SA's own Jonathan Mogotsi Set for Historic Nürburgring 24-Hour Debut

The Green Hell is calling, and South Africa’s own Jonathan Mogotsi is ready to answer. The former Volkswagen Driver Search winner and SupaCup champion is officially headed to the Nürburgring 24-hour race this coming weekend, 16–17 May.

Sean Nurse

13 May 2026 · 14:37Automotive News1 min read

After months of intensive preparation and proving his mettle on one of the world’s most unforgiving circuits, the Volkswagen Motorsport star has secured his Permit A ‘Ring Licence’. He will take to the grid behind the wheel of a Max Kruse Racing Volkswagen Golf 8 GTI TCR.

The road to permit A

Mogotsi’s journey to the 24-hour main event hasn't been a simple arrive-and-drive affair. The Nürburgring Nordschleife requires a specific license (Permit A) due to its extreme complexity. Mogotsi earned his stripes through a rigorous process:

March: Secured Permit A at the NLS2 4-hour race.
April: Clocked seat time and refined his race craft during the NLS3 4-hour qualifier.

"After earning my Permit A in March and gaining more experience in April, I feel as prepared as I’ll ever be for my 24-hour debut," says Mogotsi. "My biggest takeaway is that traffic management is paramount. It’s an eye-opener; video games don't show you how narrow, bumpy, and blind these corners actually are."

Max Kruse Racing & global support

Mogotsi will be campaigning with Max Kruse Racing outfit, driving the Golf 8 GTI. The South African ace was quick to credit the support structure that made this dream a reality, including Volkswagen Motorsport, Max Kruse Racing, and Sparco.

For South African fans wanting to support our local talent, the event is one of the most prestigious spectacles in global GT racing, featuring a massive field and a party atmosphere that lasts the entire weekend.

How to Watch

Event Date: 16–17 May 2026
Live Stream: Available at www.24h-rennen.de
Live Timing: Accessible via the official event website.

As Mogotsi swaps the Highveld for the Eifel mountains, all eyes will be on the #8 Golf to see how the South African star handles the ultimate test of endurance.

Written by Sean Nurse

With a lifelong passion for cars, bikes, and motorsport, Sean knew that attaining a degree in journalism would allow him to pursue his passion, which was to be a motoring journalist. After graduating in 2012, Sean was awarded a bursary from the SAGMJ which allowed him to work for a variety of motoring publications. This was a dream come true for Sean, and after a year of gaining vital industry experience, he was hired as a motoring journalist at a local newspaper and worked his way up to editor. In 2020, Sean joined the AutoTrader team and counts himself lucky to wake up and genuinely love what he does for a living.Read more