Future Ones is "S'porting STEM Success" at the inaugural Speed Classic Cape Town, happening six decades after the 1962 Camps Bay Hillclimb. In what promises to be a spectacular shootout on 25 and 26 October 2025, motoring and motorsport fans will be treated to the speedy parade of classic cars on Saturday and the race for King (or Queen) of the (Table) Mountain on Sunday. The grid of competitors includes Jan Lammers, a former Formula One driver and Le Mans winner, along with a line up of experienced South African contenders.
Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Art principles (STEM and STEAM) underpin car and track design - this event will be a test of engineering excellence, risk management and precision teamwork, on track, along the track and at race control. The 1.8km route has been astutely prepared along the spectacular Philip Kgosana Drive, formely De Waal Drive, starting on the city side and turning around at the Walmer Estate end. Fans get to watch the revving action, from the general access areas, the reserved-seating grandstand, the VIP hospitality lounge and the fan zones. Route design, track safety and logistics have required meticulous planning by the organisers, in close collaboration with the City of Cape Town.
“There is nothing that has as much variety and is as accessible, where you will be that close to the track. Spectators will be only a few metres away from cars that could potentially reach an eye-watering 300km/h. You just do not get that in any other form of motorsport.”
- Garth Mackintosh, event co-founder.
Supported by Motorsport South Africa and the deeply rooted motoring community in the region, the Speed Classic Cape Town further boosts the investment case for short, sharp racing in the Western Cape, following the long-running Knysna Simola Hillclimb. Other major events hosted include the Cape Town e-prix (FIA, Formula E) in 2023 and the Cape Town WRX (FIA, World Rallycross) which has been hosted at Killarney International Raceway intermittently since 2017.
“We are proud to support the Speed Classic Cape Town and as a city we love to host world class events. I believe this race has the potential to grow into a real mainstay event in Cape Town and become a prestigious occasion that will bring visitors from around the world and showcase our city globally.”
- Geordin Hill-Lewis, Executive Mayor of Cape Town.
Economic and environmental sustainability are key success factors to keep next generation motorsport fuelled responsibly. Event-specific Supplementary Regulations govern fair play for all competitors over race weekend. This is where STEM and STEAM professionals can play their part to help future-proof motorsport - Future Ones influences and enables just that, in motorsport and allied industries. Follow our blog for more insights as this event grows.
To the passionate fans following on social media - keep your motorsport posts and comments kind.
Future Ones is a not-for-profit that fuels "Pupil-to-Pinnacle" success in motorsport and allied industries. Driven in partnership with QFinsoft, an Ansys channel partner in South Africa and S2L, a digital literacy initiative pioneered by Mobilearn Africa.
Among the well known and former F1 design engineers are South African, including Rory Byrne (Ferrari, Benneton) and Gordon Murray (McLaren, Brabham). Both are still active in their careers, inspiring high performance road vehicles and safe driving. Can we build on this legacy? Yes, we can!
STEM awareness and excellence is critical to success in the future of business, sport, health and lifestyle. In a country like South Africa, the automotive sector is a key value creator, yet the pipeline of STEM graduates leaks high potential talent.
Future Ones is a not-for-profit focussing on STEM design in motorsport and allied industries. The aim is to enable high potential success by unlocking STEM imagination and exposing bright young minds to aspirational career opportunities in motorsport, in South Africa and across the African continent. Our "Pupil-to-Pinnacle quest aims to get young STE(A)M talent working in Formula One, international motorsport and allied industries. We deliver through our eco-system of STEM industry partners and event organisers, including Ansys South Africa, the Knysna Hillclimb and S2L online.
Schools, corporate sponsors and STEM volunteers, are your ready to Play Your Part? Let's Talk.
Meet Dominic Illenberger, a Performance and Support Engineer at Hyundai Motorsport. In the first year of joining, his applied engineering skills and focussed committment contributed towards securing the 2022 FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) double title for team Elantra N TCR and driver, Mikel Azcona.
Dominic's pupil-to-pinnacle success story started during his school days at St Dominic’s Priory School in Port Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela Bay, a major hub for South Africa's automotive industry. Safe to say that sharing a name with his school’s patron saint was more a perfect coincidence, than an engineered Illenberger strategy!
On track, trackside and beyond, Dominic applies his high-performance expertise to optimise race performance. His personal passion for motorsport experiences, travel and photography is fuelled through his business, DCI Media - a sweet spot that enables the expression of his love for creating visual art through a camera, with his precision-based Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) career. In this way, STEM meets STEAM (STEM plus Art) and ikigai is found.
