Summarize

Kyalami-based global rally-raid Manufacturer Red-Lined Motorsport has signed young Jayden Els for an international campaign within its REVO GT-R squad. A former World Rotax Mini Max karting champion at just twelve years old, Els’ race career since spanned circuit racing and rallying, before moving to rally-raid, where he’s shown speed and maturity well beyond his years.

“We are delighted to confirm that we have signed Jayden Els to race our Red-Lined REVO GT-R in a multi-year international partnership deal,” Red-Lined Motorsport CEO Terence Marsh announced. “We identified Jayden’s talent some time back and followed his progress before offering him a drive in our REVO GT-R for the final event of last year’s South African Championship. Our suspicions were confirmed by a very impressive performance that weekend.

“Jayden comes aboard as a REVO GT-R factory driver through our Red-Lined Academy Program in a global Road to Dakar campaign. Starting with this year’s first South African World Rally-Raid Cup round, a national and international program as well as a training program will follow with an eye on Dakar 2027. We will work together with Jayden to develop him as an athlete, a driver and a Brand Ambassador, while also targeting potential sponsors to support his global ambitions.”

Jayden Els shot to prominence when he won the 2016 Rotax Mini Max World Karting Finals at just twelve years old. He continued karting before stepping up to a double Polo Cup racing and national rally campaign, where his navigator had to drive the road sections because at 16-years old he did not have a licence to drive! Jayden then progressed to rally-raid, where he regularly lit up the timing screens with somewhat inferior machinery.

“I am hugely grateful to Terence and the Red-Lined team for recognising my efforts as a driver so far,” Jayden Els admitted. “I am now ready to grow, learn and develop as part of this experienced and respected Red-Lined Motorsport team, and to soon once again fly the South African flag on the global stage. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank my parents for the opportunities they have given me to develop to this point. I hope to make them even prouder in the future!”

“We now look forward to watching Jayden Els under our Red-Lined umbrella develop into a top professional rally-raid driver where we have little doubt that this partnership can perform on the world stage,” Terence Marsh concluded. “Welcome to the team Junior, now let’s go and take everything to the NEXT LEVEL!”