The 2026 Namibia Karting Nationals season got underway with 27 karters across various age groups and classes competing in the opening leg on Saturday at the Tony Rust Race Track on the western outskirts of Windhoek on Saturday.
Entries are expected to increase as the season progresses, with many racers anticipating an eventful year.
Competitors returned to the track with renewed determination following the final leg held last October.
Racing started shortly after 11h00, with the green flag dropping at 11h05.
The Bambino class was first to take to the track, showcasing emerging talent, while the more experienced categories set the tone for a high-paced day of racing.
Although the Bambino class completed eight laps, senior competitors in the Micro Max and Mini Max classes raced over 15 laps.
While the karts may resemble those used for recreational purposes, these machines can reach speeds of up to 100 km/h.
Senior driver Guido Bidoli claimed victory in both the DD2 and DD2 Masters classes.
“Everything was perfect during the last three heats. I had a few technical issues, but we gave the maximum and the results showed up,” Bidoli says.
He confirms he will compete at Swakopmund on 11 April for the second leg.
Rookie driver Zune Viviers, competing in the Minirok class, describes the event as her first race and says she is excited for the rest of the season. She secured third place in her category.
Cecil Koorts from Cema Racing says the event was “well executed” and welcomed the absence of injuries or incidents.
Meanwhile, Cecil Koorts Jr delivered a flawless performance in the Junior Max class, collecting 36 points across all three heats.
He departed earlier this week for the United Kingdom (UK), where he will compete in the UK Championship of the Future. He is among 34 drivers participating, marking another milestone for Namibia.
Adriaan Nel of Cema Racing encourages those interested in karting to contact the team via their Facebook page.
The event was organised by Cema Racing, with sponsorship from Momentum Short-term Insurance.
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