Seychelles karting in South Africa at African Karting Cup |17 February 2024

The Seychelles delegation in South Africa. From left to right: Shawn Ah Thew, Dave Rene, Christian Bastienne and George Ah Thew (Photo: Contributed)

This month, all eyes turn to South Africa as it proudly hosts the inaugural African Karting Cup from February 15 to 17, 2024, at the Zwartkops Kart Circuit in Centurion, Gauteng.

The event marks a significant milestone for karting in Africa, showcasing the region's talent and potential on an international stage.

In January 2023 the Seychelles Karting Association (SKA) began discussions regarding potential affiliation with the CiK-FIA, the world governing body for karting, with the Kenya Motor Sports Federation (KMSF). These discussions led to a pivotal meeting with Rodrigo Ferreira Rocha, the FIA vice president for sport for Africa, in October 2023.

Seychelles karting is driven by the vision to elevate standards within the sport. Securing affiliation with the CiK-FIA is not only about accessing technical support and advanced training programmes but also about providing our local young drivers with the opportunity to compete in international events. The issuance of internationally FiA recognised licenses will open doors for our talented youngsters to pursue their karting dreams on a global scale.

While an invitation to take part in the AKC was extended to Seychelles late in January 2024, the executive committee decided to conduct a site expedition instead to better understand the requirements for future participation. In line with this, the association, in collaboration with drivers and parents, is finalising equipment changes to ensure compliance with FIA regulations, thereby preparing our young drivers for competitive international karting.

Led by Dave Rene, vice chairperson and technical advisor, along with Christian Bastienne, clerk of the course, and three private individuals – George and Shawn Ah Thew, and Roddy Ramanjooloo – the team will immerse themselves in the three-day event. They will return to Seychelles equipped with invaluable knowledge of the standards, rules, and regulations necessary for competitive karting, as well as a deeper understanding of the level of competition within Africa that our own drivers expect to face.

The AKC presents a golden opportunity for our young drivers, with participants aged between 11 and 15 years competing in the OKJ Class and those aged 15 years and above in the OKN Class. With an expected total of around 40 drivers, this inaugural event promises thrilling competition and showcases the immense talent present in African karting.

As Seychelles karting celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, we are filled with excitement for the future. With plans to open new avenues and opportunities, there has never been a more exciting time to be a go-kart driver in Seychelles. We extend our best wishes to all participants of the AKC and take pride in being part of this historic event within our continent.

Let's go to Africa!

The event will be streamed live today via Youtube: https://youtube.com/live/319_H3abvd8?feature=share 

at https://www.fia.com/news/accelerating-dreams-african-karting-cup-paves-way-south-africa

Contributed