“Seize the moment, embrace the tools we now have to
push the boundaries of what’s possible.” – Dominic Illenberger
How Dominic got involved in motorsport STEM
I’ve always been involved in motorsport — it’s something deeply ingrained in my childhood and a passion I live and breathe every day. I’ve always found joy in understanding how things work, from the inner mechanics of machines to the processes that make them perform at their best. That curiosity pushed me deeper into wanting to understand aspects of STEM. Working in this field felt like the most natural path for me and ultimately laid the foundation for my career in motorsport.
What STEM meant as a pupil and what it means now as a professional
As a pupil, STEM honestly didn’t mean very much to me until the later years of school — probably around Grade 11, when it became real that I needed to start focusing on my future. At that stage, I was more interested in doing exciting things with my friends, like taking part in motorsport, than in sitting down and learning STEM.
But as I matured, I discovered a profound love for STEM and the beauty of how it all works. There’s something truly inspiring about exploring the findings and theories developed over centuries of human progress — from mathematics to engineering — and realising just how much we’ve already achieved as a species.
And now, working in the STEM field, it’s an absolute joy to take that knowledge and apply it: solving complex problems, pushing the boundaries of human performance, and seeing just how far we can go with the incredible solutions that STEM helps to unlock.
Navigating some of the challenges in successfully studying STEM
It was all a struggle (he laughs). But anything worthwhile in life is a struggle — and that’s exactly what makes it so rewarding. How did I overcome them? Hard work and daily grind. It’s simple - what you put in, is generally what you get out.
Key learnings that he applies today
I believe school and university aren’t just about the knowledge you pick up in lectures. What they really teach you are the tools: how to think critically, solve problems, manage pressure, and adapt. Those skills are what truly prepare you for the challenges you’ll face in your job — and they’re the same tools I use every day.
What can be done to prepare school pupils to excel in their STEM studies and careers
I’d hate to just say “work hard,” even though that’s partly true. What really makes the difference is finding the passion within yourself and discovering the niche of STEM that truly excites you. Once you connect with that interest, putting in the grind becomes much easier — and with patience, the rest will fall into place.
A typical work week and percentage of STEM application
A typical work week can look very different depending on the stage of the season. Sometimes it means traveling across the globe, other times it’s long days at the racetrack, and at other times it’s being in the office or workshop focused on research and development. When I think about it, STEM plays a surprisingly high role throughout all of this. It creeps into nearly everything I do — from data analysis to problem solving. If I had to put a number on it, I’d estimate around 65%.
Top three success criteria for teamwork
1. Foster a no-blame culture — focus on solutions, not pointing fingers.
2. Develop a thick skin and don’t take things personally; pressure is part of the sport.
3. Stay humble and never stop learning — motorsport evolves constantly, and so should we.
The key success factor driving his pupil-to-pinnacle story
A lot of sacrifice during university, combined with finding a real passion that I truly live and breathe. Once I discovered that, there was nothing else I was willing to settle for — it became the driving force behind my journey.
Dominic's vision for bright, young STEM/STEAM minds on the African continent
We’re living in a truly unique time where we have access to an incredible amount of information and tools, just a few clicks away – it’s unbelievable and profound. Technology has levelled the playing field across the globe in a way that has never been possible before. For young STEM minds in Africa, my vision is to see this access turned into opportunity — to drive innovation, solve local challenges, and showcase the talent and creativity the continent has to offer. I believe that if you find the right passion and motivation, the potential is truly unknown. People often say, “the sky is the limit”. I don’t think there is a limit — and that is beautifully exciting.
You must be in it to win it!
Listen to our programme leads, Rohan and Seugne, unpack their F1 in Schools experience and how your school can Play Your Part in 2025.
Watch the recording here.
Momodou Ceesay, Deputy Head of Engineering, Construction and Building Services and STEM Ambassador, speaks about STEM education in the UK, Brazil and prospects for bright young minds who aspire to succeed in motorsport.
Listen to the conversation on YouTube.
Ready to Play Your Part as a school, team. sponsor or volunteer? Let's Talk.
Seugne Bosch is our lead female volunteer at F1 in Schools South Africa and a former World Finals competitor. Today, Seugne works as a cyber privacy consultant, representing a specialist, future-focussed profession. She is a role model to young females who aspire to enter and succeed in STEM industries.
How our female lead volunteer got on track with F1 in Schools.
