For most teenagers, weekends are spent relaxing with friends or catching up on schoolwork. For 16-year-old Keegan Nathan, weekends are often spent on race tracks chasing milliseconds and competing against experienced drivers in South Africa’s competitive motorsport scene.
The Grade 11 Centennial Schools learner is currently competing in the VW Challenge series, where he sits third overall and first in his Class B category during his debut season.

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Reflecting on the season so far, Keegan said he was pleased with how things had unfolded.

“It’s been very good. I am very happy with the results that I have gotten. For my first-ever race, I won qualifying, race one, and race two, which has put me first in Class B.”

His racing journey began when he was around 12 or 13 years old through rental karting leagues, which introduced him to motorsport and fuelled his passion for speed and competition.

“I fell in love with speed and the thrill of hunting for milliseconds.”

Although financial constraints prevented him from progressing into competitive karting at the time, Keegan remained determined and eventually moved into main circuit racing in 2024. He competed in the Triple One Sports and Saloons series and later achieved third place in his class during his first year.

In 2025, he went on to win the Class C championship and finished second overall in the championship standings.

This year, he decided to challenge himself further by stepping into the VW Challenge series against more experienced competitors.

“The last race was challenging because it’s a new car for me this year. New engine, new brakes, new tyres, so I had to get used to all of that while competing against people with a lot more experience.”

One of the standout moments in his career came when he and fellow learner Mauro Da Luz became the youngest drivers to compete in and win an endurance race. “To me, I was over the moon. It was my first race win in any series that I have done, and it also made history, so I’m very happy with that.”

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Balancing motorsport with school responsibilities may seem difficult, but Keegan credits Centennial Schools for helping him manage both successfully. “At Centennial Schools, it’s surprisingly easy. They give us opportunities to make up work and send work in advance so we can study before lessons,” he said.

He added that the school’s support has played an important role in helping both him and Mauro pursue their racing ambitions. Outside of racing weekends, Keegan spends time preparing physically and mentally for competition through gym training and bike riding.

“I also go and work on my race car because I find it interesting. It helps me understand the car, and I get emotionally attached to it, which helps when it comes to driving,” he said. Looking ahead, he hopes to continue progressing through the ranks of motorsport and eventually compete professionally.

“The goal for the future is to try to get into some form of professional racing. To get there, I have small goals, like winning this year’s championship and hopefully getting sponsored into a higher class.”

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