03/11/2026
Twelve South African drivers are entered across seven classes for the 2026 Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals at the Kartódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão, Portugal. A total of 424 competitors across nine categories will descend on the Portimão circuit from 7–14 November, with practice beginning on Monday, 9 November, and the finals taking place on Saturday, 14 November.
Charl Michael Visser and Jamie Smith form South Africa’s DD2 pairing in a 72-driver field. Visser secured the South African DD2 title, while Smith earned his place by winning the Africa Open. Justin Allison represents the country in DD2 Masters, where 36 drivers are entered.
Kian Spies and Keagan Beaumont contest Senior MAX against a field of 72, while in Junior MAX, national and Africa Open champion Brodi Cooper Dowling teams up with national runner-up Ronaldo Koen. Both raced in Mini MAX at last year’s Grand Finals in Bahrain and now face a 72-driver Junior field.
National Mini MAX champion Luke du Toit joins Africa Open winner Luhan De Wet in another 72-driver contest. De Wet returns for his second Grand Finals after representing South Africa in Micro MAX last year.
Alonzo De Oliveira carries South Africa’s Micro MAX hopes in a 36-driver field. Team SA also has two representatives in the E10 Mini, Michael O’Mahoney and Ruhan Victor. The electric category makes its competitive Grand Finals debut this year with 36 entries; O’Mahoney won the inaugural South African E10 Mini Challenge round at Zwartkops in July.
For the South Africans in Mini MAX, Junior MAX, Senior MAX and DD2, reaching Saturday’s final is the first major target. Each class starts with 72 drivers, but only 36 will qualify for the deciding race. Points from the qualifying heats and pre-finals determine the final intermediate classification, eliminating half of each field.
Micro MAX, DD2 Masters and E10 Mini each have 36 entries, so they do not face that field-size elimination. Their earlier sessions still determine starting positions for the final, and participation remains subject to the sporting regulations.
Portimão will host the Grand Finals for the fifth time, following 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2022. The 1.6 km kart circuit opened in 2010 within the Algarve motorsport complex. With 10 turns, elevation changes and a main straight of around 400 metres, slipstreaming and braking at the end of the straight are important features of racing at the venue.
Practice on 9–10 November is followed by qualifying on Wednesday, 11 November, qualifying heats on Thursday and Friday, and the pre-finals on Friday afternoon. All titles will be decided in Saturday’s finals.
We wish all drivers the best and hope for the best possible results for TEAM SA!
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