South African racing driver Jordan Pepper wins his first German DTM race
Image: Jordan Pepper via Instagram
South Africa has another rising star in the world of German Touring Car racing, with Jordan Pepper scooping his first DTM victory over the weekend.
The 28-year-old became the second South African to achieve success in the German racing series in just three years, with compatriot Sheldon van der Linde having won the DTM series in 2022.
Pepper, who competes in a TGI Team Lamborghini Huracan Evo2, currently lies third in the 2025 DTM Championship, following his flag-to-flag victory at the Norisring on Saturday, which was the seventh race of the season. He was also the fastest in practice and qualifying.
Jordan Pepper: a rising DTM star.
Image: Supplied
"What an unbelievably emotional moment for me. I am incredibly proud and still cannot really believe it. The final laps seemed to last forever. However, I gave it my all and remained focussed right through to the finish," a delighted Pepper said after the event.
He surged ahead of the field, while Thomas Preining (Porsche 911) and Maro Engel (Mercedes AMG GT) fought for their eventual second and third places, aided by a collision that put second-placed Nicki Thiim (Lamborghini) out of contention.
Pepper is no stranger to international racing success behind the wheel of some prestigious machinery.
In 2020, he won the Bathurst 12-hour as a Bentley works driver, playing a pivotal role in the British marque's success in the GT3 era, which sadly ended with the pandemic.
However, after joining Lamborghini in 2021, Pepper went on to dominate the GTWC America championship, alongside fellow factory driver Andrea Caldarelli.
Jordan Pepper is the son of South African touring car driver Iain Pepper and brother of Tasmin Pepper, who competed in the former W-Series, a global championship for female drivers.
He started karting at a young age, and after joining the VW Polo Cup in 2012, Pepper won the 'Rookie of the Year' award after finishing third in the championship. But there were bigger things ahead, and in 2015, Pepper moved overseas to race for the ABT Sportsline Audi team in the ADAC GT Series.
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