Our Team
At ICAN Management, we focus on developing young racers through youth sponsorship and a holistic management programme. Our approach ensures that aspiring drivers have access to resources, mentorship, and opportunities needed to succeed onthe global stage.
Introducing Our Talented Drivers
Anesu Maphumulo
ICAN-MANAGEMENT
Anesu Maphumulo was born on 13 February 2011 in Manhattan, New York, holding dual South African and American nationality.
Anesu’s arena is the racetrack. His passion for racing was evident before he could reach the pedals, and at just 6 years old he was chosen to model for Mercedes-Benz, appearing in a full racing driver suit, a moment that announced his intentions to the world. By 2018, aged 7, Anesu had taken his first steps in competitive racing with Squadra Corse in the Bambino class, the entry point for South Africa’s youngest racing drivers.
Progressing through Micro Max in 2020 and 2021, he steadily built his racecraft within the Squadra Corse programme, the same Black-owned South African team that has nurtured some of the country’s most promising young talent under the ICAN Management umbrella.
After a focused development period in 2022 and 2023, Anesu stepped into the most competitive karting class available to him, OK-Junior for the 2024 national season. In 2025, with ICAN’s support, he underwent comprehensive testing and evaluation to prepare for his transition from karts to cars, culminating in his 2026 entry into the Ginetta Junior Championship in the United Kingdom.
Enzo Rujugiro
ICAN-MANAGEMENT
At just 15 years old, Enzo Rujugiro is one of the most exciting young talents to emerge from African motorsport. Born on April 20, 2010, and proudly holding both South African and Canadian nationality, Enzo carries the spirit of his Rwandan heritage onto every circuit he conquers. Based in Midrand, Johannesburg, he has grown from a fearless kart racer into a serious single-seater contender — and the world is starting to notice.
Guided since 2017 by ICAN Management, Enzo’s path through the ranks has been marked by relentless ambition, and the kind of mental toughness that cannot be taught. Now racing in the UK with FOX Motorsport in the GB4 Championship, his story is only just beginning.
Luviwe Sambudla
ICAN-MANAGEMENT
Born on 1 October 2008 in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, Luviwe Sambudla is one of the most accomplished and inspiring young motorsport talents to emerge from South Africa — and
from the African continent as a whole. Moving to Midrand, Gauteng, at age two, a chance meeting at age eight with Mpho Elijah Gumbi, owner of Squadra Corse and later ICAN Management, set Luviwe on a path that has taken him from South African club circuits to the FIA World Karting Championship, and now into Formula 4 single-seater racing.
Driven by the ambition to follow in the footsteps of his racing hero Lewis Hamilton, Luviwe has overcome serious injuries, the challenges of competing far from home, and the realities of being one of very few African drivers on the international karting circuit — all while consistently delivering remarkable results against the world’s best young talent. Recognised by Motorsport South Africa, praised by FIA Karting, and noted by international motorsport media, Luviwe Sambudla is not just a champion in the making — he is already paving the road for the next generation.
Mahlori Mabunda
ICAN-MANAGEMENT
Mahlori Mabunda’s motorsport story begins with a father who loved Formula 1 and two sons who decided to live that dream. Growing up in Midrand, Gauteng, Mahlori and his younger brother Ntiyiso were introduced to competitive karting through the Squadra Corse academy under team principal Mpho Elijah Gumbi, one of South Africa’s most dedicated forces in developing Black motorsport talent. Mahlori started his competitive career in 2017 and has not looked back since.
A two-time ROK SA Regional champion with over 25 trophies to his name and lap records at Port Elizabeth (PE), Zwartkops and Formula K (FK), Mahlori has proven himself a consistent frontrunner on the South African domestic scene. His journey has taken him to the ROK Cup Junior Super Finals in Italy — where he secured pole position in the Junior ROK class — the inaugural FIA African Karting Cup, and the prestigious Ginetta Junior Championship in the UK — one of Britain’s most celebrated junior single-seater ladders, which has launched the careers of multiple Formula 1 drivers.
