If ‘doing it in the dirt’ is your dream and passion, the Slalom Challenges could become your stepping stone to an international rally career.

A series of Slalom Challenges will be held around the country from December 2021 to March 2022 with the  national final selection event in April 2022. 

The Slalom Challenges will each see the best male and female competitor in each challenge becoming one of the 32 finalists to participate in the national final selection event, at which competitors will be selected to represent South Africa at the Continental Final.

South Africa’s participation in this programme, the organisation of the various challenges and the national final has been generously funded by a grant from the FIA Sport Grant programme managed by the FIA.

The programme is open to all interested individuals who will be at least 17 years old, but not older than 26, on 01 January 2022. The programme also has a specific focus on gender and racial diversity.

The programme offers possibly one of the biggest prizes ever in motor sport, so quite apart from the pleasure of participation in the initial challenges, the potential to take part in the national finals, and for the selected drivers the chance to participate in the Continental Final, the winner of the Continental Final will enjoy participation in an ongoing programme which could kickstart an international rally career.

This would include a training season in 2023 that includes participation in six European rallies, and could extend to participation in the Junior WRC in 2024 and 2025 and ultimately for the winner of the 2025 Junior WRC a fully funded WRC2 drive in the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship.

Individuals that wish to participate in this programme should head to  www.fiarallystar.com to find out how you can participate in this exciting event and #BeTheNextOne.

Motorsport South Africa (MSA) is delighted to welcome MasterDrive as a training partner in the programme and will assist MSA in the safe conduct of events.

Adrian Scholtz the CEO of Motorsport South Africa says “I am excited by the prospect of working with MasterDrive on this and other possible future projects. We share a common passion not only for cars and motorcycles, but also for road safety and this partnership is an ideal way to improve the skills and habits of young drivers.” 

MasterDrive has also agreed to reward the 17-year-old winner of MSA’s first digital motorsport championship, the ATK ProSeries, Koketso Pilane, by affording him training towards gaining his driver’s license and preparing him for participation in the national selection event for FIA Rally Star where he was awarded a wild card. 

The CEO of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, says MasterDrive looks forward to working with MSA in this endeavour. “We support initiatives that promote responsible use of motor vehicles in a dynamic environment. Additionally, we appreciate the opportunity to foster an interest amongst younger drivers in a ‘time-honoured’ tradition of coming of age with the acquiring of a licence. It is an opportunity not to be missed.

“We would also like to recognise MSA for the role they play in keeping all aspects of motor sport safe. Their decision to choose MasterDrive to fulfil this role in the Slalom Challenges is but one indication of that. Working together we hope to keep the passion alive and build motor sport’s reputation by prioritising safety,” says Herbert.