SA shines in inaugural AKC
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has lauded the first African Karting Cup which took place this weekend at Zwartkops, as an overwhelming success 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 SA 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.”
Competition was fierce throughout the day and really showcased the tenacity, skill, and spirit of the competitors. A number of competitors caught the eye of influential motorsport observers in attendance, but in the end it was South Africa’s Muhammad Wally followed by Nikki Vostanis and Niko Zafiris who walked away with the three top places for SA in the OK-N class (14 year old +). Wally has now won himself a place to represent SA in the FIA Karting World Championships.
In the OK-J class (11 – 14-year-olds) Wian Boshoff from South Africa walked off with first place, followed very closely by fellow SA participants Luke Hill in 2nd place and Amani Kinyua in 3rd place.
Finally, the Mini Rok competitors also showed exceptional talent which bodes well for karting in SA. SA’s Max Boshoff, Declan Jurgens and Sebastien Blignaut took top honours in this invitational class which features participants between the ages of 8 – 13).
“It is exciting to see the wealth of talent we have in South Africa and the rest of the African Continent and hopefully this African Karting Cup will ignite greater interest and participation in the sport,” says ROK SA Cindy Van der Laan. She extended her sincere thanks to the FIA and to Motorsport South Africa for their support during the lead up to the event and for all their support over the weekend.
She also extended her deepest gratitude to each and every competitor that took part in the inaugural 2024 African Karting Cup. “Your participation, enthusiasm, and sportsmanship have contributed immensely to the success of this event. It was your tireless efforts on the track that made this event unforgettable. We are eagerly looking forward to seeing all of you back on the track, demonstrating even more progress and prowess,” says van der Laan.
Many of these young karters, while champions in their own country, have never had the opportunity to race outside their country in a competition of this stature and compete with different drivers from different countries. Van der Laan noted that over the two days of the competition the organisers had seen competitors make significant progress, going from strength to strength. Whether it was improving lap times, mastering difficult corners, or simply gaining more confidence on the track, every participant showed a remarkable improvement. “This demonstrates that with perseverance, dedication, and a never-give-up attitude, you can achieve your goals,” she says.
Without the teams, support staff and families who came to support our 61 participants this weekend, events like this would not be possible. “The atmosphere was electric – it is your passion and support that is helping to grow karting across the continent,” she says.
Special thanks to Altiven, Black Ribbon Simulators and CANSA SA for partnering with AKC.
“All these youngsters dream of being a Formula One champion one day and karting is where it all starts. “This is the pathway to F1 – but she also reminded competitors that regardless of their standing, they were all winners. Regardless of the final result, the most important thing is that you have learnt something from these two days – whether it is a new technique, a new understanding of your kart, or a newfound respect for your competitors, these lessons will guide you on your journey to achieving your dreams,” concludes Van der Laan.