South Africa’s next drifting champion could hail from Toti.
Sixteen-year-old Melissa Nell is following in her father David’s tyre tracks and recently won her first competition at a Tyre and Tar event in Pietermaritzburg, while David finished second in his category. She also had the privilege of taking the MEC of finance, Ina Cronje for a lap around the track.
“My dad taught me how to drive when I was 10 and I’ve been drifting with him in the car since I was 14,” she said. “That was my first event in Pietermaritzburg and I only received my Motorsport SA licence a few days before the event. It’s funny – I can’t drive on public roads yet, but I can drive on a track.”
Melissa has big tyre tracks to fill. In 2011 David won the Japan Auto series and came second in National SupaDrift Series. In 2013 he won the KZN Drift Championship and he is a Top Gear driver.
With no official track in the Toti area, Melissa was fortunate to receive permission to practice at Dezzi Raceway in Port Shepstone, ahead of lining up for the start of a regional competition at the end of June.
The grade 10 Kuswag pupil, who moved to Toti from Johannesburg last year, is also a strong athlete and was selected to represent KZN in the heptathlon. However, it’s the smoke and screeching tyres that gets her fired up. “I like the feeling of the adrenaline pumping while driving sideways,” said Melissa.
“At the moment I’m using my dad’s car, but hopefully I will inherit my dad’s old one when he gets a new one in two months. Since I don’t have any sponsors yet, I will have to fund myself by getting a job. I’m very fortunate my dad is in the sport to help me get off the ground.”
David builds racing suspensions and Melissa often helps out in his workshop.
Her ultimate goal is to compete in the Formula Drift series overseas. “Normal racing is too boring for me. People were shocked when I climbed out the car at the Tyre and Tar event and saw I was a young girl. I have definitely attracted more attention since that event, although not necessarily from the boys – they feel a bit threatened.”
Well done Melissa