Wilmien races past the age old sterotypes
Wilmien grew up in a family where both her father (Marthinus) and grandfather (Janse) excelled in the racing industry.
Wilmien van Rooyen (19) defies stereotypes by proving that beauty does indeed belong on a racetrack.
Last year she rebuilt her grandfather’s racing car and began making waves in the racing industry as one of the few female drivers on the local oval track.
- Who is Wilmien?
Wilmien was born on October 24, 2003, as an only child in Bethlehem, Free State.
She began her primary education at Jordania Primary School and later matriculated from High School Witteberg.
She is currently a robotic engineering student at NWU PUKKE in Potchefstroom, exemplifying that brains and beauty go.
- An aspiring motor-head
Wilmien grew up in a family where both her father (Marthinus) and grandfather (Janse) excelled in the racing industry. During his career, her father was fortunate enough to hold the title of SA 1 Champ.
“They both eventually retired, but I knew I wanted to do what they did, so I kept asking them to teach me, and eventually they agreed,” she said.
Wilmien was overjoyed to have been given her grandfather’s racing car, which he had used since 1993. She said she worked hard to rebuild the car and make it her own after receiving it.
Wilmien finally got to live her lifelong dream in August of last year, when she took to the race track for the first time.
When asked what she enjoyed most about the sport, she simply stated, “the adrenaline rush.”
“The adrenaline rush is what I enjoy the most; seeing the car behind you in the mirror chasing you down, or you chasing a car down in front of you; this is the best feeling, to have something to fight for even if it’s just a trophy; it’s something you can bring home and show others,” she explained.
She also believed that because racing is still considered male-dominated sport, female racers have to work extremely hard to prove that they belonged on the racing track.
Wilmien says winning her first race has been the highlight of her racing career thus far, but she still had big goals for the future, such as becoming a club champion and eventually following in her father’s footsteps by achieving the SA 1 Championship.
- A word of advice
Her advice to other young aspiring female racers was to simply go for it.
“Take that risk; you have nothing to lose,” she concluded.
Also read:
- (WATCH): Racing enthusiast Dillin Clarke interviews oval track’s Hendrik van der Merwe
- Oval track racing veterans keen to encourage youngsters to get into the drivers’ seat
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