Supernova, a women-empowered motorsport racing team, are campaigning for sponsors as they prepare to compete at the Zwakopanapolis 500 on the 22nd and 23rd of July 2022.
Marlene van Niekerk, who is one of the four women race-car drivers, reached out to gsport, saying: “I am young lady race-car driver. I am part of a 10-man and woman, 2-car race car team. We are competing in the Zwakopanapolis 500 on the 22nd and 23rd of July 2022. We are a family-oriented team with experienced and novice racers. We all usually race individually in the BRM (Budget Racing Midvaal) club events at Midvaal Raceway, but we decided to combine all of our best qualities to establish our 2 race teams.
“Our orange Golf is team Blitzwagen with 5 men in the driver seat, while our purple Golf is team Supernova (who happens to be the poster car for the Zwartkopanapolis 500 event) with 4 out of the 5 drivers being ladies.”
The 23-year-old has always been fascinated with fast cars and hopes to inspire more girls to get into racing.
“I would love for more girls to be in a race car. Motorsport in general, but especially in SA, is very male dominated industry and I would like to see that change in the future. Racing teaches girls to be independent, to constantly be aware of her surroundings, to always think 2 steps ahead and to stay calm in chaotic or scary situations.”
Find out more about Team Supernova’s drivers below:
Carmen Fleetwood (20 years old)
I’ve only been racing a few months now. I started racing in April 2022 for BRM (Budget Racing Midvaal). One day when my dad (Nolan) went to practice, I got curious and wanted to try it. So, I asked one of the drivers if I could go with them around the track. Funny enough this driver was Daniel Gammie and his dad (Oom Craig). After that day I started looking around for a racing car and that’s where I found my beautiful purple Golf 1. I race because since the day I went out on the track I got even more excited to start, to be at the racetrack with my family and to see how much I can improve. The nerves and excitement are unexplainable, even though I’m not someone that shows it. I race because watching the races wasn’t enough for me. The racing fuel burnt tires and loud engines made me excited and I loved it. When I saw the Zwartkopanapolis 500, I knew it was something that I wanted to do. I could gain more experience and seat time. So, I took the chance.
Noline Fleetwood (24 years old)
I started with racing last year February. Since a young age, I had a passion for cars. After seeing racing for the first time, I loved it and wanted to start racing. I decided to buy myself a race car 2 years ago. When climbing into the race car, I feel the excitement and adrenaline bubbling through me. Racing also helps me get rid of stress and just makes me happy.
Motorsport is mostly male dominated. The ladies in the motorsport stand together and encourage one another. Our team would check in on one another and help prepare each other before a race, we help with anything that needs to be done and we are there for each other. This type of family and community is what a young girl needs in her life.
Chantelle Viljoen (31 years old)
I was introduced to motorsport in 2018 by my husband who was racing oval track at the time. I never knew I was such a “petrolhead” until he convinced me to start racing as well. We bought my race car and after endless nights in the garage and a lot of coffee, my race car was completed, and I did my first ever circuit race at Midvaal Raceway in 2019. Since then, I’ve grown from strength to strength. I was winning races in a so-called male dominant sport, and to wrap up my first full season of BRM racing in a neat bow, I ended up on top of the leaderboard to take home the overall championship title for the 2021 BRM racing series. By achieving this I became the first female driver to win this championship.
But racing to me is not just about the fast cars and adrenaline pumping high speed corners. No there is a lot more to it. Along my journey I’ve met great people, made new friends and we spend quality family time together next to the track. And talking about friends, that is how this Zwartkopanapolis 500 team of ours started, even though myself and the rest of our team are competitors on the track, off track we are friends with the same passion. That makes this event even more special since we are joining hands to create what we hope, no, rather what we know, a winning team!
Just a last thought for anybody out there interested in motorsport: If you dream it, you can achieve it. Just remember…When in doubt, floor it!
Marlene van Niekerk (23 years old)
Fast cars have been a love and fascination of mine since I was a little girl. I always pointed out the prettiest or loudest cars to my parents. As I grew older my fascination turned me into a true petrolhead. I always found ways to go to car shows and most recently going to actual racing events. I started talking to people at racetracks – drivers, team managers, supportive parents – on how to get myself into a race car but no one really seemed too interested in me. Until someday someone did (Oom Craig). My racing journey began in November 2021 in his Golf 1 which I am now the proud owner of. Currently I race in BRM club races, against and alongside the rest of my team. It’s a very exhilarating feeling to be in control of a car with a lot of power and speed. When I discovered racing, I discovered that there is no other freedom like being strapped into a harness and flying around the track. It is also a very humbling and calming experience being in charge of a car that can suddenly be the boss of you.
I would love for more girls to be in a race car. Motorsport in general, but especially in SA, is very male dominated industry and I would like to see that change in the future. Racing teaches girls to be independent, to constantly be aware of her surroundings, to always think 2 steps ahead and to stay calm in chaotic or scary situations. And girls who know a thing or two about cars, are less likely to be taken advantage of by rip-off mechanics. When you become part of the racing community, you gain a family who will also support and back you (even more so when you are a girl). Also, despite the misconception, racing is a very safe sport – the car has a roll cage in, everything that can ignite is removed from the car and a fire extinguisher is installed, you are tightly strapped into your race seat with no wiggle room and you as a driver have fireproof gear and a helmet on.
Ruan van Deventer (32 years old)
I have always been an adrenaline junkie and loved cars, hence when the opportunity came up to get into a race car, I grabbed it with both hands. I started racing last year November, when my brother (Chandre van Deventer) bought a race car for myself and Marlene as a cool hobby for all of us to do together. For me, being strapped into a race car is a sure way of getting the adrenaline pumping, but it taught me to be calm in an over-stimulated environment. Racing is also an escape for me; once you’re in that car, flying through the corners, you can’t be thinking of anything else.
My advice to any parent who might be considering putting their daughter in a racing seat or any girl wondering if she really belongs in the motorsport world – Go for it! Currently at Midvaal there are only 6 women on the circuit and even less in more mainstream events. It would be really cool to see more girls and women on the track and also it makes the men work harder when a girl beats them!
Photo 1 Caption: Team Supernova are currently campaigning for sponsorship as they look to inspire young girls to get into motorsport racing. Photo: Supplied
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