Antonie Marx on Volspoed and why it's a must-watch

Volspoed is now streaming exclusively on Showmax, with new episodes every Tuesday. The adrenaline-fuelled reality series takes viewers straight into the demanding world of endurance racing, following Antonie Marx as he chases podium finishes at full speed. At his side is his wife, Ronette Marx, a former Miss South Africa finalist who keeps everything running smoothly off the track and holds the fort when the pressure peaks.

Watch the trailer for Volspoed

Spanning eight episodes, Volspoed goes beyond the roar of engines and the thrill of the race. It offers an inside look at a world where every second counts, where one wrong call can derail everything, and where success demands far more than horsepower. This is a story about commitment, resilience and what it really takes to keep pushing when the stakes are at their highest.

We recently caught up with Antonie, the man at the helm of the team, who gave us a front-row seat into his life, the reality show, and why this first-of-its-kind series is a must-watch.

Why did you decide to join the show?

I initially did not want to do the show, but realised that it’s a good opportunity for myself, and an even better opportunity to promote the sport that I love. Endurance racing is one of the last places where you can fake anything, not the car, not the team, not yourself. You either show up prepared or you get exposed.

We’re a novice team. We don’t have the biggest budget, we don’t have a truck full of spare cars, and we definitely don’t have a safety net. But what we do have is a belief that if we work harder than everyone else, we can punch way above our weight. A big part of why I wanted to do this is to bring people in South Africa into a world they never get to see. Motorsport in South Africa is not a popular mainstream sport and looks closed-off from the outside, like it’s only for certain people. I want the public to see what it’s really like. If this show can get even a few people to care about motorsport, to understand what it takes just to get to the grid, then it’s worth it.

What are you hoping viewers gain from watching the show? 

I want people to see that you don’t need to be born into it or have a huge budget, the barrier to entry isn’t as high as most think. Even a small, novice team can compete and enjoy the sport.

I also want to show that every team, even a novice one like ours, has many roles, it’s not just the driver in the car. It’s a great family sport and there’s so much more involved. In a novice team, most of these roles are filled by family and friends. Ultimately, I want the show to spark interest and curiosity in the sport. There are so many South Africans who’ve never been to a race or seen what goes on behind the scenes.

How is this show different from other reality shows?

I don’t watch too many of these reality shows… But I would guess that it’s a bit different to Kom Ons Braai.

What is the motor racing culture like in South Africa? 

Motor racing culture in South Africa is passionate and inviting, but at the same time surprisingly close-knit. It’s not just about the cars or the trophies, it’s about the people, the community, and the shared love for the sport. Even at the grassroots level, there’s a huge level of commitment from everyone involved.

What is it like working with your family?

Difficult! I can't fire anyone. 

What is the most surprising thing about being in the motor racing industry?

The most surprising thing about being in motorsport is just how alive and healthy the industry really is. The promoters, the track staff, supporters, the crews and the volunteers: it’s a whole network that keeps the sport moving.

What differentiates your team from other teams?

What sets our team apart is that we’re completely novice, and we’re not afraid to show it. Even though we are new to the endurance racing format, we have a very methodical approach to everything that we do, which helps us learn and understand things a lot quicker than competitors. Even though we are a small team that works like a family,  every role, everyone’s input and everyone’s opinion matters.

What has racing taught you about yourself? 

You learn quickly that nothing goes perfectly, engines break, strategies fail, and mistakes happen constantly. But you also learn that you can adapt, push through and keep going even when things don't go your way. Ultimately, racing has shown me that persistence, resilience, and willingness to take risks are bigger assets than talent or experience alone.

How important was it to keep the racing and motorsport culture authentic?

This sport is built on real people putting in real work, and we did not want to present a fake version of it. We wanted to show the grease, the stress, the late nights, the arguments, the mistakes, all of it, because that’s what motorsport actually looks like at all levels. We wanted to honour it, so people watching can feel like they’re actually standing in the pit lane with us, not watching some made-up version of it.

How do you balance real racing risks with the demands of filming?

At the end of the day, the risks involved are real, the speeds are real, and the consequences are real, both financially and physically. So in our case, the cameras did not change what we normally do, they just followed it. If anything, you know people are watching, not just for entertainment, but to see how this sport really works. At the end of the day, you’re representing your team, your family, and South African motorsport.