Thrilling battles and young talents shine in Seychelles karting Cadet round 5 |08 July 2025

The four young drivers of the Honda Cadet class (Photo: Contributed)

Thrilling battles and young talents shine in Seychelles karting Cadet round 5

The Seychelles Karting National Championship delivered an action-packed round 5 in the Honda Cadet class on Saturday at the Champions Park Raceway, Roche Caïman, showcasing rising young stars and heart-stopping racing moments that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.

The day began with four cadets taking to the track, where Nathan Nicette set the pace early by posting the fastest qualifying time, securing pole position for the pre-final. Joshua Cosgrow lined up alongside, while Hailey Benoiton marked a strong return to form. Making his debut in the Cadet class was Hailey’s younger brother, Alexander Benoiton, who impressed many by handling the pressure of his first full race event.

Drama unfolded in the pre-final when a collision at the hairpin on lap two saw Nathan and Hailey entangled, opening the door for Joshua to seize the lead. This incident allowed Joshua to start the final from pole, where he defended his position fiercely. Nathan launched a determined chase in the closing laps, closing the gap on Joshua but also having to keep an eye on Hailey, who was hot on his heels throughout.

The race concluded with Joshua taking victory, Nathan in second, Hailey securing third, and Alexander finishing a commendable fourth – a significant achievement as the youngest licensed karting pilot in Seychelles mastering the art of competitive racing for the first time. Nathan clocked the fastest lap of the day with an impressive 42.105 seconds.

Following the Cadet final, the Academy Bambinos took to the circuit for their training session, working on grid starts and honing their racing lines – critical foundations as they progress toward competitive racing.

The weekend’s excitement sets the stage for round 6 of the Seniors on Sunday July 13 from 9am, preceded by Academy Juniors and SKA Girls on Track training on Saturday July 12 from 2pm. July will also feature the Mid-Season Kart GP, which promises to be a turning point in what has already been a thrilling championship season, with titles in all categories still wide open.

Meanwhile, the young drivers training to potentially represent Seychelles at an FIA event in Novembercontinue to prepare intensively, and the Seychelles Karting Association (SKA) – the ASN officially recognised by the FIA – is once again calling on the local community to support these promising motorsport talents as they set their sights on launching their international racing careers.

Contributed