What began as an ordinary invitation turned into a defining moment for young motorsport talent Chloe Stuart of Northcliff High School.
Chloe was crowned Motorsport Personality of the Year at the Top Gear Magazine South Africa Annual Motoring Awards on February 11.

The promising young racer joined Pablo Clark Racing’s BMW development programme in the Saloon Car M Performance Division in 2025 as an official driver, which marked a major milestone in her racing career.

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When her name was called, disbelief was her first reaction. “Oh my goodness, I actually can’t believe my life right now. It was a huge surprise as I thought I was just there as a guest. I had no idea I would win something.”

Chloe’s path in motorsport has been shaped by setbacks and resilience, moments that taught her how to push past disappointment and pressure. “We’ve had quite the journey, and so many aspects of that have shaped me into who I am today. When bouncing back from accidents, you feel upset with yourself, and in the moment, you have a lot of disappointment, but you learns to just put in more effort, leave the negativity behind and focus on your next race to come back even stronger and quicker than before.”

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As a young girl, she overcame the doubters who questioned her place in motorsport, proving her belonging through resilience that forged her into a bulletproof driver, able to set emotions aside and switch seamlessly into race mode.

Being one of the only women on the track has brought attention, but also a sense of responsibility that she embraces. “What sets me apart is being one of the only females at the race track. It brings a lot of attention. I’ve always strived to be a role model and an inspiration for other young women who just need someone to look up to and believe that anything is possible.”

Chloe credits her progress to the people around her, describing the support from her racing team, school, sponsors and family as essential to her success. “All of my support has been such a blessing and a vital part of my success.”

At the centre of that support, she said, is her father, to whom she dedicated the award. The recognition has strengthened her motivation and sense of purpose, an achievement that adds a lot of motivation just knowing that she is being recognised for her efforts and achievements.

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