Passionate about karting

Eastleigh resident Mr Nicholas Verheuls will represent South Africa at the upcoming Rotax Max Challenge (RMC) Grand Finals which will be held in Italy later this year.

Verheuls cemented his qualification for the international go-karting event when he came first in his class in the RMC African Open.

He first qualified for the event when he came second at the SA RMC Karting National Championship.

The RMC African Open saw South Africa compete against go-karters from across Africa.

Mr Verheuls said that it is quite an exciting feeling to have won the African Open and to be representing South Africa at the grand finals.

“Many of the South African go-kart racers are quite sharp and have done well in the grand finals. It is quite a feeling knowing that you will be following that legacy,” said Mr Verheuls.

The 32-year-old will compete in his class, the master class, and will compete in a 32 horsepower go-kart.

Mr Verheuls said that his passion for racing go-karts developed when he was 21.

He said that when they were younger both his uncle and his father were involved in racing go-karts. Because of this there were a lot of photographs around, which he would always ask about.

“When I started working at my uncle’s company me and my cousin were sponsored a go-kart and began competing in karting,” said Mr Verheuls.

“Petrol is in my blood,” he said.

“I really enjoy the competition involved in go-karting. As a child I played cricket, golf and tennis, but when I come off the track after racing I feel like I have accomplished something. I just never got that from other sports,” said Mr Verheuls.

Mr Verheuls will be competing in the grand finals for his second time and aims to place in the top 10 of his class at the competition.

The first time he competed in the grand finals in Portugal in 2012 he crashed during one of his races and did not do as well as he had planned.

Mr Verheul said that in 2012 he was not as focused because his wife, who he met through karting, had just had the couple’s baby three days before the grand finals and could not come with.

“She understood, but it was a tough weekend,” said Mr Verheul.

At the RMC Grand Finals 360 competitors will compete against each other in the various classes in sponsored standard go-karts that are all the same for each class.

Mr Verheuls said at the grand finals all of the karts will be exactly the same and the only difference will be the racers’ skill and experience.

“Everyone will be given a number and a kart that goes with that number. All the parts will also have that number so no one can swap parts,” said Mr Verheuls.

“Go-karting is very beneficial, it helps youngsters develop concentration, fitness and discipline,” he said.

Mr Verheuls said that he hopes to see the sport grow more.

After the grand finals, when he gets back to SA, he is going to try and help build the skill level on the African continent, he said.