Spotlight on Zim racers at African Karting Cup
ALL eyes will be on two young Zimbabwean racers - Zaydaan Savania and Jaedon Masiyanise - during this weekend's inaugural African Karting Cup at the Zwartkops Kart Circuit in Pretoria, South Africa.
Forty of the finest participants from over 15 African countries including Angola, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, South Africa, and Zimbabwe will compete in this exciting event which runs from today to Saturday.
According to reports from South Africa, Zimbabwean racers Savania and Masiyanise are among the African competitors to watch for during this three-day event.
African competitors to watch in the OK-J class include Savania from Zimbabwe; David Ivan Andrianjafy, Matheo Rajomarison, and Andi Nathan Rajoelison from Madagascar. In the OK-N class, the participants to watch are Masiyanise from Zimbabwe, Jacobus van Dyk, and Darius Kotze from South Africa.
Savania and Masiyanise are among five young racers from Zimbabwe who will showcase their skills at the inaugural African Karting Cup.
The event, organised by ROK Cup South Africa and backed by the FIA, aims to discover and support the next generation of racing talent in Africa.
Masiyanise, Savania, Tawana Shambare, Yaseen Savania, and Oliver Wellman are all eager to make their mark on the continental stage and represent their country in this prestigious competition.
According to reports from South Africa, the five promising Zimbabwean kart racers are set to make their mark at the inaugural African Karting Cup, taking place at the Zwartkops international kart track.
Masiyanise and Savania will compete in the senior and junior OKN and OKJ classes, while Shambare, Savania and Wellman will showcase their skills in the Mini ROK invitational race for 8-13-year-olds.
This prestigious event provides pathways into global competition, including wild card draws for the FIA Karting World Cup OK-N and free African Karting Cup OK-N tickets for OK-Junior winners.
The Zimbabwean racers are all members of the Kart Sport Club, which has only been in existence for a year yet has produced successful competitors. Their participation in this event marks a significant milestone for the club and the country's motorsports community, according to Salman Khan of BNN who is covering the event at Zwartkops Kart Circuit.
Masiyanise (senior OKN class) and Savania (junior OKJ class) are two of Zimbabwe's most promising young racers. Having honed their skills on the local circuit, they are now eager to prove themselves against Africa's best.
Joining them in the Mini ROK invitational race are Shambare, Savania, and Wellman. This trio, aged between eight and 13, has already demonstrated exceptional talent and determination, and they are excited to represent Zimbabwe on the continental stage.
“The African Karting Cup is more than just a racing event; it represents a turning point for motorsports in Africa.
“By nurturing young talent and providing opportunities to compete on the global stage, the competition is helping to raise the profile of African motorsports and inspire a new generation of racers.
“As the five Zimbabwean racers prepare to take on the continent's best, they carry with them the hopes and dreams of their country's motorsports community. With skill, determination, and the support of their fellow coun- trymen, they are ready to make their mark on the African Karting Cup and pave the way for future generations of Zimbabwean racers.
“With the inaugural African Karting Cup set to commence, the world watches with anticipation as Zimbabwe's young racers take to the track, ready to prove that they have what it takes to compete with the best. In this new era of African motorsports, these talented athletes embody the spirit of ambition, determination, and hope that drives the continent forward,'' Khan said.
What is so exciting is that this is an arriveand-drive format race, where all 20 competitors per class, OK-J and OK-N, will have the same OTK chassis brand and Vortex pool engines drawn randomly.
This definitely evens out the field and allows the most talented competitors to stand out and shine.
To add to the excitement, the track layout will be kept secret until today.
Following the event, winners of the OK-N class will head to Europe for the global FIA Karting World Cup while the OK-J driver winners will receive automatic qualification into the 2025 African Karting Cup. The winner of the Mini Rok invitational will win a qualified drive for the prestigious Super Final which takes place in October in Italy.
Adrian Scholtz, the chief executive officer of Motorsport South Africa (MSA) says that, due to potential safety concerns around the originally scheduled venue for the event, MSA has taken a decision to err on the side of caution and the event has consequently been switched to Zwartkops Kart Circuit.
“We regret any inconvenience caused by the venue change but regrettably this situation was out of our hands and the safety of competitors is always our first priority.”