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Du Plessis stars at African Kart Open

Race fans in the know would have been tracking Rachelle du Plessis’ progress in karting over the past few seasons. See, the Randfontein lass has been following in some pretty impressive footsteps — who could ever forget her dad Roelf’s exploits in Group N and V8 races back in the day?

But it seems Miss du Plessis is delivering pretty well if her recent results are anything to go by. Not that her dad had any part in her initial career — he would have preferred that she rather not race. But Rachelle would have none of that;  “I was born with adrenaline running through my veins and wanted to race since I can remember but my dad never let me, so as soon as I could do so, I took out a bank loan to buy my own kart in 2011 and that's where it all started!”

Rachelle soon won her dad’s support over and the du Plessis have been at it flat out ever since. She won her first race in shifter karts a few weeks ago, while Rachelle’s progress at the weekend’s African Open was stunning to say the least. A wildcard annual karting free-for-all, the African Open sees the winner and runner-up in DD2 shifter class scoring a ride in the Rotax Max World Finals in Italy and du Plessis put everything into snatching a ticket.

Rachelle enjoyed a brilliant first pre-final at the African Open to climb from 11th to finish fourth, setting herself up to fight for the lead in the second race only to be shuffled off the track into retirement. “I had a super start and pulled the holeshot into turn 1 before leading for a few laps,” Rachelle explained. “But they caught up to me again before I went off on the second last lap and could not finish.”

Starting 9th in the final, Rachelle once again disposed of some sizeable scalps en route to finishing a fine fourth as she most frustratingly came within a whisker of earning a hallowed drive in the Rotax DD2 World Final in Italy in October. Rachelle was nonetheless still delighted with the result: “I can proudly say that I am fourth in Africa for DD2 in 2016!” she beamed.

“I have to thank my dad Roelf and uncle Kobus du Plessis for getting my kart 110% for every session,” Rachelle admitted. “Also thank you to Wesleigh Orr for his assistance all the way from Cape Town — he made a few calls and had uncle Kito Perdigao advise us, so thank you and uncle Kito for everything.

“Special thanks also to Saheem Goolam and Derrick Irving from Praga South Africa for believing in me and backing me 100% and of course, well done to fast lady Fabienne Lanz for taking that ticket like a boss and to Luca Munaretto for stealing the final ticket”

Rachelle refuses to give up on her Rotax Max World Final dream though. “I wont be doing any international races this year — I need to rather prepare to win one of those tickets next year.”  Those in the know will also fully appreciate where Rachelle picked that fighting talk up from…

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Rachelle du Plessis

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