The just concluded round seven and eight of the Kenya National Karting Championship (KNKC) held at the Rift Valley Motor and Sports club came to a close with great news for karting fanatics in Nakuru.

The Nakuru based club is looking forward to opening a karting academy in which it will be training young children and introducing them to the karting sport.

This comes after the Kenya Motor Sports Federation facilitated two karts which will be used to train children who enrol into the academy.

Magana Lusaa and Anaya Doshi on the track competing in the Cadet Class during the Kenya National Karting championship in Nakuru on October 22, 2023.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

Watch: How it went down at the Kenya National Karting Championship in Nakuru (Rounds 7 and 8)

In an interview with Mtaa Wangu, the Clerk of the course Harry Mwangi, notes that the academy will come a long way in nurturing home grown talent that could eventually be representing Nakuru in the karting championship.

“We have not been having entries from Nakuru in the Karting championship. The academy may be the turning point for us to start producing champs from Nakuru and rope in motorsport lovers to embrace the sport in this county,” he said.

Speaking during the event, Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba commended the only female driver, Seven-year-old Naiaria Wyles, for fearlessly taking the wheel and putting up a competitive spirit in the sport.

Sports CS Ababu Namwamba posing for a photo with Naiaria Wyles together with his son Terrah Ababu at the Rift Valley motorsport grounds on October 22, 2023.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

Additionally, Mr Namwamba noted that through the Talanta Hela Initiative, his offices will be partnering with the Motorsport club to give it a facelift.

Read: Rio siblings shine in karting championship

“It is interesting to see the passion, dedication and enthusiasm the drivers are showing in all classes. We are fully committed to supporting motorsports in the country,” he added.

The 600-meter karting track had 17 drivers racing in three categories including the Bambino, Rotax and Cadet classes.

In the seventh round of the championship, all drivers won with a 105-point lead with Kirish Vadgama taking the lead in Rotax class whereas Magana Luusa lifted the trophy in the Cadet Class and Wilf Mulyanga won in the Bambino class.

Winners of round 7 and 8 of the Kenya National Karting Championship (KNKC) pose for a photo alongside Sports CS Ababu Namwamba and clerk of the course Harry Mwangi on October 22,2023.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

Kirish Vadgama driving in the Rotax category, Aahil Jivanjee in the Cadet category and Wilf Mulyanga in the lower Bambino category, emerged winners in the eighth round of the Kenya National Karting Championship. The drivers scored 103, 98 and 100 respectively

Naiaria Wyles finished third in the Bambino category in the eighth round.

Related: Rally ace Bengi, sons scoop awards at autocross championship

The Karting championship which kicked off in January has two more rounds to go and is expected to come to a close in November with the final races being done in Nairobi.

Wanjirukinuthia20@gmail.com

Motorsport club to set up Karting academy in Nakuru

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Purity Kinuthia