It was a weekend of speed, grit and heartbreak at Whistling Morans as the 2025 Kenya Rotax Max Challenge came to a close. By the end, three young drivers emerged with championship crowns — and the right to race with the coveted Number 1.
Seventeen-year-old Krrish Vadgama secured the Junior Rotax title with 338 points after a season built on consistency and calm under pressure. He won the final round outright, finishing on the podium in every heat. “It’s such a great feeling to win the championship,” he said, crediting his team for delivering a “finely tuned kart” and his family for “constant support.”
Vadgama will now carry Number 1 into next season, a badge of honour in a sport where numbers mean status.
The battle for second was as dramatic as it gets. Alvin Kioko and Luusa Magana ended tied on 311 points. Championship rules required a countback of second-place finishes, handing Kioko the vice-champion title and the Junior Rotax U15 crown. “It was a tough season, but I gave it my all,” he said after the race.
Magana, who had set the fastest qualifying lap and even won the final heat, was undone by a retirement in Heat 2. It cost him valuable points, leaving him third overall.
The season also saw steady performances from Myles Imbayi, who finished fourth with 291 points, and Zahran Mogul, fifth on 288.
Away from the Junior Rotax class, 13-year-old Rio Bixente Wyles dominated the Mini Max category, sealing his title with a string of race wins. He finished ahead of Ishaan Patel and Terrah Ababu, who took second and third respectively.
The champions will now receive custom racing suits and exclusive gear. They will also have the use of a complete kart for the 2026 Rotax Africa Open, giving them a shot on a bigger stage.
Looking back on his season, Vadgama was still in awe. “Wow, what an incredible feeling! I’m completely overwhelmed with joy and gratitude,” he said. “To my team, my family, and my friends — your encouragement drives me to push harder every time I get on the track.”
The KRMC may have ended for now, but for Kenya’s rising stars of karting, the road ahead looks wide open.
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