The 2025 South African Rotax MAX Challenge gets underway this weekend as the Toyota Gazoo Racing Junior Academy (TGRJA) heads to the Western Cape for the season opener at the Killarney Kart Track. This prestigious championship, contested over four rounds across three provinces, is South Africa’s gateway to the global spectacle, the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals (RMCGF) or often referred to as the “Olympics of Karting.”
Round 1 starts in Cape Town before the championship moves north to the Vereeniging Kart Circuit in Gauteng. The iconic iDube Raceway in KwaZulu-Natal hosts Round 3, with the championship finale returning to Zwartkops Kart Raceway in Gauteng, a circuit steeped in Rotax MAX Challenge history as the host of the 2002 RMCGF.
With national titles at stake, drivers who emerge victorious in their respective classes will secure coveted invitations to the RMCGF, set for a return to Bahrain in 2025, where they will represent South Africa on the international stage. The academy has a proud tradition of producing national champions and RMCGF competitors, and 2025 looks to be another strong campaign.
Located within the Killarney International Raceway and managed by the Western Province Motor Club (WPMC), the Killarney Kart Track is a 1 000-metre circuit known for its mix of long straights, sweeping bends, and tight technical corners. While many South African champions hail from the Western Cape, the Killarney Kart Track is home to the academy’s DD2 driver, Jason Coetzee, who will be looking to put his local knowledge to good use in the season opener. Coetzee returns to the academy fold in 2025 following a solid DD2 showing in 2024, finishing third in the national championship.
This year, the academy welcomes new talent eager to make their mark. Among them are Namibian twins Madume and Nande Kaiyamo, who continue their careers in the fiercely competitive Mini MAX category. The young duo recently sharpened their skills at the Northern Regions Rotax Kart Championships in Benoni and will head to Killarney, having competed at the Cape circuit earlier this season in preparation for the weekend’s national.
Reigning national Mini MAX champion and 2024 RMCGF participant, Tshepang Shisinwana is also set for his national debut in TGRJA colours, having competed at the Northern Regions event earlier this month. He is joined by one of two young female talents in the academy this season, Emma-Rose Dowling. Emma-Rose teams up alongside Tshepang and, like him, brings some international experience, having recently competed in the Champions of the Future Academy Program’s opening round in Portugal.
Another exciting addition to the TGRJA ranks is Georgia Lenaerts. Although no stranger to competitive karting, she will compete nationally in the academy’s colours for the first time in 2025. Lenaerts joins forces with former national Junior MAX Champion and 2023 and 2024 RMCGF finalist Kent Swarts. The two will form a formidable duo in the Senior MAX class.
As the first round approaches, all eyes will be on the TGRJA drivers as they battle for early championship momentum. With a mix of experience and fresh talent, the academy is poised for an exciting season opener in Cape Town.
The action commences on Thursday, with several practice sessions continuing into Friday before a late afternoon qualifying session sets the grids for Saturday. A warm-up session on Saturday morning for all classes will precede three race heats, after which the overall round winner is crowned.
The event will be live-streamed on the promoter’s YouTube channel, which can be accessed via the link – https://rebrand.ly/SARMC-Rd-1
Published by: Motorsport Fanatix
Picture Caption: Kent Swartz (Senior MAX)
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