At seven years old, he refused to give up after an accident threatened his karting season.

Now, a decade later, Judd Bertholdt has finished third in the national SupaCup championship in his rookie year.

“I haven’t worked this hard at this championship to let it go, I have to race, please.” Those were the words of a determined seven-year-old Judd Bertholdt to his father, Gary, in 2016, after an accident left him injured just before the final rounds of his karting championship. His family had thought his season was over, but giving up was never really an option for the young racer.

That determination, which Fourways Review highlighted in December 2016 under the headline Can’t stop this cart racer, has followed Bertholdt onto a much bigger racing stage.

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Now 17, the Dainfern College student has finished third overall in the 2026 South African Touring Cars (SATC) SupaCup National Championship, achieving the milestone in his first season in the category and as the youngest driver on the grid.

A decade ago, Bertholdt was making his name in the Gauteng Regional Championship and Club Championship in the Atlas Copco Cadet category. Despite technical problems throughout the season, he managed to win two regional rounds at Zwartkops Raceway and Vereeniging Kart Circuit before going on to win the next three rounds.

His championship campaign, however, was far from straightforward. During practice for the third-last round, he was involved in an accident that left him needing X-rays and crutches. With the championship race scheduled for the following day, his friends and family believed he would have to withdraw, but Bertholdt had other plans.

Bertholdt’s latest achievement came this year after a demanding season in the SATC SupaCup, where he went up against experienced drivers despite being a newcomer to the category. The final round of the National Extreme Festival at Zwartkops Raceway, on October 17, proved decisive. Bertholdt qualified second on the grid before putting in a strong performance on race day, finishing second overall for the round.

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That result, together with his consistent performances and multiple podium finishes throughout the season, secured third place in the national championship standings.

He shared the final championship podium with newly crowned champion Jason Loosemore and runner-up Rory Atkinson, two established competitors with years of racing experience. “I couldn’t have done any of this without my team manager, Deon Holiday, and the entire crew at Worx Motorsport,” Bertholdt said. “Their hard work, late nights, and perfect car preparation gave me the confidence to push the limits at every single race track.”

He also thanked his family, friends and sponsors, Union Power Energy, Sparco, Sizanani Plastics, HPE and Glass Partners, for their continued support.

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