Top women drivers at the Rock
Over the years, the Rock Raceway has provided some classic moments with great races being seen at the track on a regular basis.
Women racers have showed plenty of talent among oval racers. The likes of Collette Kruger, Leigh-Ann Wood, Jolene Leach and Ester Cloete have provided plenty of entertainment for petrol heads.
Kruger, who is only 18 years old, has showed great talent. Back in 2017 she won the Rock Raceway 1660 Club Championship in her first full competitive season. A year later she was the only female entrant at the Classic Escort Race Mayhem.
Racing is in the youngster’s genes as her father, Frik Kruger, who made his name as a dirt and tar oval racer, played a major role in the modification and maintenance of Collette’s Escort.
The young driver has said she enjoys the team spirit and support among her class competitors.
She has also expressed a desire to upgrade to a spaceframe race car.
Read: Drift fans to be entertained
Another young driver who has impressed is Wood. The 23-year-old has been racing since the age of 12 and has raced in mini stock class, 125cc karts and now the stock rod class.
In 2017 she won the club championships and was rewarded as the highest point scorer on the oval for that year.
Things can get tough in the sport, however, as Wood found out in February this year. A big crash saw her car written off as she had to spent a few months on the sidelines.
She returned to racing earlier this month after she and her team rebuilt a new car.
“My goal for the rest of 2019 is to overcome my fear after the accident in February and to continue with the sport I love the most,” says Wood.
Leach has a slightly different perspective as she started racing just two months ago. Despite being new to competing fast cars, the sport has been close to Leach and her family, with her father Formula N driver Eddie being her role model.
Ester Cloete, also known as The Pink Lady, has been around the sport longer.
She races her Golf 1 2L 8V on short circuit in Formula N and her Golf 1 2L 16V for drags.
She says when competing she feels like it is just her, the car and the track with no concerns whatsoever.
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