Smoking Tires in Shoot-Out Challenge

The ten super-fast inaugural Women in Motorsport Shoot-Out Challengers: (Back from left to right) Liza van Zyl, Lee-Ann Carlson, Ann Evans, Lydia Supra, Ntombi Mailela, Nasjki Van den Berg, Charlene Roux and Elvene Coetzee, (Front) Annie Silva and Belinda Havenga.

Women’s racing is turning a corner on Friday, when an inaugural motor-racing champion will be crowned at the Zwartkops Raceway in Pretoria to conclude the "Women in Motorsport Shoot-Out Challenge", where the winner can look forward to three-year racing contract driving a 1.8 Volkswagen Citi Golf, under the banner of the proud sponsors, Motor Finance Corporation (MFC) and Venditor Konica Minolta Racing.

This follows the input of South Africa’s motorsport governing body, Motorsport SA (MSA), in creating a panel dedicated to the development of female racers, in which one of the first projects initiated by Women in Motorsport was a joint-venture sponsored by MFC and the Venditor Konica Minolta racing team.

The first two year’s of the contract (2008 and 2009) will be for the participation in Class B of the Goldwagen VW Challenge category, followed by a third year (2010) where she may drive a Class C VW Polo 1.9TDI in the National Bridgestone Production Car category.

The competition has received an overwhelming response, and a large amount of entries were received for the competition, after which followed a very challenging approval process. 

Clare Vale (W.I.M. Representative), Carolyn Reiners (MFC) and Greg Reilly (W.I.M. / Venditor Konica Minolta PR Representative) can only grin after inspecting the Class B City Golf in racing livery, which the Shoot-Out Champ will drive for two years.

After considering the many entries, the selection panel decided on the ten finalists to participate in the Assessment Event, which was held at Gerotek Vehicle Testing facility outside of Pretoria on the 5th and 7th of February.

Two days of intensive training by qualified advanced driving instructors confirmed the talents of the ten women who were chosen as the finalists, who come from various backgrounds, from complete beginners to drag racers, oval track racing specialists and rally navigators.

The competition has proved to be a lot closer than the organizers initially expected. The women were very evenly matched throughout the various challenges which they faced, and it would take a brave person to put money on who will eventually take the title.

Unfortunately only one lucky finalist can walk away with the grand prize, and media, spectators and supporters are expected to flock to the Zwartkops Raceway on Friday, to be the first to know who the lucky lady will be.