Online ReporterCollin Matiza
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWEAN karting will take another important step onto the continental stage next week when two of the country’s promising young talents, Kufara Chimuti and Seth Rukato, head to Angola to represent Zimbabwe at the inaugural Karting Africa Showdown.
The two drivers, both members of Kart Sport Club in Harare, will compete against 40 young racers from 14 African countries in what promises to be a landmark event for the development of African motorsport.
The Karting Africa event is scheduled for October 10-11.
The inaugural Karting Africa Showrun takes place at the Santos Peras Track at the Ombaka National Stadium in Benguela, Angola.
For Chimuti and Rukato, the opportunity represents far more than another race weekend.
The youngsters are excited and honoured to have been selected to represent Zimbabwe at an event that could mark the beginning of a new era for African karting.
The Karting Africa initiative is designed to create a platform for young African drivers to compete against each other on a continental stage, while providing a pathway for talented racers to develop their careers and ultimately progress towards the world stage.
Driven by WORR Motorsport and the vision of its founder Wesley Orr, the initiative has developed at remarkable speed.
What began less than a year ago as a vision to create greater opportunities for African young drivers has evolved into a growing continental movement, now with FIA endorsement.
With motorsport stakeholders from across Africa becoming involved, the Angola event will provide the first major showcase of the initiative and its potential to bring African karting together.
Well-known Zimbabwean karting enthusiast Kevin Dufty, who will accompany the two drivers to Angola, paid tribute to WORR Motorsport and Orr for turning the vision into reality.
“What Wesley Orr and WORR Motorsport have achieved in such a short period of time is quite remarkable,” said Dufty.
“What started as a vision less than a year ago has developed into an event bringing together 40 drivers from 14 Afri-can countries, with the endorsement of the FIA. That is a tremendous achievement and shows what can be achieved when there is a clear vision for the development of African motorsport.”
The Angolan Motorsport Federation has also played a major role in bringing the inaugural event to life, providing significant support to visiting competitors.
“The support we have received from the Angolan Motorsport Federation has been exceptional,” said Dufty. “They have fully embraced the initiative and have gone out of their way to make it possible for young drivers from across Africa to come together.”
The federation is covering accommodation and internal flights for the visiting competitors, providing valuable sup-port to teams travelling from around the continent.
The Angola event is also expected to provide an important first glimpse of what could become a structured continental karting championship, with plans being developed for a five-round Pan-African championship in 2027.
Zimbabwe is hopeful of hosting one of those rounds, an opportunity that could provide a major boost to local karting and motorsport by bringing competitors from across the continent to Zimbabwe.
“We are very hopeful that Zimbabwe may be able to host one round of the planned five-round championship in 2027,” said Dufty.
“It would be a fantastic opportunity not only to showcase our facilities and young driving talent to the rest of Africa, but also to further develop karting and motorsport in Zimbabwe and give our local drivers the opportunity to compete against some of the best young talent on the continent on home soil.”
For Chimuti and Rukato, however, the immediate focus is Angola.
The two young Zimbabweans will be hoping to make the most of the opportunity when they take to the track next week, carrying the national flag at an event that could prove to be an important milestone in the development of African karting. For Zimbabwean motorsport, being part of that journey from the beginning could prove just as significant.
