At just 14 years old, Gqeberha-born karting driver Aashay Nagura is continuing to make his mark on the international motorsport scene after completing an intense back-to-back racing campaign in the United Kingdom.
Competing against some of Europe’s most experienced young drivers, the Eastern Cape teenager took on two major international events in May at the renowned Whilton Mill and PFI circuits. While the results tell part of the story, the experience proved to be an important step in his development as both a driver and athlete.
The campaign formed part of his 2026 international development programme with Kokoro Racing Academy, affiliated with Kokoro Performance in the UK.
Valuable lessons at Whilton Mill
From 8 to 10 May, Nagura competed in The Kart Championship at Whilton Mill Circuit for the first time.
Facing a highly competitive field and learning the circuit as he went, the weekend presented one of the toughest challenges of his young career.
Despite the steep learning curve, Nagura continued to improve throughout the event and ultimately finished 24th overall.
“Whilton Mill was honestly one of the hardest tracks I’ve raced so far,” he said.
“The competition level was incredibly high and many of the drivers had raced there for years. At first it was overwhelming, but every lap taught me something new.”
He believes the experience reinforced an important lesson.
“Growth doesn’t always happen when everything goes perfectly. Sometimes the toughest weekends teach you the most about yourself.”
Strong comeback drive at PFI
Just days later, Nagura headed to the legendary PFI Circuit for the Champions of the Future Academy event from 15 to 17 May.
Having never raced at the venue before, Friday was dedicated entirely to learning the circuit through multiple test sessions.
Qualifying proved challenging as experienced local drivers set an impressive pace, leaving Nagura further down the starting order for the heats.
However, he produced one of his strongest performances of the season in the final.
Starting from 17th on the grid, he worked his way through the field with a series of calculated overtakes to finish seventh overall.
“It was probably one of my proudest drives this year,” said Nagura.
“Starting that far back against drivers who know the track so well wasn’t easy, but I stayed calm, trusted myself and focused on making smart moves.”
The following day brought a different challenge.
Despite battling a stomach bug and feeling physically unwell throughout the event, Nagura still competed and fought his way from 19th on the grid to finish 12th overall.
“It was really difficult physically,” he said.
“Motorsport is as much mental as it is physical. Even though I wasn’t feeling well, I wanted to finish strong and prove to myself that I could push through adversity.”
Building skills beyond race day
Between race weekends, Nagura spent time at Kokoro’s UK headquarters focusing on simulator training, physical assessments, race analysis and mental preparation.
The off-track programme is designed to improve consistency, focus and adaptability under pressure.
“The simulator work and mental preparation have really helped me this year,” he said.
“You learn that being fast isn’t only about driving. It’s about preparation, discipline, mindset, fitness and staying focused when things don’t go your way.”
Homeschooling allows Nagura to balance his education with an intensive training schedule that includes gym work, simulator sessions, data analysis and race preparation.
From PlayStation to international racing
Nagura’s motorsport journey began in Gqeberha after developing a love for racing through video games.
Determined to pursue the sport, he helped raise funds through a community raffle to buy his first second-hand kart and safety equipment before beginning his racing career at the age of nine.
Since then, his rise through the ranks has been impressive.
His achievements include:
- Winner of the 2024 Port Elizabeth Mini ROK National Event
- Third overall at the 2024 IAME International Final in Italy
- Third overall in the 2025 Northern Regional ROK Series during his OKJ rookie season
- Fifth overall in the 2025 ROK Cup South African Nationals despite missing the opening round
Earlier this year, he also travelled to Sweden for specialised ice-driving and performance training as part of his long-term development pathway towards circuit racing.
Eyes on the future
Reflecting on the season so far, Nagura believes international competition has accelerated his growth both on and off the track.
“Every country, every track and every race has pushed me outside my comfort zone,” he said.
“I’ve learned how important patience is, how to adapt quickly and how to stay mentally strong when things don’t go according to plan.”
His ultimate goal remains clear.
“My dream is still to race professionally one day and represent South Africa at the highest level possible. Every race I do now is helping build that foundation.”
While he continues to compete without major commercial sponsorship backing, his performances and steady development are earning attention within motorsport circles.
For a young racer from Gqeberha, the journey is still only beginning, but the signs suggest South Africa may have another exciting talent on the rise.
Why this matters for Nelson Mandela Bay
Nagura’s success highlights the growing pool of sporting talent emerging from Nelson Mandela Bay. Competing against some of Europe’s best young drivers, the Gqeberha teenager is gaining valuable international experience while flying the flag for South African motorsport on some of the world’s most respected karting circuits.
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