SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Melokuhle Ndlovu made KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa proud after being crowned the Rotax African Open Champion in the Bambino class at Zwartkops International Kart Raceway in Pretoria.

Competing during the recent winter school holidays, Melokuhle represented KZN and SA at one of the continent’s most prestigious karting events.

The weekend proved to be a remarkable milestone in his young racing career as he secured victory in Rotax National Round 3 before claiming the Rotax African Open Championship, earning his Team SA race suit and first major championship title.

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Melokuhle’s performance included double pole position, three wins from four heats, Rotax National Round 3 Winner and the Rotax African Open Champion.

The Rotax African Open, held alongside the Rotax National Championship, attracts some of the best karting talent from across Africa and is regarded as one of the continent’s premier karting events.

The Highbury Preparatory learner’s journey into racing began just 18 months ago after starting karting lessons with the KZN Kart Club at iDube Raceway in Camperdown.

Since then, his rapid rise through the sport has reflected his dedication, determination, and passion for racing. Each race has contributed to his development, leading to his first major championship title.

His family expressed their pride in his achievement, describing the victory as the result of countless early mornings, hard work, and unwavering support from his coaches, team, family, sponsors and the karting community.

With one round remaining in the Rotax National Championship, Melokuhle now looks ahead to the rest of the season as he continues to pursue his dream of progressing through the ranks of motorsport.

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