Amanzimtoti drifter goes full throttle

Tyre smoke and the adrenaline coursing through her veins was enough to send shivers down Melissa Nel’s spine.
She was invited to compete in the Red Bull Car Park Drift South Africa Qualifier in Durban on Saturday, 10 April. Melissa was the only female drifter at the event and she loved every minute of it. Drifting is a driving style in which the driver uses throttle, brakes, clutch, gear shifting and steering input to keep the car in a condition of over steer. The 23-year-old first got into a car when she was 14 and has never looked back.

“I was 14, the first time my dad put me in a race car and it soon became second nature. I grew up next to the race track with him. My father, David Nel, used to be a national champion for three years in a row. He started in 2006 and was one of the pioneers who started drifting in South Africa.”

While she had technical difficulties with her car, she described the competition as amazing.

“Hardship is one of the things that come along with race cars because they tend to be temperamental. This weekend, I had a bit of a struggle with the car motor wise and had to withdraw the car. My teammate, who is a champion, offered to share his car with me and the rest of the event ran smoothly. The competition had pre-qualifying rounds, qualifying rounds, top eight and then top four. Unfortunately, I did not make the pre-qualifying rounds because my car broke during the first practice round. I got into a track that I have driven and the car was completed within three weeks.  It was a year and a half project and we didn’t test the car. When I got into my team mate’s car it was the first time in two-and-a-half years. It was a little difficult and if I had a little bit of practice I would be on the starting grid and competing.”

The Amanzimtoti resident drives a Nissan 200SX S13 with a 2 JZ Toyota Supra motor.

“There were supposed to be two other female drivers at the event, however, they withdrew and I was the last one standing. It was such an epic experience to be driving at an international event. The winner of the event got the opportunity to compete in Cairo, Egypt and represent South Africa. I most definitely plan on competing again next year. Hopefully, I am invited again. I would be there in a heartbeat.”

ALSO READ: Amanzimtoti drifting ace is revving for next year’s competition

DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics.
To receive news links via WhatsApp or Telegram, send an invite to 061 694 6047
The South Coast Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram– why not join us there?

Do you have more information pertaining to this story?
Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.

(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)