Motorsport South Africa is proud to announce that fourteen year old Toyota Gazoo Junior Academy Racing driver Emma Rose Dowling has been selected as one of the young talents invited to attend the FIA Girls on Track Rising Stars Junior 2025 Training Camp, taking place from 23 to 26 November 2025 at the Cremona Circuit in Italy.
Selected from more than eighty applicants across five continents, Emma joins a small, highly talented group of female drivers invited to participate in this prestigious international development programme. The initiative, led by the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, is dedicated to identifying and nurturing future stars in global motorsport.
Born and raised in Benoni, Emma discovered her love of karting at the age of nine when she accompanied her brother to Formula K. Watching the speed, precision, and skill on track sparked something immediate and powerful.
“I was in absolute awe. From that moment, I knew I wanted to race,” she says.
Within four months she was in her own kart, beginning her driving journey in 2020 and stepping into her first competitive season in the Rotax 2-stroke series the following year.
Emma credits her father and family as her greatest supporters, along with the Toyota Gazoo Junior Racing Academy and academy head Leeroy Poulter, who has played a significant role in her growth as a young competitor.
Emma describes her selection as both exciting and deeply meaningful.
“I felt super honoured. Being one of the selected female drivers gives me the chance to show what I can do internationally,” she explains.
She is looking forward to the full experience in Cremona, including meeting new people, learning from top instructors, improving her race craft, and representing South Africa with pride.
Ahead of the camp, Emma is preparing thoroughly, both physically and mentally. Her routine includes time on track, healthy eating, proper rest, and maintaining her energy through good habits and supplements, especially with the travel demands.
Mentally, she works on visualisation, staying positive, and keeping calm under pressure.
Her goals for the week are clear and ambitious:
• Demonstrate that she is capable and competitive
• Show professionalism on and off the circuit
• Race confidently among other top young female drivers
• Gain valuable feedback, new skills, and international experience
She plans to showcase her strengths, including strong social skills, composure under pressure, and her natural driving ability.
Emma has already built up a strong list of achievements both locally and abroad. Her recent events include:
• Champions of the Future European Series
• DKM German Series
• FIA CIK Trophy Cup
• South African Rotax Regionals and Nationals
• Rotax African Open
Her highlight reel features pole positions, wins, podiums, and standout recovery drives. She is particularly proud of finishing second in the South African Junior Max National Championship.
One of her toughest experiences came during Round 3 of the FIA Trophy Cup in Cremona, where she learned the importance of arriving with thorough testing. She views this challenge as a key part of her growth.
Emma’s long term dream is to compete in the F1 Academy by 2027 and continue rising through the motorsport ranks.
To young girls dreaming of racing, she offers simple, heartfelt advice: believe in yourself, be brave enough to try, and never give up.
She extends sincere thanks to her family, her driver coach at K2 Motorsport, Leeroy Poulter, and her brother, who was the original spark behind her passion for racing.
Motorsport South Africa congratulates Emma on this outstanding achievement. Being one of the select few chosen for the FIA Girls on Track Rising Stars Junior 2025 Training Camp is a testament to her talent, discipline, and unwavering commitment. South Africa will be cheering loudly as she takes this exciting next step in her racing journey.
