From Motorsport Girls Academy Camp to the Zwartkoponopolis 500 Grid
A transformation story of opportunity, mentorship and women taking the wheel
This year’s Zwartkoponopolis 500 is more than a race for the Girls team. It is the latest chapter in a transformation story, one that began with an opportunity to discover motorsport and now sees two women preparing to make their first competitive starts in cars.
At the centre of the story are Pontsho Malebese and Zelda Verster, joined by experienced racer Elke van Vledder and motorsport champion Fabienne Lanz.
Pontsho’s journey began with Girls Camp Edition 1 in 2023. With little previous exposure to motorsport, she took her first steps into the industry through the programme. Since then, she has competed in karting, gained experience working with a racing team and developed her skills and confidence within the sport.
Zelda’s journey has been more recent. Joining Girls Camp in July, she quickly became involved in the Zwartkops Raceway community, contributing not only behind the scenes but also learning what it takes to operate within a racing environment.
This weekend, these 2 Ladies move from opportunity to action as they make their first competitive start in a racing car.
Their stories demonstrate what transformation can look like when women are given a door into an industry and the support, mentorship and opportunity to keep moving forward.
For Fabienne Lanz, a champion and passionate advocate for women in motorsport, the Zwartkoponopolis 500 represents the importance of seeing that journey through. Alongside Elke van Vledder, whose years of competitive experience provide another link to the sport’s established community, the team brings together different generations and stages of the motorsport journey.
From discovering the sport, to learning the ropes, to building experience — and finally taking a place on the starting grid — each driver represents a different point along the same pathway.
Girls Camp opens the door. The transformation happens when women walk through it.
This weekend, Pontsho and Zelda will take their first steps into car racing, surrounded by women who have already travelled the road before them.
One Car. Four women. Different journeys. One shared track.
And for Motorsport Girls Academy Camp, the Zwartkoponopolis 500 is proof that an opportunity can become a career, a passion can become a profession, and a first step can lead all the way to the grid.
