Eight-year-old Russell Josephat, affectionately known as RJ63, continues to defy the odds as he was recently crowned national Go-Karter, a Bambino championship title.

This comes after the young prodigy dominated the 2024 Namibian go-karting season, clinching seven of the eight races to solidify his position as one of the top Bambino drivers in the country. 

At the recent and last race held by Namibia Motorsport Federation last week Saturday at Tony Rust racing, the learner at Delta Primary School in Windhoek claimed victory in all 17 heats, amassing a total of 615 points, the highest for that respective race in all junior classes.

In an interview recently, his father JP Josephat, who serves as his coach, expressed pride in his son’s accomplishment, saying it shows how far they have come in the game. 

“We’re thrilled to have secured top spot this season. Despite our limited experience and resources, we’ve learned quickly, and grown significantly. This victory is a testament to our hard work and dedication, and we hope to pick up from what we’ve achieved this season,” he said. 

Despite all the success they have enjoyed this year, Josephat said it wasn’t a walk in the park, as they had to face challenges throughout the season.

“The journey hasn’t been easy,” he admitted. “We’ve faced numerous challenges throughout the season. However, thanks to the support of the Namibia Motorsport Federation, we’ve been able to compete against strong opponents, and improve our skills. We’re excited to build on this momentum in the coming year,” he said. 

The Windhoek native’s success has not gone unnoticed. He has been invited to compete in various go-karting events in South Africa, providing him with an opportunity to test his skills against international competition.

“On top of the 7 Namibian Nationals, next year we will be doing four other South African Nationals plus six regional tournaments that are lined up.”

The promising racer will next year transition to the next class, which is the Micro-max category. Micro-max class offers the youngest drivers a chance to go racing, starting from seven years old. It is perfect for kids wanting to start karting.

Meanwhile, his class teacher Cynthia Steenkamp described him as a very humble and down-to-earth human being. “As his class teacher, I am proud of what he’s achieved this year. He is a very humble and disciplined boy, and he is an example for his agemate. 

His schoolwork is good, and he is a good person to be around, and I wish him all the best in the world of go-karting,” a delighted Steenkamp said. 

– mkambukwe@nepc.com.na