JOHANNESBURG – South African Touring Cars SupaCup champion Jonathan Mogotsi has successfully earned his Nürburgring Permit A “Ring Licence” and will compete in the legendary 24-Hour race from 18 to 19 May.

The Volkswagen Motorsport South Africa veteran achieved the crucial qualification during the NLS2 4-Hour race on 21 March, after the earlier NLS1 event was cancelled due to snow.

Qualification achieved

“That’s job done,” Mogotsi said excitedly after Saturday’s qualifying race. “I have earned my Nürburgring Permit A, which allows me to compete in the epic 24-Hour race in May.”

The Johannesburg business analyst described the experience as an eye-opener, explaining how different the real circuit is from virtual racing.

“I have learned so much in the past few weeks. Video games come nowhere near showing how incredibly narrow, bumpy and blind the corners are,” he said.

German challenge

Mogotsi is racing as part of the Max Kruse Racing team, which runs three Volkswagen AG-supported Golf 8 TCRs in the Nürburgring NLS series and the 24-Hour race.

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His achievement follows the announcement in February that he would attempt to earn his Grade A licence to compete in the same race that Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen has participated in.

Next steps

The South African driver will return to Germany for the NLS3 race on Saturday 11 April as final preparation for the main event.

“Germany has been phenomenal and I am eternally grateful to Volkswagen Motorsport and our partners that have made this opportunity, and my Nordschleife experience a reality,” Mogotsi said.

The 2024 South African National SATC SupaCup champion’s journey to the Nürburgring represents the latest chapter in a remarkable motorsport story that began with online racing success before transitioning to professional circuit racing through the 2016 Volkswagen Driver Search programme.

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