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WOMEN IN MOTORSPORT

Motorsport South Africa’s vision is to create equal opportunities and treatment for women participating in all categories of motorsport in South Africa; to encourage new female entrants at all levels; to promote the efforts and achievements of female competitors, and to create a greater awareness of women in motorsport.

MSA’s aim is also to encourage women who may not want to become involved in the competition side, to become officials and administrators in motorsport.

LATEST WOMEN IN MOTORSPORT NEWS


  • ROBINSON POLO CUP CAMPAIGN DEALT BLOW AFTER OPENING RACE RETIREMENT
    Tyler Robinson experienced a stroke of misfortune during the opening round of the 2024 Astron Energy Polo Cup Championship in Cape Town over the weekend. Although she demonstrated impressive speed and skill during the qualification session on Friday, where she secured fourth place, her championship bid suffered a hefty blow as things turned for the worse on Saturday. During Race 1, Tyler had an accident, which caused her car to be stranded in the kitty litter of Killarney International Raceway’s Turn 1. Suffering severe damage to the car, she could not continue, and the car was retired from the race… Read more: ROBINSON POLO CUP CAMPAIGN DEALT BLOW AFTER OPENING RACE RETIREMENT
  • ROBINSON PREPPED FOR CAPE CUP CHALLENGE
    Tyler Robinson, an emerging talent in motorsports and a strong advocate for women in the sport is all set to participate in the upcoming season of the Astron Energy Polo Cup Championship. This will be her second season in the championship, where she debuted in 2023. The championship is part of the popular National Extreme Festival tour and is scheduled to kick off this weekend amidst an enthusiastic Cape crowd. No longer a rookie, Tyler is looking forward to a solid outing in Cape Town, hoping to kickstart her 2024 championship bid. After racing karts, both locally and internationally, the… Read more: ROBINSON PREPPED FOR CAPE CUP CHALLENGE
  • ROBINSON CLAIMS TOP FIVE FINISH AS NATIONAL PREPARATION CONCLUDES IN REGIONAL VW CHALLENGE
    Former FIA Girls on Track – Rising Stars finalist Tyler Robinson competed in her first event of 2024 after placing in the top five of her class as part of the PABAR VW Challenge this past weekend. Tyler, no stranger to the Zwartkops Raceway, entered herself into the regional tin-top championship in preparation for her second national saloon car season. No longer a rookie in 2024, Tyler will again compete in the Astron Energy-sponsored Volkswagen Polo Cup Championship. Friday’s practice sessions were focused on finding a balanced setup around the twisty Pretoria circuit ahead of the all-important qualifying on Saturday… Read more: ROBINSON CLAIMS TOP FIVE FINISH AS NATIONAL PREPARATION CONCLUDES IN REGIONAL VW CHALLENGE
  • VICTRON ENERGY BRAND AMBASSADOR TAKES EARLY POINTS LEAD AT ZWARTKOPS RACEWAY.
    Victron Energy South Africa’s Blue Power Active brand ambassadors had a successful weekend (March 1-2) at Zwartkops Raceway. While the initial entry list included four entrants, the start of the programme saw two drivers compete in the second round of the BMW ///M Performance Parts Race Series and one debutant in the DOE Formula Vee, partnered by CIM Lubricants, season opener. While the weekend started with Official Practice on Friday, the TC Racing outfit, consisting of Tjaden Tromp and Chloe Stuart, made headlines earlier in the week following the announcement to move to the DOE Formula Vee, partnered by CIM… Read more: VICTRON ENERGY BRAND AMBASSADOR TAKES EARLY POINTS LEAD AT ZWARTKOPS RACEWAY.
