Living life at full-throttle, 15-year-old Muhammad “Mo” Wally, a teen from Johannesburg, is racing to make motorsports history as South Africa’s next go-karting World Champion and, one day, the country’s first Formula 1 titleholder of the Muslim faith.
Wally is gearing up to take to the track in the United Kingdom’s Lincolnshire at the PF International as the only official South African qualifier in the inaugural OK-N FIA Karting World Cup, where he will compete against over 30 of the world’s top competitors from 13 to 15 September.
“It’s an absolute honour to represent my country, and to test myself and my skills against the best in the world. I’m really excited to be taking part,” he says. “Every driver dreams of becoming a world champion, and this opportunity is also a huge step towards building my name and profile in the sport.”
This event marks another major stepping stone towards his goal of becoming a professional F1 driver, having already built an impressive racing track record within karting. This year alone, he has clinched two successive national championships, including the 2024 Rok Cup South Africa and the 2024 Rotax South Africa National Championship which concluded this past weekend.
This latest victory didn’t come easily – it was the result of four intense, hard-fought racing events across the country, culminating in a final showdown at Zwartkops Raceway on Saturday. With an impressive total of 137 points, he finished a remarkable 15 points ahead of his closest competitor.
Wally’s passion for the sport was sparked at the tender age of four when he watched a close friend of his father compete on the track. From that moment on, unlike most children his age who dream of becoming superheroes or astronauts, his dreams became tied to the roar of engines, the smell of fuel and asphalt, and the adrenaline of high-speed corners. He entered his first national championship at the age of five, and has relentlessly pursued his ambitions with clear-sighted determination ever since.
But breaking into South Africa’s tight-knit motorsports community hasn’t been without its share of challenges. As a young, relatively unknown driver, Wally had to prove himself in a world often defined by experience and connections, jokingly referring to himself as a “no-name brand”. Today, however, his reputation commands respect as a five-time South African champion, a four-time African champion, Inaugural FIA African Karting Cup Champion 2024, and even a titleholder from Bahrain.
His approach to go-kart racing is as much about mental strength as it is about physical skill.
“Racing is much like playing a game of chess. You need to think strategically, and know when to push hard and when to hold back. It’s about being able to soak up the pressure and staying calm, even when someone bumps you or tries to block you. Most importantly, you need the discipline to remain focused, and to take note of everything happening with your kart on the ground.”
As he gears up for the world championship, Wally hopes that his journey will inspire other young South Africans to chase their dreams, no matter the obstacles. “It’s important not to let others stand in your way. No matter the challenges, I want to show others that you can achieve your goals if you’re willing to put in the hard work and effort.”