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
- 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