Supported by his family, Squadra Corse and ICAN Management, Mahlori embodies the spirit of the ICAN programme — a South African driver of colour making his mark on the international motorsport stage and inspiring the next generation to dream bigger.
Ntiyiso Mabunda
ICAN-MANAGEMENT
Ntiyiso Mabunda’s racing story began at an indoor go-karting venue where, aged seven, he discovered a natural gift for driving. By nine, he was competing — and winning. At Zwartkops Raceway in 2019, the then nine-year-old took the chequered flag in his very first competitive karting race. That moment set the tone for a career driven by an unshakeable belief that he belongs at the front.
Younger brother to fellow racing driver Mahlori, Ntiyiso has forged his own distinct path. From winning his first race as a nine-year-old through to being selected by Motorsport South Africa to represent the country in the FIA Karting Academy Trophy — one of the sport’s most prestigious junior pathways — and then making his car-racing debut in the UK’s Ginetta Junior Championship, Ntiyiso has accumulated international experience that few South African drivers his age can match.
He competes as part of the ICAN Management programme under Mpho Elijah Gumbi and Squadra Corse — South Africa’s biggest and only Black-owned karting racing team. Ntiyiso trains with the rigour of a professional athlete: 5am mornings, boxing and gym sessions, simulator work, a sports psychologist, and home schooling to allow the flexibility his international programme demands.
His ultimate ambition goes beyond Formula 1 — Ntiyiso has set his sights on the Triple Crown of Motorsport: victory at the Monaco Grand Prix, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Indianapolis 500. A bold goal, and one that reflects the scale of his ambition.
Keagan Masters
ICAN-MANAGEMENT
Keagan Masters has built one of South Africa’s most impressive modern motorsport careers through Porsche’s global one-make racing ladder. Since debuting in the Porsche
Carrera Cup Italia with AB Racing in 2022, he has risen through every level of the programme, securing back-to-back Carrera Cup Italia championships in 2024 and 2025.
His debut Italian campaign delivered runner-up honours with 2 wins and 4 podiums from 12 races. In 2023, he graduated to the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup — Formula 1’s premier Porsche support series — finishing 10th overall in his rookie season while also competing in Carrera Cup Benelux and Carrera Cup Italia.
The 2024 season proved pivotal as Masters, driving for Team Q8 Hi-Perform, claimed the Carrera Cup Italia title and added a Monaco podium in the Supercup to finish 4th overall.
In 2025, he successfully defended his Italian crown with 3 wins and 7 podiums while also racing in the French and German Carrera Cups and continuing his Supercup campaign.
His Carrera Cup Deutschland debut at Hockenheim for Proton Huber Competition further highlighted his pace, scoring P3 and P7 finishes on debut.
In 2026, Masters continues his international Porsche programme with FAT International and Proton Huber Competition, competing in Carrera Cup Deutschland and the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in the new 992.2-generation Porsche 911 Cup car.
Sebastian Dias
ICAN-MANAGEMENT
Sebastian Dias began his motorsport journey in 2020 at just nine years old, competing in the Mini ROK class with Kart Republic Africa in Johannesburg. Within a year, he was already
setting fastest laps and fighting for race wins, quickly establishing himself as one of the country’s most promising young karters.
In 2022, he emerged as a genuine frontrunner, winning the Mini ROK Northern Regions opener at Zwartkops after an intense championship battle decided by a single point. That
same season, he expanded his experience by competing in the Rotax Max Mini Max category. His rapid development earned him selection for the 2023 FIA African Karting Cup
South Africa Qualifier in the OK-Junior class, before representing South Africa at the inaugural 2024 African Karting Cup — one of the continent’s most prestigious karting events.
