Young Formula 4 racing talent Sisa Ngebulana Junior’s star continues to rise after he was named McLaren Performance Academy Driver of the Year for 2015 at an awards ceremony held at the Formula 1 team’s Woking headquarters recently.
“It wasn't something I was expecting however I was working very hard towards it,” said Ngebulana.
“Since I had missed it last year, I realised and understood my areas to improve on, so it was definitely a goal from the onset.”
It marked a strong year for the 17-year-old in his maiden season in the BRDC F4 Championship, with him becoming a regular finisher in the top 10 and taking to the podium when he finished as runner-up in race one of the weekend at Silverstone in May.
Ngebulana then continued to impress in the recent Autumn Trophy by claiming four podium finishes, including a second place in the opening race at Snetterton, on his way to third in the overall standings.
This all added up to a fantastic year of racing, culminating with the award, and he has been duly rewarded by being included in 2016 BRDC F4 Championship again, where he will be returning to compete for the title winning HHC Motorsport team.
“I feel this year F4 has mostly been a learning year with some incredible achievements such as coming second at Silverstone and my performance throughout the winter series, which ended me up in third overall,” admitted Ngebulana.
“Throughout this year I've been improving quite rapidly and after the winter series I feel I did very well in F4.”
Ngebulana junior comes from Fourways, Johannesburg but his roots are in the Eastern Cape as his father, property mogul and owner of the Billion Group, Sisa Ngebulana senior was born in East London and raised in Mthatha, with the family still retaining strong links to the area.
Ngebulana senior owns Mdantsane City and Hemingways Mall, East London as well as Bay West Mall in PE and BT Ngebs City in Mthatha.
His son, Ngebulana junior was a Squadra Corse Junior Rok kart racing driver in SA and was selected last year to attend the prestigious McLaren Youth Development Programme in England, which aims to nurture young racing talent and turn them into world-class drivers able to succeed at the highest level of motor sport.
He was then part of a four-man group – cut down from 18 – that returned to the centre this year.
Tested on numerous core skills including fitness, he was monitored throughout the year to gauge development both on and off the track in order to improve preparation in areas required to become a world-class professional.
Having made such a major impact in his time over there Ngebulana junior will be looking to continue impressing and improving as his fledgling career begins to take off.
He will now be getting straight into training over the British winter period as he prepares for the 2016 BRDC F4 season which begins on March 27-28 for rounds one, two and three at Snetterton.
“I've got a five-month break before my next race for the new season, therefore in preparation for next season I’m currently testing in Valencia for the next five days,” said Ngebulana. “Next year I aim to fight for the title.”
Making tracks for the top
“It wasn't something I was expecting however I was working very hard towards it,” said Ngebulana.
“Since I had missed it last year, I realised and understood my areas to improve on, so it was definitely a goal from the onset.”
It marked a strong year for the 17-year-old in his maiden season in the BRDC F4 Championship, with him becoming a regular finisher in the top 10 and taking to the podium when he finished as runner-up in race one of the weekend at Silverstone in May.
Ngebulana then continued to impress in the recent Autumn Trophy by claiming four podium finishes, including a second place in the opening race at Snetterton, on his way to third in the overall standings.
This all added up to a fantastic year of racing, culminating with the award, and he has been duly rewarded by being included in 2016 BRDC F4 Championship again, where he will be returning to compete for the title winning HHC Motorsport team.
“I feel this year F4 has mostly been a learning year with some incredible achievements such as coming second at Silverstone and my performance throughout the winter series, which ended me up in third overall,” admitted Ngebulana.
“Throughout this year I've been improving quite rapidly and after the winter series I feel I did very well in F4.”
Ngebulana junior comes from Fourways, Johannesburg but his roots are in the Eastern Cape as his father, property mogul and owner of the Billion Group, Sisa Ngebulana senior was born in East London and raised in Mthatha, with the family still retaining strong links to the area.
Ngebulana senior owns Mdantsane City and Hemingways Mall, East London as well as Bay West Mall in PE and BT Ngebs City in Mthatha.
His son, Ngebulana junior was a Squadra Corse Junior Rok kart racing driver in SA and was selected last year to attend the prestigious McLaren Youth Development Programme in England, which aims to nurture young racing talent and turn them into world-class drivers able to succeed at the highest level of motor sport.
He was then part of a four-man group – cut down from 18 – that returned to the centre this year.
Tested on numerous core skills including fitness, he was monitored throughout the year to gauge development both on and off the track in order to improve preparation in areas required to become a world-class professional.
Having made such a major impact in his time over there Ngebulana junior will be looking to continue impressing and improving as his fledgling career begins to take off.
He will now be getting straight into training over the British winter period as he prepares for the 2016 BRDC F4 season which begins on March 27-28 for rounds one, two and three at Snetterton.
“I've got a five-month break before my next race for the new season, therefore in preparation for next season I’m currently testing in Valencia for the next five days,” said Ngebulana. “Next year I aim to fight for the title.”
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