Meet: Mika Abrahams who speeds into motorsport success at just 16 years old

Pippa Hudson speaks to Floris Kotze, Carte Blanche Producer.

Meet Mika Abrahams - a young man from Johannesburg speeding into success by rising up the ranks of motorsport at just 16 years old. 

Just a few years ago, Abrahams was playing racing games on an Xbox, now he’s earning podium finishes on the Formula 4 circuit, and has his eyes on the big prize of Formula 1. 

Could he be the first South African to compete at the highest level since Jody Scheckter, our 1979 world champion? 

Abrahams was 10 years old when he first stepped into a kart and was hooked from then.

'Mika' - coincidentally named - is not after the 'Great Flying Finn' - but his name means 'sweet and innocent' which his mom agrees he definitely is.

Abrahams competed in karting for four years in South Africa and Italy, before making the step up to car racing. He impressed in the Danish F4 Championship in 2022, scoring nine podiums from just fifteen starts. 

In 2023, the 15-year-old made the move to British F4, taking a podium in only his maiden year in the series.

The South African driver is now set to join Hitech Pulse-Eight in his sophomore season in British F4, joining Deagen Fairclough and Reza Seewooruthun on the grid.

Abrahams has support from his parents Denise and Farouk who are super proud of his protea colours, as he is the first male of colour in racing to earn them. 

The young racer trains via a simulator track and an imported racing car because South Africa doesn't have F4 cars or racing tracks to train like most racers in Europe do.

Abrahams' efforts are also self-funded by his family who hopes their son's career reaches the heights he dreams of.

Kotze says Mika always says goodbye to everyone before getting into the car before a race... so 'reality is always with him' when it comes to how dangerous this can be.

"For him, it's not a dream, for him, it's a goal - he wants to be an F1 driver by 2028."

- Floris Kotze, Carte Blanche Producer

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.