KARTING | TGR Junior Academy Delivers Another National Champion
Tshepang Shisinwana was crowned the 2024 National Mini MAX Champion
The South African Rotax MAX Challenge national season concluded on Saturday after an intense final round at Zwartkops Kart Raceway. This also marked the end of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Junior Academy's (TGRJA) 2024 national campaign. Despite being a fiercely competitive and challenging season, the academy celebrated the addition of another national champion, adding to the two it achieved in 2023.
While much focus was on the senior classes, 13-year-old Tshepang Shisinwana put in another mature display of driving over the weekend. While a few podium finishes would have been sufficient to clinch the title, he only had one goal in mind, and that was to win. He finished as runner-up in the first heat on Friday afternoon before winning Heat 2 on Saturday morning. He backed this up with two further runner-up results to claim the weekend's overall victory and, more importantly, his third national karting title and first as a TGRJA driver.
Emma-Rose Dowling
Emma-Rose Dowling delivered her best performance and achieved her top results in a season that began with numerous challenges. She finished fifth overall this weekend, showing her skill and proving why she was recently selected for the Iron Dames Young Talents Program. In a highly competitive class, the Benoni native achieved four top-ten results, including two sixth places in the Junior MAX class, improving her overall championship standings.
Kent Swartz
Kent Swartz achieved a fifth-place overall finish and third place in his inaugural Senior MAX season. Notably, Kent and KC Ensor-Smith were the only national champions for the TGRJA prior to this weekend. Kent also secured his first heat victory during the final heat, underscoring the fiercely competitive nature of the class.
Jason Coetzee
In one of the most closely contested DD2 seasons in years, four drivers, including TGRJA's Jason Coetzee, each won three races out of 13 heats. Although the final round showcased some intense and thrilling racing, Jason had a real opportunity to win the championship. Regrettably, his performance did not go as hoped, and he ended the day in fourth place overall, securing third position in the national championship standings.
Nathi Msimang
Nathi Msimang filled in for Karabo Malamela, who was absent but had to withdraw from the weekend after bruising his ribs. Kian Grottis, a former TGRJA driver who had been out of the sport for several months, replaced him on short notice and finished an impressive ninth overall.
Kian Grottis
Leeroy Poulter, TGRJA Team Principal, had this to say: “I believe we’ve shown that the academy is successful and that a program like ours works, and it is a great initiative by Toyota Gazoo Racing. In only two seasons of national competition, we’ve developed three national champions, with many others coming quite close. It’s been another solid season, and congratulations to Tshepang on his title. I wish him all the best for Italy's Rotax MAX Grand Finals. To our other drivers, I say well done also. Some of you came close to winning titles, and you were in it until the final heats. Let’s keep our heads held high and remain focused on our goals. Lastly, thank you to Toyota for their support of the academy and to the various partners involved.”
While the national season has ended, the academy will continue to focus on the Northern Regions Rotax Kart Championship, where two rounds remain. Tshepang, however, will prepare for this year's Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals, often referred to as the "Olympics of Karting", that will celebrate its 25th anniversary of the event at the Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno, Italy, from October 19-26, 2024.
