Just like the tennis and golf of this world, motorsport is regarded as an elite and rich people’s sport.
However, two of the handful of black drivers, Fikile Holomisa and Xolile Letlaka, say advocating for transformation and inclusivity in motorsport is something that will be one of their top priorities.
Holomisa and Letlaka were both behind the Hot Wheels in the exhilarating and vroom Nine Hours of Kyalami of the South African Endurance Series two-day event last weekend at the iconic Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Midrand.
Unlike spinning, which is gaining the traction it has been longing for and deserves, that is not entirely the case with motorsport as it continues to be a famous and relevant sport to a particular class of people.
Sunday World sat down with Holomisa of Team Qhubani (“we drive” in isiXhosa), in a wide-ranging interview to talk about his journey in the motorsport industry and how the sport can be introduced to more black communities:
From the humble beginnings of a rural village called Mqanduli in the Transkei region of the Eastern Cape, to a great story of being among the few black professional motorsport drivers in a white-dominated elite sport.
With such a strong interest in cars and building his own with wire from a young age, fast-forward, Holomisa decided to study mechanical engineering at the University of Johannesburg to learn more about the ins and outs of turbocharged cars.
On how he intends to help push the sport in black communities, Holomisa said, though he admits motorsport is expensive, the involvement of government and private companies will help speed up the process that will ultimately see more people of colour getting involved in
the sports.
“Motorsport is a very expensive and elite sport, which would mean that it won’t be easy to see a lot of people like me and you [black] gaining interest in this sport because it is expensive,” Holomisa said.
“Yes, maybe there are some young boys and girls in the townships that are curious about the sport but because it is very expensive and categorised as elite, it makes it difficult for them to even try and pursue it as a career.
“So, in that instance, you would probably need the intervention of private companies and even the government to help bridge that gap and take the sport to the people.”
For instance, on the first day of the SA Endurance Series, pupils from various schools, including from the townships, were invited to tour the Kyalami Circuit to see that there is more to the sport than just driving.
“One of the main reasons we are here is to also show these kids that there are many ways of getting involved in the sport than just being on the steering wheel.
“The school kids saw for themselves today that there is a lot of work happening behind the scenes. For example, the car that I drive is constantly kept in check and the right condition by the engineers.
“So, the kids must understand that there is a lot more here than just
driving,” he added.
Despite being a late bloomer in the sport and only getting into the professional scene at the age of 44, Holomisa says he will do his best to make a change in his corner, and that will start by grooming his son, who is into karting, to help him make the breakthrough earlier than he did.
With the Kyalami Circuit still undergoing upgrades to meet International Automobile Federation requirements for hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix race in 2027, it is yet to be seen whether the pool of black motorsport drivers, as per the wish of Holomisa and Letlaka, would have increased.
South Africa last hosted an F1 Grand Prix in 1993.
