Donington Park, UK – RABsport Racing began its 2025 Protyre Motorsport Ginetta Junior Championship journey at Donington Park GP circuit with a strong foundation and steady development across the board. South African drivers Mahlori and Ntiyiso Mabunda, both managed by ICAN Motorsport Management, returned to the grid with renewed focus following a limited 2024 campaign, eager to build momentum in their first full season.

The event also marked RABsport’s official entry into the prestigious Ginetta Junior paddock, with the team fielding two of its three drivers. Luviwe Sambudla was unavailable for Round 1 but is expected to make his season debut later this year.

Qualifying – Solid Start in a Tight Field

In a competitive field of 27 drivers, Ntiyiso posted a best time of 1:57.43, placing 22nd, while Mahlori clocked 1:57.95 to line up 23rd. The times showed solid pace and set the stage for consistent race improvement.

Race 1 – Calm and Controlled Debut

Both drivers kept cool heads amid opening lap chaos. Ntiyiso gained an early position and settled into the mid-pack. After a brief safety car period, he continued to apply pressure, running competitive times in the low 1:57s and finishing P21. Mahlori was equally composed, making steady progress to cross the line in P20 – his best finish of the weekend.
Fastest laps:

Mahlori – 1:57.09
Ntiyiso – 1:57.30

Race 2 – Progress and Promise

Race 2 offered even more progress. Ntiyiso launched from P21, climbing as high as P14 before crossing the line in a strong P14 after intense midfield battles. He showed particular strength in clear air, setting his fastest lap of the weekend: 1:55.66. Mahlori also battled through a disrupted midfield, running as high as P18 before finishing P20 after some close contact in the closing stages.
Fastest laps:

Ntiyiso – 1:55.66
Mahlori – 1:56.95

Race 3 – Aggression and Adversity

The final race saw Ntiyiso make a blistering start, leaping from P14 to challenge for a top-10 spot. However, contact early on in the opening lap caused rear-end damage, and he was forced to retire after lap 5. Up to that point, he had posted a best lap of 2:00.79, despite the damage. Mahlori once again impressed with consistency, running a clean race and bringing the car home in P16, recording another competitive lap time of 1:57.13.

Team Principal Richard Barnard shared his thoughts after the round:

“It’s been a pleasing first weekend for the team in the championship. Whilst challenging, we’ve made great progress toward the future potential of both team and drivers. I’m proud of Mahlori’s consistency and Ntiyiso’s pace — and confident that lessons from this weekend will make us stronger going forward.”

Looking Ahead

With competitive lap times, clean finishes, and valuable experience gained, RABsport Racing now shifts focus to Round 2 with high motivation. The arrival of Luviwe Sambudla will bring the full driver line-up together, adding to what is shaping up to be an exciting debut season for the team.

Post-Round Standings

Mahlori Mabunda: P19, 9 points
Ntiyiso Mabunda: P23, 9 points (penalty-adjusted)
RABsport Racing: 8th place in Teams' Championship, 18 points (penalty-adjusted)

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RABsport Racing Opens Ginetta Junior Season with Encouraging Debut at Donington