance Properties, Canario Cornofsky Attorneys, Calisto's Portuguese Restaurant, Smith Garage, The 357, Glads and AMW, as well as Motorsport Fanatix™, for their continued commitment and support throughout the season.
