The Toyota Gazoo Racing Junior Academy (TGRJA) launched its 2025 campaign at the MSA Northern Regions Rotax Kart Championships opening round at the Formula-K Raceway in Benoni, Gauteng on 1 March 2025. The event, hosted by the Rand Kart Club, marked the first of six regional rounds and delivered an exciting day of karting action despite the threat of rain. Although light showers during qualifying created tricky conditions for the 70+ Rotax competitors, the weather held off for the remainder of the day, allowing for thrilling wheel-to-wheel battles across all classes.
For the TGRJA squad, it was a day of mixed fortunes. While the latest trio of drivers found the challenging Gauteng circuit a tough nut to crack, the team’s two seasoned stalwarts flew the flag high with strong performances.
In the Senior MAX category, former national champion Kent Swartz reaffirmed his status as one of the title favourites with a masterful display. After struggling in the greasy qualifying session, Swartz rebounded with two commanding heat wins. Despite a seventh-place finish in the final heat, his consistent performance earned him the overall victory and an early lead in the 2025 championship.
Newcomer Georgia Lenaerts showed promise on her academy debut, charging from sixth on the grid to secure a superb Senior MAX runner-up finish in Heat 1. However, race incidents in the following two heats stifled her momentum, leaving her ninth overall. Despite the setbacks, Lenaerts’ early-season pace bodes well for future rounds.
The academy’s other national champion, Tshepang Shisinwana, made an encouraging start to his Junior MAX campaign. He claimed pole position in qualifying, but a nose-cone infringement penalty dropped him to fifth in Heat 1. Undeterred, Shisinwana delivered the fastest lap in Heat 2 en route to a third-place finish. Another hard-fought fifth in the final heat placed him fifth overall, laying a solid foundation for the season ahead.
TGRJA welcomed its first non-South African drivers in 2025, with Namibian twins Mandume and Nande Kaiyamo competing in the Mini MAX class. Despite limited experience at the Benoni circuit, both brothers showed promise and performed strongly.
Nande finished seventh in the opening heat, while Mandume was forced to retire following an incident. In the remaining heats, Nande continued his consistent form with fifth and sixth-place finishes to secure an impressive sixth overall. Mandume, meanwhile, recovered well to finish seventh and 11th, ending his day in a respectable 14th position.
Reflecting on the first round of the 2025 season, TGRJA Team Principal Leeroy Poulter highlighted the fierce competition in the regional series, particularly for newcomers. “The Northern Regions Championship always delivers an incredibly high standard of competition, and this weekend was no exception. Most national competitors are based in Gauteng, so the skill required to compete is as high as at nationals. Our newcomers faced tough opposition, but there were positive signs across the board. With the right nurturing and training, we are confident that the team will make significant strides as the season progresses,” said Poulter.
The academy now focuses on the national competition, the South African Rotax MAX Challenge, traditionally held in Cape Town. With less than two weeks to prepare, the academy is poised to harness the momentum and experience from the regional opener. The drivers are ready to embrace the next challenge set for the Killarney International Raceway on 21-22 March 2025.
Published by: Motorsport Fanatix
Picture Caption: Nande and Madume Kaiyamo
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