The Toyota Gazoo Racing Junior Academy (TGRJA) kicked off their 2025 South African Rotax MAX Challenge campaign with a strong showing at the opening round, held at Killarney Kart Circuit from 20 to 22 March. With unpredictable weather ranging from high humidity to light drizzle, drivers faced a weekend of mixed conditions, often navigating tricky, damp surfaces on slick tyres.
Coetzee Dominates in DD2
Cape Town’s own Jason Coetzee put his circuit knowledge to good use, securing an impressive overall victory in the premier gearbox DD2 class. The experienced local took two heat wins and a second-place finish against top drivers, many of whom are former national champions, earning a large haul of points and taking an early championship lead.
Senior MAX: Hard Battles for Lenaerts and Swartz
The Senior MAX class featured a competitive 23-kart grid, making for a tough weekend for TGRJA’s Kent Swartz and Georgia Lenaerts. Lenaerts started strong with two top-ten finishes but was penalised with a nose-cone infringement (NCIP) in Heat 3, dropping her to 16th. Swartz’s weekend was equally challenging; he picked up an NCIP in Heat 1, struggled in Heat 2’s damp conditions, and ultimately retired from the final race.
Dowling Shines with Maiden Junior MAX Win
Emma-Rose Dowling delivered a standout performance, claiming her first-ever Junior MAX heat victory before adding two more podium finishes to secure the overall round win. Her dominant weekend sees her head back north as the championship leader. Tshepang Shisinwana, meanwhile, showed promising pace but faced a tough weekend. His podium-contending drives in all three Junior MAX heats ended in incidents, leading to three NCIPs.
Mini MAX: A Learning Curve for the Kaiyamo Twins
Namibian brothers Nande and Mandume Kaiyamo made their national Mini MAX debut as TGRJA drivers in a highly competitive 25-kart field. Nande impressed with a 12th-place finish in the opening heat and improved to 7th in Heat 2 before retiring from the final race. Mandume, however, faced early setbacks, being disqualified from Heat 1 for being underweight and retiring from Heat 2, though he salvaged 13th place in the final heat.
Team Principal Leeroy Poulter Reflects on the Weekend
“I couldn’t be prouder of our drivers this weekend. They faced some of the most challenging conditions we’ve seen, and their resilience was incredible. Emma-Rose’s first win was a huge highlight, and Jason’s dominance in DD2 shows how well-prepared he was. We’ll take the lessons from this round, put in the work, and come back stronger for the next round in Vereeniging.”
TGRJA’s Continued Growth in South African Motorsport
Now in its fourth season, the Toyota Gazoo Racing Junior Academy has solidified itself as a premier driver development program, offering young talent an opportunity to excel in national karting. With continued investment in nurturing future champions, the academy remains committed to shaping the next generation of South African motorsport stars.
Published by: Motorsport Fanatix
Picture Caption: Emma Dowling (Junior MAX)
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