Zim drivers gain experience at African Karting Cup
FIVE of Zimbabwe’s most experienced kart racers competed in the inaugural African Karting Cup on February 17, held at Zwartkops International Raceway in Pretoria, South Africa.
‘It was an amazing opportunity for our drivers to attend. They gained experience, made lots of friends, and made contact with karters from the whole continent. Racing at the Pole Position Kart Track at the National Sports Stadium in Ha-rare has given the drivers confidence and a solid knowledge of race craft to enter such an event,” commented Kevin Dufty, owner of the track.
Jaedon Masiyanise raced in the senior class of the African Karting Cup and Zaydaan Savania raced in the junior class. Yaseen Savania, Tawana Shambare, and Oliver Wellman raced in the Mini ROK invitational race.
They competed with drivers from nine other African nations in the race initiated by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile), the world governing body of motorsport.
“The drivers have returned full of enthusiasm and new learnings and will be sharing impressions of their experience at the upcoming annual Kart Sports Club prize giving,” Dufty reported. “It was unfortunate that the race changed venue at the last moment due to safety concerns, as it meant the South Africans were on a familiar track which gave them an advantage. However, our drivers acquitted themselves very well and finished towards the top of the non-South African drivers. We are very proud of them.”
FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, celebrated the success of the event, saying: “Congratulations to all competitors who took part in the first Africa Karting Cup in collaboration with Motorsport South Africa. Thanks to the vision and commitment of Rodrigo Rocha, FIA Vice-President for Sport — Africa, ROK Cup South Africa, and volunteers, the event drew 61 competitors from 9 African countries, providing the chance for them to take their crucial first steps on the motorsport talent staircase. Competitions like this are at the heart of my FIA development team’s mission to double motorsport participation on a global scale.”
ROK South Africa General Manager, Cindy Van der Laan, said: ‘It is exciting to see the wealth of talent we have in the African continent and hopefully this African Karting Cup will ignite greater interest and participation in the sport.”
Meanwhile, back in Harare, Kart Sports Club will host the first round of their club and ROK Cup Zimbabwe 2024 championship race of the season on March 10.
Club Chairman, Victor Shambare said: “The club is expecting over 25 drivers to compete, including a new club man’s class, and the event promises to be a thrilling spectator event at the National Sports Stadium in Belvedere.’’