  • FLAWLESS STUART HIGHLIGHTS CHALLENGING OFF-TRACK TC RACING ZWARTKOPS DEBUT
    This past weekend’s (1-2 March) season opener saw Chloe Stuart rise to the DOE Formula Vee, partnered by CIM Lubricants, debut challenge at Zwartkops Raceway; however, teammate Tjaden Tromp could not compete. Both drivers participated in various unofficial tests and practice in the past week, but the start of the official race weekend saw Tromp not being allowed to participate in any sessions. Simplified, the reason relates to his age. While both drivers are currently 14, Stuart’s 15th birthday will occur within the first 16 months of 2024, while Tromp’s birthday is in the latter half. Despite the fact that… Read more: FLAWLESS STUART HIGHLIGHTS CHALLENGING OFF-TRACK TC RACING ZWARTKOPS DEBUT
  • TYLER ROBINSON GEARS UP FOR 2024 MOTORSPORT SEASON
    The upcoming weekend marks the start of Tyler Robinson’s 2024 motorsport season, wherein she is set to participate in the PABAR VW Challenge opening round at Zwartkops Raceway in Pretoria. This event is of immense significance to Robinson as it sets the tone for her season and will help her gauge her performance against other accomplished racers. Tyler will compete in Class B and face 15 other skilled drivers on the tight, twisty Zwartkops circuit. A seasoned competitor with ample experience in various racing categories, the Gauteng teenager will focus most of her attention on her national VW Polo Cup… Read more: TYLER ROBINSON GEARS UP FOR 2024 MOTORSPORT SEASON
  • FEMALE SOUTH AFRICAN TO JOIN GLOBAL RESEARCH TEAM TO TACKLE ONLINE ABUSE IN SPORT
    In another proud moment for South African motorsport, Roshni Gajjar from Gqeberha, has been announced as one of the first four recipients of the prestigious Global Research Scholarship, awarded by the FIA in support of its United Against Online Abuse (UAOA) campaign. The four scholars selected will carry out Masters by Research Programmes at Dublin College University with full funding from the FIA Foundation. Their work will help to improve understanding of online abuse against athletes and officials, providing a strong basis for the UAOA coalition’s ongoing efforts to drive behavioural and regulatory change. Gajjar will join Ana Rodriguez Armendariz… Read more: FEMALE SOUTH AFRICAN TO JOIN GLOBAL RESEARCH TEAM TO TACKLE ONLINE ABUSE IN SPORT
  • SOUTH AFRICAN MOTORCYCLE RACER NICOLE VAN ASWEGEN TO COMPETE IN THE FIM WOMEN’S MOTORCYCLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
    Nicole van Aswegen, a South African motorcycle racer, has been selected to race in the inaugural FIM Women’s Motorcycling World Championship, which will start in June 2024. Van Aswegen, who goes by the nickname “Nix21”, is one of the most accomplished female riders in South Africa, having won the South African Female 600cc Championship in 2010 and becoming the first ever woman to compete in a National Superbike Race in South Africa. The FIM Women’s Motorcycling World Championship is a new project announced by the FIM and Dorna Sports in April 2023, with the aim of creating a platform for… Read more: SOUTH AFRICAN MOTORCYCLE RACER NICOLE VAN ASWEGEN TO COMPETE IN THE FIM WOMEN’S MOTORCYCLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
  • OUTLINING MOTORSPORT’S GENDER GAP
    For many years, there has been a noteworthy gender gap in motorsport, where the involvement of women and girls at all levels is dishearteningly low. A 2023 report published by More than Equal (MTE), Inside Track: Exploring the gender gap in motorsport, assessed on 20 December 2023, https://www.femalesinmotorsport.com/post/get-the-inside-track-on-more-than-equal-s-game-changing-report outlined the findings from their Global Attitude Survey which indicated that female participation only accounts for 10% across all competition categories worldwide. This lack of gender balance in motorsport has been a cause for concern for several years. Participation Statistics According to research, there had been a slight increase in female drivers… Read more: OUTLINING MOTORSPORT’S GENDER GAP
  • PUCK KLAASSEN’S DAKAR CLASSIC JOURNEY: TRANSITIONING WHEELS AND OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
