At an age when many children are still learning the rules of the playground, Giuliana Saladino is already rewriting the rulebook of African motorsport.
The fearless eight-year-old South African accelerated into history at Zwartkops Raceway on 5 July, becoming the first female driver on the African continent to pilot the revolutionary Rotax E10 electric racing kart. It was more than another lap around a circuit. It was the green flag waving over a new era.
History has a habit of arriving with the roar of engines. This time it whispered.
The electric kart may be quieter than its petrol-powered cousins, yet its message echoed like thunder through the paddock. The Rotax E10 Challenge is steering junior karting towards a future where cutting-edge technology, sustainability and accessibility share the same racing line.
For Giuliana, the occasion carried equal measures of butterflies and bravery.
“I was definitely nervous at first because it was something completely new, but I was also really excited,” said Giuliana. “I love racing and I love learning new things. Being the first girl in Africa to drive the E10 kart is something very special and I’m proud to be part of something that could help grow motorsport for other young drivers too.”
Those words reveal a maturity that stretches far beyond her years. Champions often emerge long before they stand atop podiums. They reveal themselves through curiosity, courage and an appetite for challenges that would make grown adults lift an eyebrow.
Rotax South Africa believes Giuliana has become the face of something far bigger than a personal milestone.
“We are incredibly proud to see Giuliana become the first female driver in Africa to drive the Rotax Electric Kart. This is more than a milestone for one driver. It represents the future of our sport.
The Rotax E10 Electric Kart is about creating opportunities for young talent to experience the latest technology while making karting more accessible and sustainable. We want to inspire the next generation of racers, regardless of gender or background, by giving them a platform to develop their skills in a modern, exciting racing environment.
Seeing Giuliana lead the way is a powerful reminder that motorsport is for everyone, and we hope her achievement encourages many more young girls across South Africa to get involved in karting. This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Rotax racing in Africa.”
Giuliana’s résumé already sparkles brighter than freshly polished bodywork. Back-to-back Prokart SSS Championship titles in 2024 and 2025, plus runner-up honours in the Tillotson Cadets at the 2024 Rok Cup South Africa Nationals, have positioned her among the country’s brightest junior talents.
Supported by her family and partners including Supa Quick, Liqui Moly, Sparco and Gedore Tools, she continues balancing schoolbooks with steering wheels, proving dreams are built one lap at a time.
The next qualifying rounds on 8 and 30 August may produce fresh winners. Yet African motorsport already has its trailblazer. Giuliana has pressed the accelerator on possibility, and the future is rapidly catching up
