By Adnaan Mohamed
The hum of engines may soon echo louder across South Africa, with the nation edging closer to a Formula 1 Grand Prix return in 2027. As preparations gather speed, eyes are turning not only to circuits like Kyalami and Cape Town’s proposed street track, but also to the next generation of drivers who might one day carry Africa’s colours onto the world stage.
At the centre of this conversation is Radhi Harris, an eight-year-old karting prodigy from Crawford on the Cape Flats. To Wesleigh Orr, four-time world karting champion and founder of Worr Motorsport, Harris is not merely a promising youngster, he is a potential game-changer.
“That’s the game-changer in the generation now. In the next three or four years there will be a Grand Prix here in Africa. So, that’s gonna put a lot of focus on the F1 teams and everyone involved in motorsport to find the talent out of Africa,” says Orr.
“Radhi could be the next Lewis Hamilton. However, we need a driver from Africa on the F1 circuit. So, there is going to be huge interest… There will be scouts in the next three or four years looking for natural talent. And we just think Radhi is gonna be that guy.”
A Star in the Making
Harris first caught international attention when, on his overseas debut, he stormed to victory in Spain’s Tillotson Bambino class. That triumph was no fluke. Since then, he has strung together a series of titles that have made him one of South Africa’s most consistent young drivers.
“I think Rahdi Harris is one of the few young drivers that we’ve had in the country that is consistent across the board in terms of results,” Orr explains.
“When drivers don’t have the advantage of the bigger teams and they are still running in front, then I think the ability is there. I think Radhi’s charisma and the way he conducts himself is also a big part of why he is so good.”
In 2023, Harris finished runner-up in his very first competitive race, a performance that earned him kart number 23. The following year, he captured the Western Province Regional Championship, then the South African National Bambino Championship, before claiming the T4 Nations Cup World Championship in Valencia. He now races in the faster, more technical Micro MAX class, and still holds the lap record at Cape Town’s iconic Killarney track.
Racing in the Blood
Motorsport is woven into the Harris family’s story. His grandfather, Zarier Harris, carved out a reputation as a street racer in his Toyota TRD during the 1980s and 1990s, while his father, Raaziegh, continued the tradition in the GTI Challenge at Killarney.
“Radhi was head-hunted by Wesleigh,” recalls Raaziegh.
“In his first race he ever did he finished second in 2023. And that is how he got his kart number 23… He then went on to win the T4 Nations Cup World Championship. He is now currently racing Micro MAX which is a step-up from the Bambino Class.”
For the Harris family, Rahdi’s rise feels like destiny, the next chapter in a lineage of speed.
Building a Path to F1
With Rahdi now signed to Worr Motorsport, his journey is backed by one of South Africa’s most ambitious karting outfits. Orr leads the international charge, while Hugh Orr oversees operations in the Western Cape and Neo Phasha trains up-and-coming talent at the academy. Together, they have built a structure designed to take African drivers from karting circuits to the world’s biggest stage.
“Signing a talent like Rahdi inspires our South African-based team to strive even harder to help our drivers achieve their dreams in motorsport,” says Orr.
“Our focus is on empowering African drivers with the skills, discipline, and support needed to compete on the global stage. We have one ambitious goal and that is to produce an African Formula 1 driver.
“Through rigorous training, top-tier equipment, and a passion for excellence, we hope to pave the way for African drivers to leave their mark in the world of motorsport.”
As South Africa positions itself for a long-awaited Formula 1 revival, Radhi Harris stands poised as a symbol of what that return could mean. He is not only navigating corners on karting tracks but also steering into a future where Africa claims its place on the F1 grid.
At just eight years old, Harris already drives like a racer with the road ahead mapped out. If the stars align, and the circuits are built, he could be the homegrown engine that powers South Africa into Formula 1 history.
