Race car driver Ruan van der Walt recently competed in the 25th annual Passion for Speed motor festival, held at Zwartkops Raceway over the weekend of January 31.

The event is familiar territory for Van der Walt, who has been involved in motorsport for about eight years. He began his racing journey in go-karting before progressing to the Lotus Challenge and now competes in the BMW M Performance Parts Race Series.

He raced in an E36 BMW 328i, which has undergone extensive upgrades, including suspension and safety improvements, while the engine remains largely standard.

“I drive on semi-slick tyres, so the handling is extremely good,” he said.

The race weekend proved highly successful, with Van der Walt qualifying third overall. He went on to secure first place in the opening race and fourth place in the second, ultimately finishing first overall in his class.

“The highlight for me was seeing the results after all the hard work everyone put in. People don’t always see what happens behind the scenes or the late nights involved in preparing for each race, which is why I’m incredibly thankful to my team – without them, nothing is possible,” he said.

He explained that racing provides a sense of calm once he puts on his helmet and takes to the track.

“You enter a zone where all your problems disappear, and you feel untouchable. The adrenaline is also an incredible experience.”

He concluded by expressing his gratitude to everyone who continues to support him through both the highs and lows of race days.