In 2025, Sebastian stepped into the highly demanding KZ2 Shifter class and finished runner-up in the national championship at only 14 and 15 years old, showcasing exceptional race craft, precision, and maturity.
Now 15, he has transitioned into the Volkswagen Rookie Cup and wasted no time making an impact, claiming his first car-racing victory at Aldo Scribante in April 2026 with a
lights-to-flag win in Race 2.
Anesu Maphumulo
Squadra Corse | Ican Management
Anesu Maphumulo was born on 13 February 2011 in Manhattan, New York, holding dual South African and American nationality.
Anesu’s arena is the racetrack. His passion for racing was evident before he could reach the pedals, and at just 6 years old he was chosen to model for Mercedes-Benz, appearing in a full racing driver suit, a moment that announced his intentions to the world. By 2018, aged 7, Anesu had taken his first steps in competitive racing with Squadra Corse in the Bambino class, the entry point for South Africa’s youngest racing drivers.
Progressing through Micro Max in 2020 and 2021, he steadily built his racecraft within the Squadra Corse programme, the same Black-owned South African team that has nurtured some of the country’s most promising young talent under the ICAN Management umbrella.
After a focused development period in 2022 and 2023, Anesu stepped into the most competitive karting class available to him, OK-Junior for the 2024 national season. In 2025, with ICAN’s support, he underwent comprehensive testing and evaluation to prepare for his transition from karts to cars, culminating in his 2026 entry into the Ginetta Junior Championship in the United Kingdom.
Enzo Rujugiro
ICAN-MANAGEMENT
At just 15 years old, Enzo Rujugiro is one of the most exciting young talents to emerge from African motorsport. Born on April 20, 2010, and proudly holding both South African and Canadian nationality, Enzo carries the spirit of his Rwandan heritage onto every circuit he conquers. Based in Midrand, Johannesburg, he has grown from a fearless kart racer into a serious single-seater contender — and the world is starting to notice.
Guided since 2017 by ICAN Management, Enzo’s path through the ranks has been marked by relentless ambition, and the kind of mental toughness that cannot be taught. Now racing in the UK with FOX Motorsport in the GB4 Championship, his story is only just beginning.
Luviwe Sambudla
ICAN-MANAGEMENT
Born on 1 October 2008 in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, Luviwe Sambudla is one of the most accomplished and inspiring young motorsport talents to emerge from South Africa — and
from the African continent as a whole. Moving to Midrand, Gauteng, at age two, a chance meeting at age eight with Mpho Elijah Gumbi, owner of Squadra Corse and later ICAN Management, set Luviwe on a path that has taken him from South African club circuits to the FIA World Karting Championship, and now into Formula 4 single-seater racing.
Driven by the ambition to follow in the footsteps of his racing hero Lewis Hamilton, Luviwe has overcome serious injuries, the challenges of competing far from home, and the realities of being one of very few African drivers on the international karting circuit — all while consistently delivering remarkable results against the world’s best young talent. Recognised by Motorsport South Africa, praised by FIA Karting, and noted by international motorsport media, Luviwe Sambudla is not just a champion in the making — he is already paving the road for the next generation.
Mahlori Mabunda
ICAN-MANAGEMENT
Mahlori Mabunda’s motorsport story begins with a father who loved Formula 1 and two sons who decided to live that dream. Growing up in Midrand, Gauteng, Mahlori and his younger brother Ntiyiso were introduced to competitive karting through the Squadra Corse academy under team principal Mpho Elijah Gumbi, one of South Africa’s most dedicated forces in developing Black motorsport talent. Mahlori started his competitive career in 2017 and has not looked back since.
A two-time ROK SA Regional champion with over 25 trophies to his name and lap records at Port Elizabeth (PE), Zwartkops and Formula K (FK), Mahlori has proven himself a consistent frontrunner on the South African domestic scene. His journey has taken him to the ROK Cup Junior Super Finals in Italy — where he secured pole position in the Junior ROK class — the inaugural FIA African Karting Cup, and the prestigious Ginetta Junior Championship in the UK — one of Britain’s most celebrated junior single-seater ladders, which has launched the careers of multiple Formula 1 drivers.
