Summarize

The South African Rotax Max Kart Challenge Nationals came to a head when South Africa’s leading racers delivered a scintillating display at the Zwartkops International Kart Raceway on Saturday. Jason Coetzee, Cristiano Morgado, Charl Visser, Caleb Moss and Brody Dowling walked away as South African champions to claim their seats on the SA team for the Rotax Max Grand Finals in November, while Alonzo de Oliveira took the baby Bambino title. 

Capetonian Jason Coetzee simply had to follow local wildcard Jamie Smith home in second in each of the four heats to clinch the 2025 premium class Rotax DD2 title. Cape rivals Sebastian Boyd and Matthew Wadeley followed in third and fourth to wrap up the championship second and third, ahead of Dusan Radojevic and Anwill April. 

Durban legend Cristiano Morgado made no mistakes as he scored four dominant DD2 Masters victories to steal that title in Pretoria. Mozambican Cristian Bouché was second from Cape driver Jonathan Pieterse. Morgado now heads to the Grand Finals looking for a sixth Rotax world crown.

A stunning 23-kart Rotax Senior Max grid delivered three winners in those four races. Local lads Muhammad Wally took the opening heat and Kent Swartz the second and third races, but it was final heat winner, Cape driver, Charl Visser who took his seventh South African karting title to once again secure his place in the National team. Swartz ultimately took the day from Visser, impressive Ndazlo Khosa, Jonno WIlson, Ethan Bostander and Jordon Wadeley.

Seventeen karts and four different winners in as many racers saw to an explosive day of high school Rotax Junior Max racing. Jozi lass Emma Dowling put one over the boys as she took the third race for an ultra-close win on the day. But it was opening race winner, Eastern Cape lad Caleb Moss who tied with final winner and another EP racer Jack Moore for second, who took the title and the hallowed Junior Grand Finals seat. Second heat winner, Cape lad Sebastiano Human, local lad Cristian Verheul and Mozambican Kayo Cera rounded off the top six.

Home hero Ronaldo Koen rattled off three race wins to take the day from Declan Jurgens in 20-kart under-13 Rotax Mini Max. Local rival Brodi Dowling however did enough with the second heat win and third for the day to take the title and book his place in the South African Grand Finals team. He kept Cape title rival Max Boshoff behind in fourth, while Kiyaan Reddi and Rafael de Souza closed off the Mini Max top six.

Jozi lad Luhan de Wet was another driver to take the day as he clinched the under 11 Rotax Micro Max title with the third heat win. Final race winner Luke du Toit ended second for the day from Cape trio, Radhi Harris, Michael O’Mahoney and Yaqeen Gamieldien and Ronald Venter. Adriaan Steyn was sadly was sidelined with a broken arm when his kart flipped in heat 3 after he won the two opening heats.

Jozi kid Alonzo de Oliveira took the baby Bambino title with the overall win for the day, but the second heat winner had to work for it in another class that delivered four winners on the day. Mozambican lass Teresa Bettencourt ended second with the final race win, ahead of third heat winner Sebastien Shuttleworth as three points separated the top three. Opening race winner Yerhu Malaba meantime ended fourth from Zonkizizwe Holomisa and Che Makhubele.

“Congratulations to our 2025 South African Rotax Max champions, Jason, Cristiano, Charl, Caleb, Brody and Alonzo,” Rotax SA CEO Ed Murray concluded. “We have seen sensational Rotax Max racing from record grids throughout the season. These guys have really earned their places to ensure that we take the best possible South African team to the ‘Olympics of Karting’ for the Rotax Max Grand Finals in Bahrain in December. Well done one and all!”