Kart Sport Club celebrate successful season
KART Sport Club recently concluded their inaugural race season at their home track at the National Sports Stadium.
The club hosted a highly entertaining and well attended series throughout 2023 with 39 competitors taking part in four classes of racing.
All races were held at the brand-new, purpose-built kart track at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
Taking in six rounds of racing, the ROK Cup Zimbabwe series is part of a global series that is held in over 40 countries, including Zimbabwe.
Seventeen competitors took to the track hoping to win either the Kid ROK class for 6 to 10-year-olds, or the Mini ROK class for 8 to 13-year-olds.
TK Mapiro was dominant in the Mini ROK class and Devin Van de Linde finished the Kid ROK class in first place.
Mapiro then went on to compete in the ROK Cup World Finals in Italy in October where he put in a very creditable performance competing with over 85 drivers in the Mini ROK class.
It was Mapiro’s first race on the international stage and the level of competitiveness was challenging.
Kevin Dufty, ROK Cup Zimbabwe promoter, said: “We are excited that we achieved many of the goals set out for the new kart club and kart track at the Zimbabwe National Sports
Stadium. Chief amongst these was our desire to provide a world class karting centre that ensures the sustainability and stability of ROK karting in Zimbabwe.
“We also focus on encouraging participation by a diverse range of people. Our first year has laid a solid foundation for further growth in the future.”
In the 125cc kart class, for 12-year-olds and up, rookie driver, Zaydaan Savania (13), put in an impressive performance throughout the year winning the title at his first attempt.
Jaedon Masiyanise, despite missing several races due to a school sports injury, kept Savania under pressure all year and finished in the runner-up position.
The new Pro-kart class, which allows lowcost participation for drivers as it uses the Pole Position rental karts, has been a remarkable success in its first year. Eighteen rental drivers took part in the formal race meetings for the first time. Muhammad Moosa and Colin Botha have been the main protagonists and with new high-powered karts on the cards for next year, interest in this class is high amongst both drivers and spectators.
The Pro-kart class is part of a planned pyramid of development for karting at the new track.
Dufty said:“From the beginning, a key part of the plan for the new club and track was to have three stages of karting progression to attract drivers at all skill levels to grow popularity of karting.
“The first level is arrive and drive karts which are easily accessible to members of the public who want to come down and enjoy some fun driving karts.
“Progression level two, for more experienced and accomplished rental kart drivers, will be gaining a certification to race in higher performance rental karts. Finally, we offer out and out kart racing machines.”
The new club and track have given members opportunities to race outside of Zimbabwe, something not seen for many years.
Victor Shambare, Kart Sport Club chairman said:“The new club gave some of our members the confidence to venture further afield to represent Zimbabwe.
“TK Mapiro (11 years old) participated in both the Trofeo Cup and the ROK World Finals hosted in Italy in October, Tawana Shambare competed in the Rotax African Open in South Africa and Anesu Mapiro participated in the South African Women in Motorsport threeday day camp held in Johannesburg earlier in the year. All fantastic achievements that help us grow karting.”
Pole Position Karts has a long list of improvements and developments planned for the state-of-the-art track in 2024. Developments will include further training of race officials and marshals, a dedicated track CCTV system, timing control tower and more support and back up for competitors.