Six South Africans Set for ROK Superfinal
Six South African karters are set to compete against international opposition when the 24th ROK Cup Superfinal takes place at South Garda Karting in Lonato, Italy, from 13–17 October 2026.
The annual event brings together competitors from national ROK championships worldwide, with drivers from about 50 nations registered across ten categories. For the South African contingent, the five-day competition offers an opportunity to measure themselves against some of the leading young karters from Europe and beyond.
Ronald Venter, Kayde Cornofsky, Parker van der Molen, Diego Berardone, Zac Boshoff and Max Boshoff will represent South Africa in Mini ROK U10, Mini ROK and Junior ROK.
Venter brings valuable Italian experience
Ronald Venter enters the Mini ROK U10 category following an extensive international campaign that has already taken him to several Italian circuits during 2026.
Competing with the BabyRace Driver Academy aboard a Parolin chassis, Venter has contested the IAME Series Italy in X30 U10, as well as the Italian ACI Karting Championship in Mini Gr.3 U10.
His IAME campaign produced several competitive performances, culminating in third place at September's championship finale at the Leopard Circuit in Viterbo. The result also secured third overall in the 2026 IAME Series Italy X30 U10 championship.
Having already competed at South Garda Karting during the season, Venter returns to familiar surroundings for the Superfinal. Although the Mini ROK U10 machinery presents a different challenge, his experience of Italian circuits and international racing should prove valuable.
National champion Cornofsky takes on the world
Newly crowned South African Mini ROK Champion Kayde Cornofsky heads to Italy following a successful domestic campaign with Xtreme Racing Team.
Cornofsky secured the 2026 national title at Killarney in September, winning both championship rounds during the final weekend. His performance completed a season in which he successfully defended his championship lead against strong opposition.
The title adds to his 2023 National Kid ROK crown, while his runner-up finish in the 2025 Mini ROK championship provided the foundation for this year's success.
The Superfinal represents Cornofsky's next challenge, with the South African champion stepping into an international Mini ROK field containing drivers with considerable European racing experience.
Boshoff, Van der Molen and Berardone join Mini ROK challenge
Zac Boshoff, Parker van der Molen and Diego Berardone complete South Africa's four-driver representation in Mini ROK.
Boshoff has enjoyed a competitive national campaign with Kokoro Racing and gained additional international experience at the British Champions of the Future Academy Programme finale at Whilton Mill in August.
Competing in Mini 60, the South African was introduced to unfamiliar machinery and a different racing environment against British and international opposition. That experience provides useful preparation for the demands of the Superfinal.
Van der Molen has also been active across South Africa's karting championships, competing in both Mini ROK and Rotax Mini MAX during the season. His participation in Italy offers a chance to build on that domestic experience against a wider international field.
Berardone, another Kokoro Racing competitor, has been a regular participant in the South African Mini ROK National Championship. His Superfinal entry takes him from the familiar surroundings of the domestic championship to one of the season's larger international ROK events.
With four South Africans in the category, local interest will be high in how they perform through qualifying and the heats before Saturday's decisive races.
Max Boshoff targets Junior ROK success
Max Boshoff completes the South African contingent in Junior ROK, bringing international experience from a busy 2026 season.
The reigning 2025 South African Mini ROK Champion has spent this year adapting to the more powerful Junior machinery while expanding his international racing programme.
Boshoff represented South Africa at the inaugural FIA Karting Arrive and Drive European Championship in Poland in July, competing against drivers from across Europe and other regions.
He also participated in the British Champions of the Future Academy Programme, racing in OK-N Junior at PF International and Whilton Mill.
His Whilton Mill appearance produced a particularly encouraging result. Boshoff qualified on the front row for Saturday's final and went on to secure a podium finish against established international opposition.
Back home, Boshoff has also been competitive in Junior MAX, finishing runner-up in the Africa Open final at Zwartkops in July.
The experience gained across these different championships provides a useful foundation as he prepares to tackle Junior ROK competition at South Garda Karting.
South Garda Karting awaits
Situated in Lonato del Garda in northern Italy, South Garda Karting is one of Europe's established international karting venues.
The 1.2-kilometre circuit features 14 corners, with a mix of fast sections, changes of direction, and braking zones. With large international fields expected, finding clear track space during qualifying and maintaining consistent results across the heats will be important.
Mini ROK and Mini ROK U10 competitors will race with engines allocated by the organiser through a draw, part of the event's controlled-equipment regulations.
The Superfinal is contested as a single event, meaning that performances throughout the week determine which drivers progress into the decisive races.
Five days of competition
The event begins on Tuesday, 13 October, with administrative checks and unofficial free practice.
Official practice, qualifying and the opening heats follow on Wednesday, with further qualifying heats scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
Saturday, 17 October, brings the pre-finals and finals, when the 2026 ROK Superfinal winners will be decided.
The finals will be livestreamed through the official ROK Cup YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@ROKbyVORTEX/streams
, while live timing and results will be available through the event's official website and app.
For the six South Africans, the immediate task is to establish competitive pace and secure favourable qualifying positions. From there, consistent results through the heats will be essential to reaching Saturday's finals.
All six enter the event with different levels of domestic and international experience, but each will look to make the most of their opportunity against a strong international field.
