South Africa’s pride takes on the world

Two South African drivers will make significant international debuts at the Hockenheim circuit in Germany this weekend during the opening round of the 2019 DTM German Touring Car Championship.

Women’s racer Tasmin Pepper is set to be part of a historical moment in motorsport, when she represents South Africa as one of 18 youngsters to compete in the inaugural international W Series single-seater championship for women.

“I am feeling both nervous and excited to compete in the first ever W Series race,” Tasmin said.

“It will be a historical moment and I have worked really hard to get to this point. “While Hockenheim will be a new track for me, I am up to the challenge and ready to get into my Tatuus Formula 3 machine. “I would like to say a huge thank you to everybody who has supported my racing career so far — now I will do my best to make South Africa proud,” she added.

The reigning South African Volkswagen Polo Cup Masters champion, Tasmin has a wealth of racing experience from karting through single-seaters to saloon car racing.

After being selected as one of 64 women to contend for the W Series via a comprehensive knockout process, she earned one of the 18 places on the year’s grid. The 18 finalists will race identical wings and slicks single seater race cars in a six-round championship around Europe as part of the DTM roadshow

Meanwhile, South Africa’s Jonathan Aberdein will take a huge step in his racing career when he competes in this year’s DTM German Touring Car Championship, starting this weekend at Hockenheim.

A single-seater graduate from German Formula 4 and European F3, Capetonian Aberdein will race for the new WRT team in an Audi RS5.

“I am very much looking forward to my DTM debut,” Aberdein said. “This is a box that I’ve wanted to tick for a long time and while everything is a bit of an unknown at the moment in terms of how competitive we will be, be sure I shall give my all. “Coming from single seaters with similar lap times and similar downforce as the DTM cars will be an advantage for me, so I am really looking forward to the challenge.

“I am also proud to follow in my dad’s footsteps to be an Audi driver,” he added. Jonathan’s dad Chris was a factory driver for Audi South Africa in the heady days of the WesBank Modified Saloon Car Championship. Jonathan’s WRT Audi teammate will be Pietro Fittipaldi, grandson of double F1 world champion Emerson.

Aberdein will be one of the first two South Africans ever to race in the DTM, with the other being Sheldon van der Linde in a BMW. For 2019, the DTM will run new two-litre turbo cars for the first time, with cars expected to lap 2-3 seconds quicker than the outgoing V8s.

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