During high school, I was always very interested in the sciences but never had the courage to explore STEM fields - it was very male dominated and representation for women was lacking. I first heard about F1 in Schools when I was 15 years old. Being a Formula One fan from a young age, I was excited to get involved in the challenge but doubted myself.
I attended an international school in China and joined a diverse team, representing South Africa. My teammates represented their countries, being Singapore, Taiwan and Canada. It took quite a lot of courage from my side to apply because it was an all-boys team. However once I got started, I soon found out that I did actually have the required IQ and confidence to play my part. This realisation opened up to an entirely new and exciting world for me which has shaped my professional journey.
My role in the team was sponsorship management and the project management of the car design.
Highlights from her journey.
My team, Team Qi, competed at the 2010 World Finals in Singapore. Interestingly, there was a girls team from South Africa that competed in the same year and they won an award for perseverance. We won the award for best website.
I have a ton of core memories from the experience. Two core memories that stand out for me. The one is meeting the Formula 1 drivers and Tony Fernandez, entrepreneur and founder of the Caterham Formula 1 team. The other is the hands-on experience with designing a competitive car and then presenting our design portfolio to the F1 in Schools World Finals judging panel.
Some challenges and how her the team overcome them.
Most of my challenges were internal because representation was severely lacking for girls/women. It took a lot of courage for me to explore the depth of my own skills and to excel.
There are still a lot of stereotypes surrounding gender where girls are always made to believe that they are not good enough, strong enough or versatile enough from a very young age. The biggest challenge for any girl to face is to ignore all that criticism and believe that she is capable of whatever she sets her mind to achieve. I want girls to have that confidence and to contribute their perspectives and insights. Mostly, never to fear failure or feel guilty if they don’t succeed on first attempt.
The ROI delivered to the school and to sponsors.
F1 in Schools gives learners the opportunity to explore a diverse world of career opportunities. It helps build self-confidence and presents an opportunity to showcase one’s skills. When a young person’s talent is recognised, it motivates one to excel, to innovate and this supports the team’s success. The sponsors benefited from our culturally diverse team which offered them multi-country representation, one being China and the other being our home countries.
Key learnings that she continues to apply today.
I learned a lot from F1 in Schools - it is the reason why I have the courage today to take on opportunities, even when I think I cannot do it.
You do not need to be Einstein to be able to excel in STEM fields. What matters most is passion to explore and learn new things daily. Another key message is to never be afraid to be innovative. If you have a fresh idea or a different perspective, explore it.
What participation can offer to young STEM talent in SA.
Participation doesn’t just teach students the basic skills of STEM. It shows you a world of opportunities, possibilities and, most importantly, allows students to think laterally. We need more “out of the box” thinkers in this world. Remember that diversity is key to making STEM fields thrive.
Our lead volunteer’s “Impossible” goal for F1 in Schools ZA.
An “impossible” goal would be to secure enough funding to help our South African F1 in Schools teams and participants reach their goals and dreams.
Advice to young South Africans who want to achieve extraordinary success.
Learning does not end when you complete high school or university. Never stop learning and never give up.
My motto to every girl out there is: “Take up the opportunity even if you think can’t do it”.
Kliptown Youth Centre (KYP) encourages children to be active community members, to have dreams and to promote hope for a brighter future. KYP was started by co-founders who are good friends, connected by a big vision to shift the spirit within their Kliptown community from "survive" to "thrive”. Their shared passion is changing lives.
In 2021, KYP became an early adopter of the F1 in Schools programme. This leap of faith, supported by F1 in Schools South Africa, introduced the world of racing to a place where 75% of community members are unemployed and where "Hope" is in short supply. Co-Founder, Thulani Madondo shares insights from KYP’s F1 in Schools journey.
KYP’s part in the F1 in Schools SA challenge.
In the heart of Soweto, where opportunities often feel out of reach, this programme is breaking barriers and igniting the imaginations of our young learners. The F1 in Schools Primary STEM programme has proven to be ground-breaking, enabling our learners to explore race car design and build on a miniature scale, encouraging practical application of maths and science learning.
Highlights from their journey so far.
For many people in our community, the idea of Formula 1 is as distant as the stars. This initiative is a gateway for learners to discover a whole new world of possibilities. Our learners have taken a deep dive into the complex process of designing their own miniature race cars, using customised building block materials, including paper-based cut-out chassis, small wheels and axles. Through hands-on activities such as designing cars, experimenting with color mixing for paint and conducting reaction tests to assess speed, they have gained invaluable technical skills while experiencing the sheer joy of creation and discovery.
