Eight-year-old South African karting driver Giuliana Saladino made motorsport history at Zwartkops Raceway on 5 July 2026, becoming the first female driver on the African continent to drive a Rotax E10 electric racing kart.
The achievement marked a significant milestone in Giuliana’s rapidly developing racing career and came as South Africa hosted the launch of the new Rotax E10 Challenge, introducing young local drivers to a new generation of electric kart racing.
For Giuliana, getting behind the wheel of the electric racing kart for the first time was both exciting and memorable.
“I was definitely nervous at first because it was something completely new, but I was also really excited,” said Giuliana. “I love racing and I love learning new things. Being the first girl in Africa to drive the E10 kart is something very special and I’m proud to be part of something that could help grow motorsport for other young drivers too.”
Jennifer Verheul from Rotax South Africa said Giuliana’s achievement represented an important moment for the future of the sport.
“We are incredibly proud to see Giuliana become the first female driver in Africa to drive the Rotax Electric Kart. This is more than a milestone for one driver – it represents the future of our sport.
The Rotax E10 Electric Kart is about creating opportunities for young talent to experience the latest technology while making karting more accessible and sustainable. We want to inspire the next generation of racers, regardless of gender or background, by giving them a platform to develop their skills in a modern, exciting racing environment.
Seeing Giuliana lead the way is a powerful reminder that motorsport is for everyone, and we hope her achievement encourages many more young girls across South Africa to get involved in karting. This is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Rotax racing in Africa.”
The Rotax E10 Challenge launched following the Rotax African Open and forms part of a new development-focused racing platform for young drivers. The series continues with qualifying events at Zwartkops Raceway on 8 August and 30 August 2026.
The introduction of electric karting also represents a new chapter for grassroots motorsport. In addition to supporting driver development, the quieter nature of electric karts has the potential to make the racing environment more accessible to a wider range of young participants.
Giuliana currently competes in Rotax South Africa’s highly competitive Micro Max class and has already built an impressive record at just eight years old. She won consecutive Prokart SSS Championship titles in 2024 and 2025 and secured second place in the Tillotson Cadets category at the 2024 Rok Cup South Africa Nationals.
As she continues to balance school, training and national competition, Giuliana is developing through South Africa’s junior motorsport ranks with the support of her family and sponsors, including Supa Quick, Liqui Moly, Sparco and Gedore Tools. Their support contributes to her continued development and participation in competitive motorsport as she builds on an already promising racing career.
Published by: Refilwe Rakgomo
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