At just 16, Brandon van der Walt, aka “Lil’ Lightning”, is racing ahead in SA’s drifting and karting scenes. From local titles to global competitions, meet the young driver turning heads on every track.
South Africa (13 June 2025) – When most 16-year-olds are thinking about studying for their learner’s licences, Brandon van der Walt is already making waves on racetracks at home and abroad. Known in the motorsport community as “Lil’ Lightning”, this teen is proving that age is no barrier when passion meets talent.
Whether he’s tearing it up in a go-kart or mastering the art of controlled chaos in a drift car, Brandon is living proof that the next generation of South African motorsport is already here.
Last year alone, he clinched the Rok Cup OKN Regional Champion title, secured a spot on Team South Africa for the 2024 OKN FIA Karting World Cup in the UK, and qualified for the Rok Super Final in Italy. As if that wasn’t impressive enough, he was also the youngest driver to compete in the Red Bull Car Park Drift’s South African leg.
Now signed with SkellyWags Drift Academy as their youngest-ever driver, Brandon’s already being touted as a future legend in the sport. Behind the scenes, he’s been mentored by SkellyWags founders Mikey Skelton and Andre Leibbrandt, a dynamic duo known for turning raw talent into championship material.
Brandon’s 2025 season is already off to a roaring start, with appearances in the Drift Masters SA Championship, FKR Shifter Series and the Toyota GR Cup. His goal? “To open up some eyes”, and judging by the roar of engines and the attention he’s drawing, mission accomplished.
He draws inspiration from French GT driver Kévin Estre, currently racing for Porsche Penske Motorsport, and carries the same hunger that defines the greats. But Brandon’s love for the track started much closer to home or, rather, on holiday in Namibia in 2020, where a quick spin in a kart was all it took to get him hooked.
His drift journey began thanks to his father, who wanted to make sure his son could handle a vehicle in the event of traction loss. One lesson at SkellyWags Drift Academy later, and it was clear: Brandon wasn’t just built for this; he was born for it.
Today, he represents the Roos Kart Team in karting and continues to hone his drifting skills under the SkellyWags banner. His advice to future speedsters? Start with a secondhand kart to get a feel for the circuit. And if it’s drifting that sparks your interest, sign up for a course and let the tyres do the talking.
“We’re thrilled to see the progress that Brandon has made since he first came to the Academy,” says Mikey Skelton, Co-Owner of SkellyWags. “We believe that between his determination and the support from Motul, we can expect great things from him this year and beyond. He brings a Lil’ Lightning to every event he enters.”
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As Brandon racks up more podiums and puts in the hours behind the wheel, one thing’s clear: this young driver isn’t just dreaming of the big leagues; he’s accelerating straight toward them.
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