Motorsport: Karting |10 October 2026

12 new karts, new opportunities for Seychelles motorsport

A new generation of Seychellois children will have greater opportunities to discover motorsport following the unveiling of 12 new karts at Champions Park Raceway last weekend.

Autosport Seychelles launched the new fleet during its Seychelles Rising event, marking a significant investment in grassroots karting.

The fleet comprises nine Cadet karts and three Bambino karts, secured through the FIA President’s Development Fund, with the ASN contributing towards the overall project cost.

Penlac provided R100,000 in sponsorship towards the ASN’s required 20 per cent contribution. The official presentation was attended by National Sports Council (NSC) chief executive Mario Pragassen, Penlac representative Yakub Gafoor, sponsors, supporters, parents, drivers, officials and volunteers.

For Autosport Seychelles, the new fleet represents more than additional equipment.

It demonstrates how Seychelles’ membership of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) can create tangible opportunities for local participants.

Chairperson Liza Rene-Cosgrow said membership alone would not transform motorsport in the country without actively pursuing development opportunities and ensuring that international support benefited Seychellois participants.

“When Seychelles joined the FIA family, we knew that membership alone would not transform motorsport in our country. We had to use that membership,” she said, adding that these are not 12 karts simply to sit beautifully for photographs, but they have a purpose, which is to make karting more accessible, introduce children to the sport at a younger age and develop a pathway towards higher levels of competition.

Among the fleet, three Bambino karts will allow children to experience karting from as young as five, while the nine Cadet karts will strengthen the next stage of the grassroots programme.

Autosport Seychelles hopes to establish a clear progression from Bambino to Cadet, Junior and Senior competition, with international representation as a longer-term goal.

That ambition was reflected at the same event, when Joshua Cosgrow and Keanu Teeroomooljee were officially sent off to represent Seychelles at the Karting Africa Showrun in Benguela, Angola.

“Perhaps one of the children who first sits in one of these karts will one day stand where Joshua and Keanu are standing today,” Mrs Rene-Cosgrow said.

The new fleet will also support an Arrive & Drive approach, reducing the financial barrier that can prevent families from introducing their children to motorsport.

Rather than having to purchase their own kart immediately, children will have the opportunity to experience the sport before deciding whether to pursue it further.

For Autosport Seychelles, widening access is also essential to identifying and developing talent. Young people cannot discover their potential in motorsport without the opportunity to get behind the wheel.

The initiative therefore represents 12 new opportunities to introduce children to the sport and nurture the next generation of Seychellois drivers.

Autosport Seychelles expressed its appreciation to the FIA and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem for the support provided through the FIA President’s Development Fund.

Penlac’s R100,000 contribution helped meet the ASN’s required share of the project. Addressing Mr Gafoor during the presentation, Mrs Rene-Cosgrow said the contribution is now something tangible that young Seychellois will benefit from it.

The organisation also acknowledged Mr Pragassen and the NSC for their continued support, alongside LIQUI MOLY and CSA Trading, its karting championship sponsor, as well as PMC Auto, Hunt Deltel and Intelvision for their support of its wider development programme.

The next step is to put the new fleet into action, and Autosport Seychelles will host two public experience days at Champions Park Raceway through its FIA Motorsport in a Box programme on October 17 and November 28.

The events will give members of the public an opportunity to discover motorsport and experience the new karting programme.

Contributed