We run the Primary STEM programme which is safe and low in complexity for learners and teachers. Resourcefulness and commitment keeps the programme going and is generating high motivation. We have one roll out track and use the hand held pump for propulsion.
The ROI being generated for the school and sponsors.
We are grateful that this programme provides the kind of stimulation that inspires our learners to dream big. We are seeing the positive impact of this programme on participants' motivation for schoolwork.
Our learners have started to experience the world of professional racing, and can access the exhilarating world of motorsports at Zwartkops Raceway and Kyalami, thanks to F1 in Schools South Africa, supportive partners and industry experts. Meeting with engineers, mechanics, drivers and racing team owners has opened participants' eyes to the diverse career opportunities within the racing industry, sparking a new passion for exploration and learning.
Some challenges and how they are being tackled.
Despite our efforts to promote equal participation, there is still a stereotype that racing cars is a “man's sport”. We have to double our efforts to encourage young girls to participate and to expose them to female role models in the field. Our female IT Educational Coordinator, Jane Moepi, has a background in engineering.
The other challenge is combining the program into our curriculum without disturbing the academic flow requires careful planning and coordination.
The “Impossible” goal for F1 in Schools ZA.
The ultimate vision is for Team F1 KYP to participate in the F1 in Schools World Finals. To get there, we need to secure the necessary funding and resources to turn our goal into reality. We are working with Future Ones NPC and partners to make this happen!
Advice to young South Africans who want to achieve extraordinary success.
As someone who continues to unlock his vision for a thriving future, Thulani believes that, "To accomplish great things, it takes hard work, vision, and determination. Always remember that what gets measured, gets done. Nothing in life comes easy, so do the work and trust the process."
Play Your Part
Join the F1 in Schools South Africa community. participant, Sponsor, Partner or Volunteer. Visit the Future Ones NPC website and Let's Talk.
See the F1 in Schools programme in action at KYP:
Rohan Laas (left) and Helgaard Janse Van Rensburg (right) are former F1 in Schools World Finals competitors and now lead volunteers at Future Ones NPC. These two high performers are committed to sharing their knowledge and experience to enable next generation success through excellence in applied STEM.
A decade and half later, they share their story with shining eyes and wide smiles, recalling their "make a plan" journey to the 2009 World Finals in London.
How they got going.
Helgaard led the team and Rohan looked after the finance, marketing and graphics. This is almost similar to what we do in in our current jobs. Helgaard is the co-Founder and R&D Director at EX Management Systems while Rohan wears a finance hat at a leading beverage company in South Africa.
F1 in Schools was introduced to us at another local school over a weekend in the Free State. With very little information or knowledge, we submitted a car concept design and team structure. From there we were selected to continue to the next stage and progressed from there. All we did was to stay focused, while we had fun figuring it all out.
Highlights from their journey.
Our initial thought was, "what is this?". The whole thing was a foreign concept - we knew a bit about Formula One but knew nothing about the F1 in Schools programme. We know that we had no experienced but that did not stop us.
Our team, Double S Racing, collaborated with a team from Germany. We had to set up, self-manage and self-organise the teams with limited process guidelines. It was our teacher who figured things out and shared her own learnings with us, making sure that we were always aligned as a team. This support was motivating.
We faced numerous technological challenges, such as learning how to use CAD design software, CNC machines, wind tunnels and how to prepare digital presentations.
What amazed us as being part of the World Finals event, was seeing how advanced other countries were, especially the investments companies made in their local schools. For example, our collaboration team from Germany had access to one of the biggest motor manufacturers in the world who assisted with our car's paint work. This would have been very difficult to accomplish as a standalone team in South Africa. Also the workmanship and quality of presentations of the other international teams were phenomenal.
The other two South African teams were from Pietermaritzburg and Stellenbosch. They competed independently and not through collaboration.
Some challenges and how they tackled them.
There were challenges and we had to cross them through trial and error because there is no blueprint.
We had some initial designs flaws and re-designed our car multiple times until the design was machinable. From the technical to the thinking - we had to learn to present our design, ideas and concepts to the sponsors and judges. We learnt about fundraising, speaking to sponsors and managing finances. Time management was a big factor to manage school, sports and personal/social activities. We enjoyed the challenges simply because we worked well in our team. The team leader played an important role - this was Helgaard's job.
The ROI delivered to the school and to sponsors.
