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Ormonde, Johannesburg’s African Junior Max karting champion Aqil Alibhai is en route to Brazil to represent South Africa in the 2018 Rotax Max World Finals this week. Alibhai, who has a wealth of international experience behind him in spite of his tender age, only stepped up to the Junior class this year and made the 12-man South African team with a well-measured drive to win the 2018 high school Junior Max African Open at Zwartkops.

“Racing the Rotax Max World Finals is a dream come true,”Aqil admitted. “All our kart racing overseas over the past few years and a great 2018 season have paid off and we are off to Brazil — this really is a special moment for us and I'm really looking forward to racing for South Africa in the world championships of Rotax Max karting!” 

Aqil spent a season racing in England and Europe in the 2016 Super One championship before returning home last year, where he crowned his final primary school season with the Northern Regions Maxterino title and second in that national championship. 2018 has been something of a watershed year with winning performances from the get go culminating in the African Open Junior win to book his ticket to Brazil in his rookie season in the class.

“I am fortunate to have my dad’s full support to go karting and I am truly thankful for all he has done for me and for everyone else who has helped make it happen including my RKT team — I intend to make you all proud in Brazil — bring it on!” Aqil and the rest of the South African team will be in action in the Grand Finals in Conde, Paraíba in the northeast of Brazil from November 24 to 1 December — follow the action as it happens on www.kart.co.za.