While most nine-year-olds are busy mastering video games, Russell Josephat is busy mastering hairpin turns and high-speed overtakes.
Having started the sport at just five years old, he is already a two-time Namibian national karting champion, holding titles in both the Bambino and Micro Max categories.
Fresh off a trophy-heavy season, he is becoming one of the most promising names in southern African karting.
Heading into the 2026 racing season, Russell’s trophy cabinet is getting crowded.
He recently picked up four major honours, including recognition at the South African Rotax MAX Challenge Awards in South Africa, two awards at the Namibian Rotax Max Challenge, and further honours at the Namibia National Karting Championship.
Russell’s dad, JP, says despite his early success, Russell is still a child at heart.
He is a big fan of YouTube and insists on eating his post-race burgers and pizza with a knife and fork, JP says.
He also shares a special bond with his sponsor, MTC, which he affectionately calls “Uncle”.
It’s this support system that keeps him grounded, Russell says.
“Once the helmet is on, you cannot take your eyes off the track,” he says. “Any small mistake can cause a big accident.”
It hasn’t always been easy.
Russell admits that in his earlier days, he’d feel like giving up if he got bumped or spun out.
It was his father who taught him the most important lesson in motorsport: Keep going.
“Even if I spin or something breaks, I must keep racing,” he says.
That discipline is being put to the test now as he moves up to the Mini class. It’s a tougher category with more experienced drivers, but Russell sees it as a necessary challenge, frequently traveling to South Africa to measure himself against some of the best in the world.
Russell says his ultimate dream is becoming a professional driver.
He says Lewis Hamilton’s legendary 2021 comeback in Brazil is why he dreams about racing on that famous track one day.
For now, he’s taking it one lap at a time, focusing on perfecting his corner exits and staying calm under pressure.
Russell’s advice for other children is to never give up.
“Come try it and enjoy it, because we have a lot of fun on the track.”
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