Supported by his family, Squadra Corse and ICAN Management, Mahlori embodies the spirit of the ICAN programme — a South African driver of colour making his mark on the international motorsport stage and inspiring the next generation to dream bigger.
Ntiyiso Mabunda
ICAN-MANAGEMENT
Ntiyiso Mabunda’s racing story began at an indoor go-karting venue where, aged seven, he discovered a natural gift for driving. By nine, he was competing — and winning. At Zwartkops Raceway in 2019, the then nine-year-old took the chequered flag in his very first competitive karting race. That moment set the tone for a career driven by an unshakeable belief that he belongs at the front.
Younger brother to fellow racing driver Mahlori, Ntiyiso has forged his own distinct path. From winning his first race as a nine-year-old through to being selected by Motorsport South Africa to represent the country in the FIA Karting Academy Trophy — one of the sport’s most prestigious junior pathways — and then making his car-racing debut in the UK’s Ginetta Junior Championship, Ntiyiso has accumulated international experience that few South African drivers his age can match.
He competes as part of the ICAN Management programme under Mpho Elijah Gumbi and Squadra Corse — South Africa’s biggest and only Black-owned karting racing team. Ntiyiso trains with the rigour of a professional athlete: 5am mornings, boxing and gym sessions, simulator work, a sports psychologist, and home schooling to allow the flexibility his international programme demands.
His ultimate ambition goes beyond Formula 1 — Ntiyiso has set his sights on the Triple Crown of Motorsport: victory at the Monaco Grand Prix, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Indianapolis 500. A bold goal, and one that reflects the scale of his ambition.
Meet Our Key Personnel Working Behind The Scenes Of ICAN-Management
Our team includes experts in motorsport athlete management and development, sports marketing and media, as well as production, legal, and compliance. We are passionate about what we do and are always striving to provide the highest level of service to our clients.
Elija Mpho Gumbi
Owner
Through my own experiences I have been able to pioneer positive change in my life and those of my team members and their families. I believe that development programs such as ours can truly change the fortunes of individuals, families, communities and perhaps an entire nation.
Donovan van Heerden
Sporting Director
I have managed teams in the automotive, publishing and marketing communication industries for over 20 years. I am naturally curious and strive for excellence and innovation, I have led clients to numerous awards in the creative and motorsport industries.
Keagan Masters
Driver Development Director
I am a driver coach/team manager at ICAN-Management. Motorsport has been a big part of my life as I started at the tender age of 7 and now at 22 years old, I am still successfully competing on the international circuit.
The years of motorsport has taught me that anyone can succeed at what they do if they dedicate themselves and push the limits of their capabilities.
Daniella Masters
Human Performance Director
I am a registered and qualified Biokineticist. I completed my studies at the University of Pretoria in 2019. I am passionate about health and wellness through injury/disease prevention and rehabilitation.
Being from a sporting background, I enjoy challenging myself and others to achieve their greatest potential. My interests include sports injuries, orthopaedic and neurological conditions, special populations and sports specific strength and conditioning.
Clinton Gahwiler
Team Psychologist
It is the mind that determines whether what has been trained IN, is able to be brought OUT when it matters most in a race.
The psychology programme teaches drivers mental skills training in an age appropriate manner, while also keeping an eye on their overall development and wellbeing.
Paolo Ippolito
Driver Coach
I am Paolo Ippolito, official KR motorsport driver, instructor at the International Safe Driving Centre of Andrea De Adamich (F1 driver) one of the most important schools in the world in collaboration with Ferrari, and coach driver for the ICAN karting team drivers.
My goal is to be able to pass on my passion and knowledge to the youngest drivers so that they can become top drivers.
Our Partners
