South Africa's Luhan De Wet Shines on Karting World Stage

In what was the proudest and most demanding week of his young career, Motorsport Fanatix™ and OMP Racing ambassador Luhan de Wet represented South Africa as part of a ten-driver national team at the prestigious Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals (RMCGF) in Bahrain. As the sole Micro MAX competitor representing the entire African continent, Luhan carried the hopes of many, not just his own, as he stepped onto one of the biggest stages in global karting.

From the moment he turned his first laps in Monday’s opening practices, the week showed immense promise. Luhan quickly established himself as a contender in a 36-kart world-class grid, clocking competitive times and adapting rapidly to a circuit unlike any he had raced before. His confidence grew through each session, including a standout run to P3 in Practice 1 and a strong P9 in Practice 2, announcing his arrival in Bahrain with intent.

Wednesday’s qualifying proved more challenging as setup decisions did not fully align with the track’s evolving conditions. Still, Luhan fought hard to secure P11, placing him well for the Qualifying Heats that followed. The first heat brought frustration, but he regrouped brilliantly to finish P15, before delivering a spirited charge to P8 in the second heat. His combined results earned him P10 on the grid for Friday night’s Pre-Final, a moment he had worked tirelessly for throughout the week.

But motorsport has a way of reminding competitors just how unpredictable it can be. Unable to fire up his kart when the grid departed on its warm-up lap, Luhan was left stationary. By the time he got going, the field was halfway around the circuit. In an attempt to retake his position, he transgressed a rule, resulting in a post-race penalty. During the race, however, he pushed forward aggressively, fighting his way up to 15th before crossing the line in 17th. The penalty, however, saw him classified in P29, altering the trajectory he had fought so hard to build.

Saturday’s Final saw him launch from P18 with nothing to lose. The race quickly turned into one of the fiercest battles of the entire week, with chaos unfolding across the tightly bunched midfield. Luhan attacked with heart, climbing as high as P11 amid the turbulence. Multiple off-line shuffles and two track-limit penalties added ten seconds to his time, ultimately placing him P28 in the official results. But the classification told only a fraction of the story. His resilience, speed, and refusal to surrender confirmed that he belonged among the world’s best.

Reflecting on the experience, Luhan shared an emotional message:

“Racing here showed me how big the world is, but also how far hard work can get you. I might be one driver on the grid, but I raced for South Africa and for everyone who believed in me.”

With gratitude beyond his years, Luhan extended heartfelt thanks to those who made the journey possible. He acknowledged the many individuals who contributed financially toward his dream, each donation opening the door for him to compete on the global stage. He thanked his mechanic, Stan, whose steady guidance and tireless commitment kept him competitive throughout the week. And, above all, he expressed profound appreciation to his family for the sacrifices, love, and unwavering support that carried him through every high and low.

Though the final result may not reflect the brilliance he showed, Luhan’s week in Bahrain stands as a defining chapter in his career. He leaves the Grand Finals not only as a proud South African competitor but as an African representative who proved he has the courage, talent, and determination to rise even higher.

For Luhan, this is not the end; it is the beginning.