Published on Thursday, March 7, 2024

What to know about the 2024 RMC African Open

This year will be the 14th edition of the RMC African Open and will be held at Killarney Raceway in Cape Town.

This year’s event will run in a slightly different format compared to previous years, adding a new dynamic to the event. The event is open to any competitor who possesses a National Karting license from any African country only. For the first time, the event will be combined with a National Championship round.

How will this work?
The points from the three national heats will be added together to determine the starting position for the all-important final race. The final race is a winner-takes-all to crown our African Champions, as in previous years. Important note the final heat does not count towards the national championship.

Why the change?
This year’s Rotax Grand Final will take place in Italy from October 19 to 26, 2024, which is very early in the racing season. Instead of trying to fit in another event, it was decided to reduce travel and accommodation costs by combining the National in Cape Town with the African Open.

What will the event format look like?

The format for the National and African Open will consist of one qualifying session and one heat on Friday, March 22, 2024, and two National heats on Saturday, March 23, 2024, followed by the standalone RMC African Open Race. The fourth and final heat of the event will not count towards the National Championship and will determine the winner of the Rotax African Open.

Qualifying will follow the “3 lap system” (1 warm-up lap & 2 flying laps) for Junior Max, Senior Max, and DD2.
There will be a 10-minute qualifying session for Bambino, Micro, and Mini Max classes.
The best lap times recorded in qualifying will determine the starting positions for Race 1.
The best lap times recorded in Race 1 will determine the starting positions for Race 2.
The best lap times recorded in Race 2 will determine the starting positions for Race 3.
Points scored in the three races will determine the starting position for the African Open.

Practice restriction
There are no practice restrictions in place. For the practice schedule, please get in touch with Chantal Pieterse at wpmckarting@gmail.com.

Prizes

Trophies will be awarded to the top 6 finishers in each class for the National Championships.
Trophies will be awarded to the top 3 finishers in each class of the African Open. Bambino competitors from fourth place onwards will receive medals.
The winner of the Bambino class will receive a Rotax Grand Final South Africa team suit.
The winner of the Micro Max class will receive an air ticket to watch the RMCGF in Italy.
The winner of the Mini Max class will receive an invitation to race at the RMCGF 2024 in Italy.
The winner of the Junior Max class, who meets the age requirements stated in the Rotax Global Sporting Regulations, will receive an invitation to race at the RMCGF 2024 in Italy.
The winner of the Senior Max class will receive an invitation to race at the RMCGF 2024 in Italy.
The winner of the DD2 class will receive an invitation to race at the RMCGF 2024 in Italy.
The winners of the DD2 Masters class will receive an air ticket to watch the RMCGF in Italy.

Note: If a seat becomes available for air ticket winners in the Micro Max and DD2 Masters classes to participate in the RMCGF 2024, the winner will receive this opportunity instead of the air ticket.