Botswana Motorsport, in collaboration with WORR Motorsport, has launched the Karting Africa Academy during an interactive session in Lobatse, Botswana, last month, the FIA shared. The milestone event attracted 40 participants, many of whom received their first taste of motor sport.

The event also showcased the new Karting Africa Academy kart chassis, purpose-built for the Academy program by WORR Motorsport to boost participation in entry-level motorsport across Africa. Botswana Motorsport was honored to become the first national sporting authority in Africa to officially launch and introduce the chassis.

To deliver the event, Botswana Motorsport partnered with its affiliate, Cyro Motorsport Group, Chariots of Fire Racing Club and karting company The Freak Show Racing to ensure a smooth and engaging experience for participants and spectators alike.

The launch was attended by several distinguished guests, including representatives from the Botswana National Sport Commission, the Mayor of Lobatse, the District Commissioner, the Member of Parliament for the constituency, and representatives of the Botswana Police Service. Their presence reflects the broad political and civic support for the development of motor sport in Botswana, according to the FIA.

The Karting Africa Academy represents a significant step forward in grassroots motor sport, creating a structured pathway for young drivers to access competitive karting and build towards future opportunities within the sport.

"The launch of the Karting Africa Academy in Botswana is an important milestone for grassroots motorsport across the continent. By creating accessible and structured pathways into the sport, we are giving more young people the opportunity to discover motorsport, develop their skills and pursue their ambitions," said FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. "Thanks to all those involved in bringing this initiative to life, programmes like this are vital to growing participation, nurturing future talent and ensuring that motorsport remains open and accessible to the next generation."

"This launch marks a defining moment for motorsport in Botswana," said President of Botswana Motorsport Tumisang Kagiso Modibedi. "Seeing 40 young participants, some as young as six-years-old step onto a karting circuit for the first time is exactly the kind of future we are building towards. We are proud to have made history as the first ASN on the continent to introduce the Karting Africa Academy chassis."

For more information, visit fia.com.