IT’S READY, SET, GO FOR THE 2023 MSA SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL KARTING CHAMPIONSHIP!

The much-anticipated opening round of the 2023 MSA South African National Karting Championship will be taking place in Gqeberha this weekend (25 March) and teams are eager to conquer the Celso Scribante Karting Circuit.

Testing their skills in the Cadet class will be Kyle Bezuidenhout, Luhan de Wet and Ronald Venter. Bearing in mind that these drivers are between 5 and 9 years old, participating in a National event is quite a big deal and we commend these youngsters!

Kid Rok will boast a full ten kart field, including Diego Antunes, Dylan Bezuidenhout, Logan Billau, Zac Boshoff, Kayde Cornofsky, Noah Cronje, Omolemo Mfana, Bophelo Molatlhegi, Logan Roerhig and Riley van Staden. The Kid Rok class caters for drivers between 6 and 10 years old and serves to develop kart control and race craft before karters move on to the bigger karts.

Mini Rok is a favourite amongst drivers, which produces consecutive laps of action packed racing throughout the entire field. The 8 to 13 year olds demonstrate huge amounts of skill and incredible sportsmanship. The talented 19 kart field will consist of; Sebastien Blignaut, Max Boshoff, Michael Danks, Emma Dowling, Sebastian Ferreira, Durelle Goodman, Sebastiano Human, Declan Jurgens, Aaron Mason, Maddox Mason, Mattao Mason, Jack Moore, Joshua Moore, Caleb Moss, Aashay Nagura, Manelisi Nkomo, Caleb Odendaal, Taylin Patel and Tshepang Shisinwana.

OK-J often serves as the stepping stone to main circuit racing and these drivers are capable of taking on the best in the world. This weekend, the class will run will “pool engines”. The engines, bought with backing from the FIA and assistance from FTW Motorsport are prepared and maintained by an independent party, Derrick Irving. Engines will be randomly allocated to drivers for the weekend, ensuring an equal playing field which will allow driver talent to truly shine through. Taking on the OK-J Challenge this weekend will be; Wian Boshoff, Sebastian Dias, Luke Hill, Ndzalo Khoza, Mahlori Mabunda, Ntiyiso Mabunda, Anesu Maphumulo, William Marshall, Mohammed Moerat, Dhivyen Naidoo, Torben Roos and Christopher Tait. Drivers range in age from 11 to 15 years old.

OK-N is a newly establish FIA class for drivers older then 15 years. This weekend will see Mikel Bezuidenhout, Shrien Naidoo, Juandre Nel, Nicolaos Vostanis and Niko Zafiris making history in the class.

KZ2 is a premier shifter class for drivers older than 15 years. The class will include Marcel de Beer, Shrien Naidoo (who is doing double duty), Carlo Olivier and Nikolas Roos (our 2022 representative at the FIA Academy Trophy).

Saturday will also see an invitational class take to the track. Drivers will include Warwick Claassen, Christopher Dorfling, Jason-Lee Johnson, Johan Labuschagne, Louis Myburgh, Jeremey pettit, Guilherme Silva, Pieter van Heerden and Seth Wiggill.

Spectator entry is free. Racing will be streamed live on the MSA YouTube channel. The event is proudly sponsored by Ntiyiso Consulting Group and Fleet Dynamics Group.