The 2025 ROK Cup South Africa National Championship kicked off this past weekend at Red Star Raceway near Delmas, Mpumalanga, with Eastern Cape karting talent Aashay Nagura making a strong statement despite early setbacks.
Nagura, who has set his sights on contending for the Mini ROK Championship, faced an uphill battle from the outset. A mechanical issue during qualifying saw him drop down the order, forcing him to start from the second-last row of the grid for the opening heat. However, showcasing his skill and resolve, the Kokoro Racing Academy driver delivered one of the standout performances of the day. Carving his way through the field, he stormed to an impressive fourth-place finish, proving his ability to fight through adversity.
Heat 2 presented a more formidable challenge as Nagura lined up seventh on the grid. Despite making an early charge for a top-five position, the race proved difficult, and he dropped back to ninth before making up one of the lost positions as the chequered flag fell. Conditions for the final heat worsened following a brief rain shower. Battling the slippery track and fierce competition, he finally crossed the line in fifth. The combined results would see Aashay classified as sixth overall.
Supported by The Bronscor Group, Sparco South Africa, INGCO South Africa, and Score Immune Booster, Nagura was left wanting more from the opening round but remains focused on his championship campaign. With the next event set for Killarney Kart Circuit in Cape Town, a track he knows well, he is determined to return even stronger in Round 2.
The fight for the Mini ROK title is only just beginning, and Aashay Nagura has already proven that he has what it takes to be a serious contender. The Northern Regions ROK Karting Championship will take place on 15 March before ROK competitors descend on the Western Cape for the second national round.
Published by: Motorsport Fanatix
Picture Caption: Aashay Nagura
MSA Publishes media releases from a host of different sources on our website as a service to the sport. It is not practically possible to vet/approve every release that is published. Some news items and articles are written by correspondents and do not necessarily represent MSA’s views.