About SAES
The Southern African Endurance Series (SAES) has become one of the fastest-growing and most exciting forms of circuit racing, combining high-performance motorsport, teamwork, strategy, and driver development on some of South Africa’s most iconic racing circuits. More than just a championship, SAES is a platform that develops talent, creates opportunities, and builds the future of motorsport.
Founded in 2011 and built on South Africa’s endurance racing heritage dating back to 1956, the series now attracts over 200 competitors across six championship rounds. The prestigious annual 9-Hour race at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit continues to grow.
SAES is proudly 90% owned by Xolile Letlaka, the first Black national circuit racing promoter in South Africa. Through his leadership, the series is opening doors for a new generation of drivers, engineers, technicians, media professionals, and entrepreneurs who previously had limited access to motorsport opportunities.
South Africa has already proven that it can produce world-class racing talent. International stars such as Jordan Pepper, Kelvin van der Linde, Sheldon van der Linde to name a few have shown that South Africans can compete successfully on the global stage. However, developing international-level talent requires extensive racing experience, technical understanding, and consistent seat time — something endurance racing provides better than almost any other motorsport category.
One of the greatest advantages of endurance racing is the amount of track time drivers receive. Unlike sprint racing, where drivers may only spend a few minutes on track during short races, endurance competitors gain hours of valuable driving experience during practice, qualifying, and race conditions. This accelerated learning environment allows drivers to sharpen racecraft, improve consistency, understand vehicle management, and develop the mental and physical endurance required to compete internationally.
Importantly, endurance racing is also one of the most cost-effective forms of professional circuit racing. The operational costs of competing are shared between two or more drivers per vehicle, significantly reducing the financial burden on individuals while still delivering maximum track exposure and competitive experience. This creates a far more accessible pathway into professional motorsport for young and aspiring drivers.
SAES also offers tailored “arrive and drive” packages, allowing drivers and sponsors to participate without needing to own or maintain a race car themselves. These packages can be custom-built to suit different budgets, experience levels, and corporate objectives, making motorsport more accessible to both emerging talent and commercial partners.
The future of endurance racing globally is exceptionally strong. International endurance championships continue to experience rapid growth due to their combination of manufacturer involvement, technological innovation, sustainability initiatives, fan engagement, and driver accessibility. South Africa is perfectly positioned to become a leading development hub for endurance racing talent on the African continent.
Rather than young drivers and families immediately spending large amounts of money in foreign currencies to pursue overseas opportunities, SAES provides a world-class platform where talent can first be developed on home soil. Competing locally allows drivers to gain essential experience, exposure, and credibility in a professional environment before transitioning to international championships. This not only reduces financial pressure on families and sponsors but also strengthens the South African motorsport ecosystem by retaining and nurturing talent locally.
Through government and private-sector partnerships, SAES aims to create sustainable opportunities in driving, engineering, media, hospitality, logistics, event management, and automotive technology. Investment into these programmes is not simply an investment into motorsport — it is an investment into youth development, job creation, transformation, and the future growth of South African talent on both local and international stages.
what is ART ?
Africa Race Together (ART) is a South African motorsport development foundation focused on creating access, inclusion, education, and career opportunities within motorsport for young people across Africa. The organisation works to break barriers to entry into racing and the automotive industry by developing talent, creating exposure opportunities, and building pathways into professional motorsport.
The foundation is linked to initiatives in circuit racing, youth development, technical skills training, and motorsport transformation in South Africa. Founder Xolile Letlaka has been recognised for promoting inclusivity and diversity in African motorsport. His guiding philosophy “we lift as we rise,”
Africa Race Together is a registered NPO and SARS Section 18A-approved organisation committed to using motorsport as a platform for youth development, transformation, education, and opportunity creation across Africa.
We possess a robust brand and have built our credentials through our internal resources as we fine-tune our offerings for the corporate sector. We prioritize transparency and accountability, supported by a comprehensive audit team that guarantees corporations investing in Africa Race Together maximize the impact of their generous donations.
We invite you to join this transformative initiative and become a valued part of a movement driving meaningful change across Africa.
