Odendaal Battles Back in Tough SARMC Weekend

Three-time national karting champion Caleb Odendaal endured a challenging but character-defining weekend at the second round of the 2025 South African Rotax MAX Challenge (SARMC) held at Vereeniging Kart Circuit.

After qualifying an impressive second on Friday afternoon, Caleb launched into the opening heat with a lightning-fast start, leading the early stages. Despite crossing the line in third after a hard-fought race, he was unfortunately excluded from the results due to a technical infringement, forcing him to start the second heat from the back of the grid.

Undeterred, Caleb showed his fighting spirit in Heat 2 by charging from 19th on the grid to 11th at the flag, carving his way through the competitive Junior MAX field with calculated aggression. In the final race of the day, he once again demonstrated his racecraft and resilience, battling fiercely for a top-five finish before ultimately settling for sixth place at the end of an intense contest.

The cumulative results saw Caleb classified 15th overall for the weekend — an unrepresentative finish given the pace and determination he displayed throughout the event.

Reflecting on the weekend, Caleb shared: "It was a tough weekend with a lot of lessons learned. I'm proud of how we fought back after the setback. I know we have the speed — now it’s about staying sharp, moving forward, and coming back stronger at the next one. Thank you to my team, Legend Motors, Kart Republic Africa, and everyone who supports me."

Backed by Legend Motors and Kart Republic Africa, Caleb remains firmly in the hunt for the Junior MAX national crown as the season heads into its critical stages. Caleb is backed by Legend Motors and Kart Republic Africa.