We were the only school in our town, Sasolburg, that participated and this attracted great publicity, especially after we advanced to the international (World Finals) competition. With the support of the University of the Free State, we were able to get some international and local exposure.
Key learnings that they continue to apply today.
We experienced the high competence of participants from other countries. Today that insight into world class excellence motivates us to showcase South Africa's capability which stacks up with international standards if we put in consistent effort daily and keep performing at those high levels.
What participation can offer to young STEM talent in SA.
Firstly, it forces you to think outside the box and to come up with a plan otherwise you will fail. As the saying goes, "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail".
Secondly, international exposure opens your eyes to endless possibilities of what South Africa can achieve, and also learn, in terms of technological advancements. This type of exposures shows that us South Africans who don't have the means and privilege can still compete at the same level with the best of the best.
Our lead volunteers' “Impossible” goal for F1 in Schools ZA.
Our impossible goal is to involve the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and to mentor upcoming prospective engineers.
Then have as many schools as possible participating, unlike the few schools during our time, with bigger sponsors so that we can have a proper national competition which includes many more pupils and teams across South Africa.
This opportunity can awaken an unknown interest you never knew you had and maybe produce the next Enzo Ferrari producing the first South African design and completely fabricated car right here in Mzanzi!
What an SA team will need to do to reach and win at the F1 in Schools World Finals.
The reality is that you have to push yourself to your limits and only seek the best, there is absolutely no space for being mediocre. Obstacles will always be there but those should not deter you.
Funding will probably be the biggest obstacle but keep at it. Approach international brands where possible, offer them a value proposition. In our experience and unfortunately, local and smaller businesses did not see the value initially so we had to approach international brands. Aligning our values / visions to sponsors made it an easier sell.
Research on what other businesses do and identify what success looks like. Research marketing, branding, technology, performance and measure your team against the best examples out there. Look at printed or digital magazines for presentations, the paintwork must be of a quality that would go on a road car and branding and sponsorships must be approached professionally. Public speaking is an important skill when dealing with sponsors. Look for ways to improve and apply those learnings because that is what gets teams to the World Finals.
Get comfortable with technology and learn how to use the right software so that it sets your designs and presentations apart from others. Know the technologies that affect car performance, for example the effect of paint, wheel friction and other design aspects.
The competition rules are strict. Learn them, live them and love them. This will aid you in applying the rules to your designs and also in identifying the restrictions posed on the teams / vehicles.
How you work as a team is important - identify the team's weaknesses and strengths and use them for your team's success. Relationships in the team must be managed. Good relationships with suppliers and external experts or mentors will help to maximise what the team can deliver within the budget and using the skills available. Involve local business who support the team in achieving the goal.
Lastly, have a business or entrepreneurial mindset. Set a team mission and have a plan - it will guide you on decision making and allow for easier buy in.
Even if you don't win at the World Finals, if you apply these suggestions, you will be very employable and highly experienced by the time you enter the job market.
Advice to young South Africans who want to achieve extraordinary success.
- Decide to be extraordinary first. Once this has been decided no amount of work or effort should discourage you from achieving the intended outcome.
- You have to believe that there is value in what you do and it's not in vain, even if you don't see any results now and will only see it in years to come.
- Treat each failure as a lesson to learn from. Make sure you learn the lesson and don't repeat it - at least not more than twice.
- Have fun in what you do this as will make it easier when you have to put in the long hours and face difficulties.
- No one has ever achieved success on their own. Learn from others, be humble, share your ideas. have a learning mindset - be a sponge and absorb everything you can. Don't be put-off by critique.
- Experience is required and this is only achieved by doing the work - put in the effort.
- You are a South African - be proud of it and show the world that you are capable of being the best!
Roshni Gajjar speaks to the head of F1 in Schools Germany, a former participant and proud leader of the country that won the 2023 World Finals in Singapore.
Watch on YouTube or listen in on Apple Podcast.
F1 in Schools South Africa is available through Future Ones NPC - purpose-driven STEM to enable "Pupil-to-Pinnacle" success.
Ready to Play Your Part as a school, team. sponsor or volunteer? Let's Talk.
Roshni Gajjar speaks to former F1 in Schools World Finals participant and category winner, Aashish Salian about what F1 in Schools meant to him as a pupil, a STEM professional and a rising performance engineer.
Watch on YouTube or listen in on Apple Podcast.
Ready to Play Your Part as a school, team. sponsor or volunteer? Let's Talk.