At just 10 years old, Luhan de Wet has already achieved what many aspiring racing drivers spend years chasing.

The Grade 4 learner from Laerskool Louis Leipoldt in Centurion will represent South Africa at the 2026 Rotax MAX Challenge (RMC) Grand Finals in Portugal after claiming the prestigious Mini MAX Africa Open title earlier this year.

This international event will bring together more than 450 of the world’s best young racing drivers from over 60 countries from November 21–28.

For Luhan, the journey to Portugal began with a simple outing to the go-kart track five years ago.

His mother, Naomi, explained that his father, who previously competed in off-road quad bike racing, had always hoped his son would develop an interest in motorsport.

“He first took Luhan go-karting at the age of five. After several practice sessions at Zwartkops Kart Raceway, it became clear that his interest was developing into a genuine passion,” she said.

That passion quickly translated into results. Luhan entered the Bambino class in 2022 and immediately established himself as one of the country’s rising talents.

He finished as the Northern Region’s Bambino vice-champion, earned the top rookie honour in the region, and became the leading rookie nationally in his debut season.

Bambino is the introductory karting category for children aged 5 to 9, and since then, his progression has been nothing short of remarkable.

In 2023, Luhan claimed his first national title by winning the National Cadet Championship while also finishing as the national and regional Bambino vice-champion.

A year later, after stepping up to the Micro MAX category, he recorded two national victories, finished among the country’s top five drivers, and placed third in the Northern Regions Championship despite being a rookie.

His success continued in 2025 when he secured the South African Micro MAX Championship with eight race victories, qualifying for his first Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals.

This year, after moving into the faster Mini MAX category, he won the Africa Open title in July, earning a second consecutive opportunity to represent South Africa on the international stage.

Naomi shared that while every achievement holds a special place in their hearts, certain moments stand out.

“Winning his first national championship in 2023, becoming Micro MAX national champion in 2025, and winning the Africa Open in his rookie Mini MAX season are among the moments that stand out most,” she said.

Luhan stays committed to his craft by dedicating countless hours to practice.

“He spends hours at the circuit refining his braking, race lines, overtaking techniques, and consistency while balancing his national racing commitments with schoolwork. He also participates in sports at school to maintain the strength, endurance, and concentration needed for competitive karting,” explained Naomi.

Behind every lap is a dedicated support system that helps fuel his dream. Naomi said Luhan’s father, Sharl, has committed himself to his son’s success, while coaches, mechanics, mentors, and partners have all played crucial roles in his development.

“As his mother, I am incredibly proud of what Luhan has achieved at such a young age. It is rewarding to see his dedication, discipline, and passion produce results, especially knowing how much work goes on away from race weekends,” she said.

However, she admitted that watching him race is never easy. “Mini MAX karts can reach speeds exceeding 100km per hour, and incidents and crashes are an unavoidable part of motorsport.”

Despite the nerves, seeing Luhan earn another opportunity to represent South Africa internationally is an exceptionally proud moment for the family.

As preparations for Portugal begin, Luhan’s focus remains on gaining as much seat time as possible and continuing to improve alongside his team.

Since he has never raced at the Portimão circuit before, adaptability will be key once official practice begins.

“His goal is to represent South Africa with pride and achieve the best possible result against the world’s best young karting drivers,” said Naomi.

Beyond Portugal, Luhan dreams of building a professional career in endurance racing, where he hopes to compete in some of the world’s biggest international events.

For now, though, his focus remains on learning, improving, and making the most of every opportunity karting presents.

As the family prepares for the international competition, they are appealing to the public and potential sponsors for assistance to help cover travel, accommodation, and other costs associated with competing in Portugal.

Those who wish to support Luhan’s journey can contribute through the family’s BackaBuddy campaign or offer sponsorship and travel-related assistance.

The BackaBuddy campaign can be found at: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/back-luhan-from-south-africa-to-portugal

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