Van der Vyver turns setback into statement at Tsabong–Khawa Rally
“I got to find out things about the car I never knew about, which made me more prepared for the future if something like that had to happen again.”
Boksburg rally driver Katie van der Vyver (17) walked away from the brutal Tsabong–Khawa Rally with more than just dust on her boots, she left with perspective, resilience and a renewed sense of purpose.
In a sport that often measures success in seconds, Van der Vyver’s defining moment came in an instant. After navigating a demanding opening day, she rolled her car on day two.
It was a heart-stopping incident that could have ended her rally. Instead, it became the turning point of her weekend.
“The second day when I rolled was definitely a learning experience,” said Van der Vyver.
“I got to find out things about the car I never knew about, which made me more prepared for the future if something like that had to happen again.”
Her rally began on a high note, sharing the experience with her mother, Anne, who was her navigator, through the opening loop before mechanical trouble struck. A driveshaft issue limited her running, disrupting rhythm and reducing valuable seat time.
But even in those early challenges, there were positives.
“The first day was exciting because I got to finish the first loop with my mom,” she said. “But I feel like I could have done better, especially understanding the difference in two-wheel drive on that terrain. That probably could have prevented the roll on day two.”
Competing against more experienced drivers in faster machinery, Van der Vyver admitted the mental battle was just as demanding as the physical one.
“Nerves were restricting me from being confident on the start line. I was underestimating myself, thinking I had no chance against the other competitors,” she said.
Yet, amid the pressure of unforgiving terrain and elite competition, she found growth. By focusing on reading the road, respecting cautions and not overdriving, she began to unlock a deeper understanding of both car and conditions, which, she said, is the kind that can’t be taught, only experienced.
Her journey into rallying, sparked by her father Martin’s encouragement, has quickly evolved from uncertainty into ambition. With each outing, her confidence builds, fuelled by belief from those around her and her own growing hunger to improve.
Looking ahead, Van der Vyver’s ambitions stretch far beyond regional rallies. The ultimate target is the legendary Dakar Rally in 2028.
“Dakar is something I would really like to do to show that I have potential in the sport. For now, it’s about gaining more experience in different cars and learning as much as I can.”
