Living the best part of his life – Karting champion Joshua Moore is making a strong name for himself in a range of events from karting to mainstream track racing at just 14 years old.

It was during dinner table banter that his passion for driving began, around a decade ago, when Josh and his brother Jack (then eight and six) went to watch their mother race karts in Kerryn.

Soon Joshua wanted to follow in the same footsteps as his mother.

“I love the feeling of speed and competition. When I started kart racing, my fellow drivers and mentors Michael Stephen and Chassen Bright helped me hone my driving skills and being surrounded by so many professional drivers, I learned a lot very quickly,” said the St Francis Bay resident.

Since then, things have been going well and Josh has made the podium a familiar place for more than just the race track. He has won several regional karting championships at Gqeberha. Nationally, he came first in the Kid Rok Championship in 2020, won the Mini Rok National Championship races in 2021, the largest and most competitive class in the National Championship for drivers under 13, and in 2023 he came second overall in the Mini Rok National Championship and fourth in the open men’s (125cc OK-N) kart class in Cape Town, all while being just 13 years old.

She celebrated her 14th birthday in May.

Josh got his first taste of main track racing earlier this year when he entered the VW Rookie Cup, part of the South African National Extreme Festival, at Killarney International Circuit in Cape Town. The VW Rookie Cup, now in its second season, is aimed at young racers aged 14 to 16 who hold a valid Motorsport South Africa licence and have previous karting experience.

The series aims to provide a seamless transition from karting to mainstream track racing. Each of the youngsters drives a VW Polo Vivo GT, with upgraded dampers, springs and engine management system to ensure a level playing field, and all run Dunlop semi-slick tyres.

Young racers who master the VW Rookies Cup, which is a motorsport academy, can move on to the PoloCup, South Africa’s most competitive class and known as the place where international superstars are trained.

“I first saw the car at the Vereeniging Kart Circuit and I really liked it, so we contacted VW Motorsport and the next thing I knew I would be racing in the 2024 season,” said Joshua.

But not all rewards come easy, and Josh admits he gets nervous before every race, but is “excited and brave” during it. He says all the tension and energy is worth it, and he aims to be a successful racing driver, winning many championships, and one of his most memorable car memories is ‘spinning’ during his first test for the VW Rookie Cup at the Aldo Scribante Circuit in Gqeberha in March.

Joshua prepares for each race with training and riding simulation to reach the top.

When he’s not on the track, you can find him studying, windsurfing, rowing, surfing, fishing, or jet skiing in the ocean.

He encourages young people to follow motorsport because it is exciting, competitive, fun to watch and very informative about cars.

“I am so proud to be one of the youngest race car drivers in South Africa. I will remember this moment for the rest of my life! Big thanks to my sponsors BPW Axles, Puma South Africa and Fleet Dynamics,” he said.