    Young South African woman racing the Dakar Classic with her father The Dakar Classic is in its third stage and has thoroughly tested the skills and endurance of its participants thus far. Young Stellenbosch driver Puck Klaassen is transitioning from motocross to four wheels through this event and has faced the challenges of the past three days with a smile! Puck is racing in Saudi Arabia alongside her dad, Sebastiaan, who acts as her navigator. For both the 21-year-old and her father, it has been quite a journey – even just getting to the start line. The allure of rally… Read more: PUCK KLAASSEN’S DAKAR CLASSIC JOURNEY: TRANSITIONING WHEELS AND OVERCOMING CHALLENGES
  • TYLER CONCLUDES 2023 WITH DOUBLE KYALAMI PODIUM
    While many South Africans celebrated the Day of Reconciliation public holiday, young Tyler Robinson celebrated two podiums at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, finishing third in class in both races held separately over Friday and Saturday. Forming part of the final South African Endurance Series (SAES) round, a grid of over thirty VW Polos made up of competitors from the CompCare Polo Cup and Pabar VW Challenge took to the iconic South African circuit for the final time in 2023. Tyler, competing in her AF Fans-backed Universal Racing Team Red Polo Cup race car, showed strong form throughout, ranking consistently… Read more: TYLER CONCLUDES 2023 WITH DOUBLE KYALAMI PODIUM
  • TYLER SET FOR KYALAMI VW CHALLENGE
    The iconic Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit will buzz with noise again this weekend (15-16 December) as it hosts the South African Endurance Series (SAES): Nine Hours of Kyalami event. Tyler Robinson, competing in her Universal Racing Polo Cup race car, will be part of a Volkswagen field of over 30 Polos, forming part of several support categories to the SAES spectacle. Robinson, who made her Polo Cup debut at the same circuit earlier this season, has gained much experience and is expected to be a podium contender in her class. Like most racers, Tyler started in karting, where she quickly… Read more: TYLER SET FOR KYALAMI VW CHALLENGE
  • INAUGURAL FIM WOMEN’S MOTORCYCLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SET TO KICK OFF IN 2024
    The excitement is building for the inaugural FIM Women’s Motorcycling World Championship, slated to commence in 2024. This ground-breaking event promises to be a thrilling addition to the world of motorcycling, featuring women riders competing on a global stage. Key details about the new series were revealed in a press conference held during the Prometeon Spanish Round at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto with FIM President Jorge Viegas, FIM Women in Motorcycling Commission Director Janika Judeika, WorldSBK Executive Director Gregorio Lavilla and Yamaha Motor Europe President and CEO Eric de Seynes. Also in attendance was 2023 Women’s European… Read more: INAUGURAL FIM WOMEN’S MOTORCYCLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SET TO KICK OFF IN 2024
  • SHERRILL JOYCE CASTLEY (23 JANUARY 1944 – 02 SEPTEMBER 2023)
    Sherrill Joyce Castley will long be remembered as a lady who truly lived her life to the fullest. A loving wife to Allen Castley and mother to Mandy she leaves a granddaughter named Lauren and her sisters Trisha and Ronelle.Sherrill was the in-house model for Foschini early in her career and instrumental in creating the Miss Killarney competitions of the early 80’s with Elaine Kriel. She tried her hand at Killarney Karting and then teamed up with her close friend Elaine Kriel as a navigator in rallying for a number of events. Jan Kriel made his Malta Bridge Service Station… Read more: SHERRILL JOYCE CASTLEY (23 JANUARY 1944 – 02 SEPTEMBER 2023)
  • THERE’S NO GETTING TAYA OFF TRACK
    “That feeling of racing around the track so low to the ground is the most exhilarating feeling in the world.” This is from the mouth of 17-year-old karting enthusiast Taya van der Laan, who was hooked on this exciting motorsport just five minutes into her first visit to a karting track. Her brother was barely five years old in 2017 when the family went to watch him try out karting for the first time. Taya recalls standing on the side lines mesmerised by the other kids taking practice laps. “We had been there for five minutes and my heart was… Read more: THERE’S NO GETTING TAYA OFF TRACK
  • EMPOWERING WOMAN IN MOTORSPORT
