Stretton Racing’s Alonzo de Oliveira kicked off his 2025 Northern Regions Rotax Kart Championship campaign with a hard-fought third-place overall finish in the Bambino class at the weekend’s opening round. Despite a heartbreaking mechanical issue in the final heat, the Motorsport Fanatix brand ambassador showcased his resilience to secure his first podium of the season at the Formula-K Raceway.
Following a stellar qualifying performance, Alonzo lined up alongside familiar rival Sebastian Shuttleworth on the front row. The duo reignited their fierce on-track rivalry from last season, thrilling fans with wheel-to-wheel action. Alonzo delivered two impressive runner-up finishes in the opening heats, narrowly missing out on victory to Sebastian each time.
However, disaster struck in the final heat when a mechanical issue hampered his charge. Despite the setback, Alonzo’s consistent results across the day were enough to clinch third overall and a valuable haul of championship points.
Reflecting on the weekend, Alonzo remained positive and gracious in defeat: “Racing is full of ups and downs, and while the final heat didn’t go my way, I’m proud of the fight we showed. Congratulations to Sebastian on a great drive – we’ll come back stronger. A massive thank you to my team at Stretton Racing and all my sponsors for their support. This is just the beginning, and my focus is already on Cape Town and the national title.”
Alonzo extends his gratitude to his loyal sponsors: Y2K Germiston, MSLB Projects, Amigos Portugueses, Freddy Hirsch, S.Y. Wholesale Butchery, Hercules Foods, Hercules Sauces, and HPP, whose backing continues to fuel his championship ambitions.
With the first regional round in the books, all eyes now turn to the opening national event in Cape Town, where Alonzo will aim to continue his quest to become the 2025 South African Bambino Champion.
Published by: Motorsport Fanatix
Picture Caption: Alonzo de Oliveira
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