Arguably, the busiest motorsport athlete in South Africa, Mikel Bezuidenhout, who competes in karting and circuit racing, will be back on track this weekend, competing in the highly anticipated final round of the South African Rotax MAX Challenge. The competition is fierce as Zwartkops Kart Raceway will again play host to this prestigious event that will see the 2024 SARMC Champions crowned, earning themselves a spot to compete at the 'Olympics of Karting', the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals.

Despite facing a challenging Senior MAX season, Mikel is ranked sixth in the national standings, with the top three drivers way out in front. The Johannesburg teenager has the potential to finish in the top five, which is a significant achievement in one of the most competitive classes in the country. Mikel recorded his best result (fifth) during Heat 1 of the opening round in Cape Town but has since struggled to finish in the top five due to a mixture of mechanical-related issues and a few on-track incidents.

With nothing to lose and everything to gain, Mikel heads into the finale with a positive attitude. He shares, "It's been quite a frustrating Senior MAX season. I've had some solid results in the ROK competition, but my luck is different in the Rotax championships. Of course, the fields are bigger, and the competition is stiff, but I can't catch a break with something always ruining a potentially good result. Let's hope that this weekend will be the change that is needed."

The event starts with practice on Thursday, followed by Qualifying and the first heats on Friday afternoon. The excitement continues on Saturday, the final day of the national championship, with three more heats before the 2024 champions are crowned, allowing them to compete at the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals in Italy.

Spectators are welcome to attend, and entry is free of charge. The action will, however, be live-streamed on the SA Rotax MAX Challenge YouTube channel below:

http://www.youtube.com/@sarotaxmaxchallenge3045

Mikel thanks MTN Cosmo-Net, Vivo Mobile South Africa, NBR Racing and Motorsport Fanatix.