    Matric Student from Daniel Technical High School that is based in Kariega (Uitenhage) Ashely Pape took another step forward when Timekeeping the National Championship event for SA GT & South Africa Endurance Series for cars held at the Aldo Scribante Raceway on the 5th August 2023. Ashely has been in training at Club & Regional events and was given the opportunity to work at a National Championship event. Motorsport South Africa’s (MSA) Chairman of the Events Safety & Technical Panel, Sparky Bright had the following to say: “Ashley Pape has excelled at the task as a timekeeper of the past… Read more: EMPOWERING WOMAN IN MOTORSPORT
  • SOUTH AFRICAN MOTOCROSS WOMEN SET TO SHINE AT 2023 FIM AFRICA MOTOCROSS OF AFRICAN NATIONS
    This month, South Africa is hosting the prestigious FIM AFRICA Motocross of African Nations (MXOAN) at Zone 7 Speedspot in Cape Town from 11th – 13th August. Not only have thirty-six (36) of the finest Motocross riders in South Africa been selected to compete at this year’s event against the best riders from countries across Africa, but for the first time in history the SA team has a female Team Captain in Kayla Raaff and a female team manager, Monja Conradie. “What better way to celebrate Women’s Month this August than with such a strong Women’s contingent in this exciting… Read more: SOUTH AFRICAN MOTOCROSS WOMEN SET TO SHINE AT 2023 FIM AFRICA MOTOCROSS OF AFRICAN NATIONS
  • FEMALE SUPERBIKE DUO PAVING THE WAY FOR MORE WOMEN IN MOTORSPORT
    South Africa’s only female superbike racing duo has established a non-profit company called Basadi in Motorsport with the aim of making a lot of noise about motorsport to a female audience. The directors are Morongoa (Mo) Mahope, aka “Mo83”,  and Nicole van Aswegen, aka “Nix21”. Mo only learnt how to ride a bike at the age of 30 but the bug soon bit and she became the 1st black female superbike racer in South Africa in 2016. In 2016 she was also appointed a brand ambassador for Motorsport South Africa and then later also for Ducati South Africa and most… Read more: FEMALE SUPERBIKE DUO PAVING THE WAY FOR MORE WOMEN IN MOTORSPORT
  • VICTRON ENERGY POWERS MOTORSPORT DRIVERS TO SUCCESS
    Victron Energy was again represented this past weekend through its BLUE POWER ACTIVE ambassadors at various motorsport events. Kyle Lawrence competed in the third regional round of the Northern Regions Kart Championships, while Chloe Stuart participated in Round 2 of Formula Monoposto as part of the Historic Tour. Lawrence, who has returned to competitive karting this season, was in sublime form claiming two wins and a further podium to claim the DD2 Masters win on the day. His performance was enough to finish within the top four of the combined results, which saw the lighter and faster DD2 class race… Read more: VICTRON ENERGY POWERS MOTORSPORT DRIVERS TO SUCCESS
  • MOTORSPORT ENABLING TEEN TO LIVE BEYOND HER DISABILITIES – HEROES DON’T ALWAYS WEAR CAPES
    Most youngsters at 15 years of age are excitedly edging towards a learner’s driving licence – one step closer to the real thing at 18, and a world of perceived freedom in their own wheels. For 15-year old Taylor Hill however her biggest love and passion is karting and she isn’t letting anything stand in her way. Taylor was born with a genetic condition, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disorder (CMT), a degenerative hereditary nerve disease that usually appears in adolescence or early adulthood. Her love for motorsport was nurtured by her father Leon, and many weekends were spent on kart tracks with her… Read more: MOTORSPORT ENABLING TEEN TO LIVE BEYOND HER DISABILITIES – HEROES DON’T ALWAYS WEAR CAPES
  • TOYOTA GAZOO RACING JUNIOR ACADEMY PREPPED AND READY FOR 2023 NATIONAL CHALLENGE
    The Toyota Gazoo Racing Junior Academy (TGRJA) team is well-prepared for its second season of national competition, with the opening round of the MSA South African Rotax MAX Challenge set to commence on 3-4 March at the Idube Raceway, Camperdown, KwaZulu-Natal. For the new season, the team’s challenge will be spearheaded by essentially the same successful line-up, with a few changing classes and the addition of a new driver. Reagile Mailula remains in the Mini-MAX class, where he finished in ninth place in 2022. However, he made steady progress throughout the season, and 2023 could see him challenge for the… Read more: TOYOTA GAZOO RACING JUNIOR ACADEMY PREPPED AND READY FOR 2023 NATIONAL CHALLENGE