Local racing driver aims to win this year’s Engen Volkswagen Cup

Top racing driver Tasmin Pepper (27) cannot wait for the start of this year’s Engen Volkswagen Cup.

The former Midrand resident came fifth last year and was a little disappointed in her result, but is excited about the new Volkswagen Polo GTI the drivers must all race in, and believes she has the ability to win the championship.

Come 24 March, Pepper will have a new turbo engine and gearbox, among other parts, as well as a fresh chance to prove her worth at the cup’s first round at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit.

“I will need to be consistent in all the races, and earn points in all eight rounds,” she said.

“Last year I had bad luck but I know I can win.”

Although Pepper has never won the championship, she came second in the National Formula VW five years ago, raced for BMW in the support for Formula 1 in Malaysia, China and Singapore, and in a short carting career before car racing, she came in the top-10 in every world carting event she raced in.

“There is not much I don’t like about car racing. It has the best people, who can be your friends despite being your opponents.”

This, coupled with the adrenaline rush and parts of the world Pepper has been to thanks to racing, is only marginally dampened by the fact that when she wins a race, people will sometimes (falsely) say she cheated or it was thanks to her car that she won.

“It is also a guy-dominated sport, so when I go overseas to race with men who do not know me, they laugh at me and ask me what I am there for. When I beat them, I either earn their respect or they don’t like that I beat them.”

Pepper was inspired to race by her father, Iain, who was also a racer, and now heads her team, Pepper Racing.

Pepper’s brother, Jordan, also races in Europe.

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