JOHANNESBURG – Sixteen-year-old South African racing driver Gianna Pascoal has been named the OKN South African Karting Champion for 2026, six years after she first started competing in the sport.

The achievement comes as Pascoal takes up one of only six international seats in the More Than Equal female development programme’s Formula 4 division, and prepares for her European single-seater racing debut in Britain’s GB4 Winter Series at Snetterton with Pace Performance.

“Being able to call myself South African champion is an incredible feeling,” said Pascoal. “When I started karting, I was racing against drivers who already had years of experience. I had so much catching up to do, and I chose to give up competitive diving to put everything into racing. So, this title means a huge amount to me.”

Late start to racing career

Pascoal launched her racing career in 2021 at the age of 11 – nearly twice the typical starting age for karting champions. Training under Wesleigh Orr, founder of WORR Motorsport in South Africa, she quickly developed her skills and began winning across karting categories before leading the ROK National Championship standings in 2025.

Last year, she made history as the first female South African driver to secure a seat in the FIA Karting Academy senior class, competing on African circuits and internationally.

The teenage driver has gained recognition beyond South African borders, recently featuring in Britain’s The Telegraph newspaper as one of three promising young female drivers working towards Formula 1.

Pascoal will make her GB4 debut with Pace Performance, a British team which achieved four race victories and four additional podium finishes during its 2026 campaign.

“My incredibly supportive family, my mentor Wesleigh Orr, and the many highly influential drivers, coaches, and engineers I work with at Greater Than Equal have made a huge difference to my performance,” she said. “I plan to compete at the highest levels, and taking a national championship in karting while I’m working hard in Formula 4 is a real confidence boost as I push further into global motorsport.”

Orr said Pascoal’s determination set her apart. “Gianna’s determination, hard work, and hunger to succeed are what most set her apart. I’ve watched her grow from a young karting driver into a national champion in record time, and her progress has been absolutely remarkable.

“She has her sights firmly set on a Formula 1 seat, and I genuinely believe she has the talent, discipline, and fighting spirit to get there. The road ahead won’t be easy, but Gianna is never one to back down from a challenge.”

ALSO READ: South African Formula 4 driver speaks about the mental health