Two teenage racers from Harare have been selected to represent Zimbabwe at the Karting Africa Showrun in Benguela, Angola, on October 10 and 11.
Kufara Chimuti, 14, will compete as a senior driver, while 13-year-old Seth Rukato will race in the junior category.
They will join 39 drivers from 14 countries at an event intended to test the concept for a five-round Karting Africa Cup planned for 2027.
The Zimbabwean pair were selected by the Kart Sport Club committee from competitors in its Rotax Challenge Championship. Rukato won the club’s Junior Max category, while Chimuti was selected after leading competitors gained experience racing in South Africa.
“Thank you so much for helping me get into such an amazing opportunity,” Chimuti said.
“I’m looking forward to gaining new experiences and knowledge that I can take back to Zimbabwe.”
Both drivers belong to Kart Sport Club, based at the Pole Position Karts circuit at the National Sports Stadium in Harare. The club, established four years ago, is a member of Motorsport Zimbabwe.
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Local representative Kevin Dufty said the club also hoped Zimbabwe would be selected to host one of the Karting Africa Cup rounds in 2027.
“We really hope to be selected to host one of the 2027 rounds,” Dufty said.
He said the Harare circuit had undergone development and now had timing equipment, a 16-channel CCTV system for officials’ reviews, starting lights and a new control tower. Plans for a new pit area have also been approved, according to the club.
Dufty said Zimbabwe needed more corporate support to make karting accessible to young racers. The arrangements and funding for the two drivers’ participation in Angola have not yet been disclosed.
Kart Sport Club currently runs ROK and Rotax competitions, as well as SODI sprint and endurance races. It also offers free test sessions for children interested in kart racing.
The club is considering establishing a development category using cadet rental karts and conducting presentations at schools.
The Angola showrun will feature drivers from Zimbabwe, Angola, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Madagascar, Seychelles, Namibia, Ghana, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique and Eswatini.
Representatives of the participating countries are expected to discuss the venues, selection procedures and costs for the proposed 2027 continental series.
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