The Toyota Gazoo Racing Junior Academy (TGRJA) produced a strong showing at the 2025 Rotax African Open at Zwartkops Kart Raceway, with standout drives across DD2, Senior MAX, and Junior MAX. While the weekend saw mixed fortunes for some, it culminated in a dominant win by Jason Coetzee in DD2, earning him a coveted place at the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals (RMCGF) in Bahrain.
DD2
Jason Coetzee delivered a flawless weekend at Zwartkops to claim the African Open title and secure a ticket to the RMCGF in Bahrain.
Coetzee stamped his authority early by storming to pole position in Friday’s qualifying. He followed that with commanding victories in both Pre-Final 1 and Pre-Final 2, leading almost every lap consistently.
In the all-important 20-lap final, Jason led from lights to flag, holding off intense pressure from his closest rivals and setting a consistent race pace. He crossed the line first to take the win, completing a weekend clean sweep and becoming one of the first South African drivers to secure his place at the RMCGF. Jason will be making his second appearance at the Grand Finals.
Senior MAX
The Senior MAX duo of Kent Swartz and Georgia Lenaerts showcased grit and pace throughout the African Open. Swartz was a front-runner all weekend, narrowly missing out on pole by just 0.016s. Despite a nose-cone penalty dropping him from 3rd to 8th in Pre-Final 1, he bounced back in Pre-Final 2 with a strong second place. In the final, Kent once again featured at the sharp end, but finished as runner-up.
Lenaerts delivered one of her best performances of the season. After finishing 7th in Pre-Final 1, she stepped it up in Pre-Final 2 to take an excellent 4th. Her consistency carried over into the final, where she crossed the line in 6th.
Both drivers walked away from Zwartkops having reaffirmed their ability to challenge at the front, Swartz a podium threat at every outing, and Lenaerts continuing her climb up the order with poise and consistency.
Junior MAX
Emma-Rose Dowling lit up the timing screens from the outset, claiming a dominant pole position in qualifying. She backed this up with a blistering drive in Pre-Final 1, finishing a close second. Emma returned to the top in Pre-Final 2, taking a superb lights-to-flag victory under pressure, positioning herself as a firm favourite heading into the all-important final.
However, her hopes were dashed by an error under braking that saw her drop to the back of the field where she valiantly fought her way back to finish 12th. Despite the setback, Emma’s outright pace once again underscored her championship-calibre speed.
Tshepang Shisinwana, meanwhile, flew under the radar in qualifying, placing just outside the top ten. But the reigning Mini MAX champion found his rhythm as the weekend progressed. He stormed to second in Pre-Final 2 after a spirited battle and posted the second-fastest lap of the race. In the final, Tshepang finished 9th after an incident, which put a damper on what was otherwise a highly competitive run.
Both drivers displayed exceptional racecraft and composure in one of the most fiercely contested Junior MAX grids of the year. While the final result may not reflect their potential, their performances reaffirm TGRJA’s position as a powerhouse in youth motorsport development.
Mini MAX
TGRJA’s Namibian brothers, Mandume and Nande Kaiyamo, tackled their most formidable challenge yet at the African Open, lining up against a mammoth 35-kart Mini MAX grid at Zwartkops.
Nande impressed early by qualifying inside the top 20, showcasing continued growth in a highly competitive field. He gained valuable race experience across both heats, staying clean and consistent to secure a place in the all-important final. In a chaotic final race, Nande brought the kart home 19th, finishing ahead of his sibling.
Mandume, although starting further back, showed determination throughout the weekend. He fought through both Pre-Finals to finish just outside the top 25 after a bruising final encounter that saw multiple incidents throughout the field.
Despite not contending for the win, the Kaiyamo twins gained crucial experience under pressure. They held their own in one of the most significant and most fiercely contested classes of the event.
Team Principal’s Reflection
Team Principal and former RMC Grand Finals winner Leeroy Poulter praised the team’s efforts:
“We saw some phenomenal performances this weekend. Jason was flawless, and it’s incredible to have one of our drivers already heading to Bahrain. Kent and Georgia both showed real grit in a tough Senior field, and while Emma and Tshepang didn’t get the results they deserved, their speed was undeniable. This is what the African Open is all about, high-pressure racing, and our team stepped up.”
With the African Open complete, TGRJA’s attention now turns to the penultimate round of the South African Rotax MAX Challenge, set to take place at the same Zwartkops circuit in August. Armed with race data and momentum, the academy’s drivers will look to convert their pace into national championship points as the battle for Grand Finals tickets continues.
