Sasha Martinengo
Sasha Martinengo was born to be successful and to be in the spotlight. Proudly Italian with an ancestral racing gene in his blood, he was destined to take South Africa by storm, by becoming one of the faces and voices of Formula One and Motor sport in general. A radio and club DJ; television sports presenter; MC; restaraunteur and a father of two and very definitely a family man, Sasha can be considered the Everyman of today.
Ever since he can remember social activities and conversations were about racing, which became an intricate part of his life. And his destiny! Born and bred in Johannesburg, he matriculated at Hyde Park High, and studied for an IMM diploma at Technikon Witwatersrand in between running his own business, a mobile disco. His official introduction to the music and broadcast industry was when he joined Virgin Records as product manager and PR – a move that would soon open the doors for him to achieve his greatest goals and follow his childhood dreams.
Armed with experience and a head for business, in 1994 Sasha was offered a position as a DJ on 5fm. He started off on the 1-4am slot, climbing his way up to where he is today. Sasha pioneered night radio when he completed his 5 year stint of 7-10pmon 5FM, where he presented the 9am – 12pm daytime show. Now on Joburg’s Hottest Community Radio Station weekdays, HotFM.
His soaring radio career has helped position him as the ‘Formula One’ guy and exposed him to a national and international racing audience. His breakthrough moment was when he hosted the first ever Formula One Radio show in South Africa on 5FM – with a dream team of guests such as Nigel Mansell, Eddie Jordan, Jarno Trulli, Jean Alesi, Giancarlo Fisichella and more.
With a profound knowledge and understanding for Moto sport and in particular Formula One, Sasha joined the Supersport team as their presenter of the Formula One racing series, also leading him to present and commentate on the National Circuit racing series.
He has had the luck and great opportunity to meet and work with some of the world’s top racing champions, his idols. He currently hosts the Supersport F1 show as well as doing all the live track action and voice over for the national circuit racing series ; has written articles on Formula One for local and international magazines and websites; has raced with Johnny Herbert and Ralph Firman at the F1x2 in 2004 and 2005 and has even hosted Jenson Button on behalf of BAT this year. Sasha is a member of the Ferrari Club of South Africa. Recently Sasha hosted the MPH07 and MPH 08 event in Johannesburg together with Top Gear Presenters Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond. He also hosted Top Gear Live together with Jeremy Clarkson and richard Hammond in 2009.
Sasha has also released a series of compilation CD’s over the years, Dance Domination with DJ Paul, F and Martinengo Vol1 and 2 and most recently Sasha’s Essential Hit Picks which has just been certified Gold in South Africa.
Over the years, Sasha has DJ’d at clubs and exclusive events across South Africa and in the UK. He is the proud recipient of a SAMA (South African Music Awards) with Ian F; he has been voted People Magazines Radio Personality of the year and was the first DJ in South Africa to have an official website. This site has subsequently become an exclusive Formula 1 website, allowing only subscribers to receive the newsletter.
From the adrenaline rush of cars racing at unimaginable speeds to the thrill of live broadcasting; from the latest chart topping music beats to that of his childrens’ first breath, Sasha believes firmly that one must always ‘keep the passion’.