Seeing a person of colour in ‘rich people’s sports’ such as tennis, golf, swimming and motorsport still seems like taboo to many South Africans, but young black people like Prince Mlambo have found a way to break into those spaces and make their mark.
Mlambo, 26, is the chief mechanic at the Into Africa Racing team, which was founded by racing driver and businessman Xolile Letlaka.
“I am the chief mechanic at Into Africa Racing, and what I do is supervise the team. I am the bridge between management and the rest of the team,” Mlambo said during an interview with Sunday World at the Four Hours of Kyalami, round four of the South African Endurance Championship at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit last weekend.
“I also need to make sure that all the cars are race-ready, meaning that every bolt and nut is checked, run through the checklist, making sure the suspension and brakes are okay, so that these cars can reliably run at high speeds and perform.
“So, as chief mechanic, I need to make sure that I go through every single critical part of the car that needs to be inspected.
“And this is because this is a high-level and concentration sport, not only for the wins but also for the safety side of things, because there is a life behind the wheel.
“So, in this sport, there is no room or margin for error, and my job is to make sure I go through these critical -areas because you have to account for the results and the life that is driving the car.”
Explaining how he got into motorsports and a space that is still very much a white-dominated industry, Mlambo said his love and passion for cars got him to where he is.
“From a young age, I always had that passion and drive for cars. From then onwards, my love for cars evolved, and I decided to attend a technical high school, where I studied mechanical engineering and design, learning all the engineering aspects.
“After high school, I went to a technical college where I got to further my knowledge and basics about engineering.
“How I got into racing and motorsport: I started in commercial passenger vehicles in a dealership, and happened to meet people in the motorsport field. I volunteered some time with them, helping and learning the field, until they offered me a job, and the rest is history.”
Mlambo went on to work with two motorsport teams, Stradale Motorsport, where he started his journey in 2018, and now with Into Africa Racing.
The motorsport industry is forever growing, and Mlambo believes hosting the Formula 1 in South Africa will go a long way in empowering aspiring black drivers and would also be great for the country.
He has also since encouraged young people in townships to force their way into the sport by showing more interest and volunteering to learn more about the industry.
“I want to encourage more black people to forge their way into this sport – to prove that we cannot be defined by the colour of our skin or race,” Mlambo said.
“And we have a very good example in Lewis Hamilton, who is a seven-time world champion, the only black driver to do it at the highest level of motorsport, and is also the first black driver for Ferrari, so he is an example.”
