🇳🇦NamibiaSouthern Africa
Electric go-karts debut in Africa at Tony Rust race track
via The Namibian2 min read
The Tony Rust race track near Windhoek recently hosted the debut of the first three electric-powered go-karts on the African continent. While a significant milestone, the karts are currently under scrutiny by local racers accustomed to the sound and mechanical tuning of internal combustion engines. Electric karts are notably quiet, require minimal maintenance, and are computer-tuned. Mandume Kaiyamo, 12, described the experience as "awkward," noting the karts are "very slippery against our two-stroke karts, and there is no sound." His brother, Nande, echoed this sentiment, finding it "actually nice, but it’s weird without any sound." Both brothers are formidable competitors in South Africa under the GR brand. Jurg Goldbeck, who led the initiative, confirmed this as a continental first. The electric karts were featured in a show race during the third leg of the National Karting Championships, with plans for official competition in the fourth leg next month in Windhoek. The classes, E-10 Mini and E-10 Bambini, are already formalized for ages seven to 10 and nine to 13, respectively. Despite strong winds, the championships saw fierce competition across various categories. Cecil Koorts of Cema Racing noted significant driver improvement. The karting community also collected pet food and blankets for the Windhoek Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Race results included RJ van Tonder, Milla Botha, Rocco van Eeden, Nande Kaiyamo, Cecil Koorts Jnr, Marius Zandberg, and
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