SA racing driver Jonathan Mogotsi is gearing up for his Nürburgring 24 Hour race debut on 16-17 May 2026.
In a recent press conference at the Nürburgring, Jonathan Mogotsi sat down with Head of Volkswagen Motorsport South Africa Mike Rowe to discuss the Polo Cup SA, Polo Cup Germany, what it’s like to drive on the Nordschleife, and the final steps of his preparation ahead of his Nürburgring 24 Hour debut in 2026.
Volkswagen AG-backed Max Kruse Racing will field five cars in total; three of which are Mk8 Golf GTI Clubsport race cars, each sporting a special livery paying homage to the 50th anniversary of the GTI. The Mk8 Golf GTI Clubsport 24h produces 291 kW. The powertrain is coupled with a six-speed sequential transmission with a hydraulic shifting unit. To save weight, the racer features carbon-fibre doors, bonnet and tailgate. The car weighs 1 170 kg. Mogotsi will be competing in the SP4T class in the #76 car, while Benjamin Leuchter, who joined for the interview, will field the #19 car. The third GTI will start in SP3T.
Mogotsi spoke about his preparation for the endurance race over the past few months. This included studying theory, followed by a written test, before heading out on the track to gain his permit B and A licenses, and NSL1, NSL2 and NSL3 races, which would qualify him for the Nürburgring 24 Hours. This year, the NSL1 race was cancelled owing to safety concerns as a result of weather. Crucial for the team’s pre-race preparation is anticipating the rapidly changing weather by making sure the appropriate tyres – to suit the different conditions throughout the race – are ready to be fitted in advance.
Speaking about the Polo Cup, Leuchter mentioned the importance of this racing series in developing young talent globally, as it allows aspiring drivers to learn fundamental skills that can be applied to any other racing discipline. Leuchter and Mogotsi added that the opportunity to race a competitive car, as well as the financial support, gives young drivers the exposure needed to start a successful racing career. Rowe spoke about how the Polo Cup series is designed to give young drivers the “Volkswagen experience” by showing them how the cars are built, so that they can gain an understanding of the process, and to teach them the fundamentals of racing. Rowe highlighted how the series fast-tracks young drivers’ abilities and careers in the sport, and after 30 years of the Polo Cup, he attributed its success to being affordable, accessible and competitive. Kelvin and Sheldon van der Linde, Keegan Masters and Jordan Pepper are among the drivers who have competed in the Polo Cup, and have since achieved great success in motorsport. Mogotsi mentioned his aspirations to join the likes of Brad Liebenberg and Tyler Robinson in the Polo Cup Germany. Rowe mentioned there is a good possibility of this happening in the future.
Said Mogotsi, “My Nürburgring 24 journey has been an eye-opener over the past few months. Video games come nowhere near showing how narrow, bumpy and blind the Nürburgring corners are, but now it is full focus on the big race aboard my Max Kruse Racing Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI. I must once again thank Volkswagen Motorsport, Max Krause Racing, Sparco and all our partners for making this incredible opportunity and my Nordschleife experience a reality.”
Leuchter gave a bit of insight into Max Kruse Racing’s strategy as they prepare for what is shaping up to be a wet race this year. This includes each driver completing around 16 laps each, and consistently communicating about changing conditions, track obstructions and incidents to ensure that the next driver is prepared for their stint behind the wheel.
Mogotsi concluded by stating that staying persistent in his involvement in the motorsport world has been key to his success, from starting as a sim racer and supporting SA drivers on local track days to competing on a professional level.
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