Clare Vale:
At the Kyalami race in November 2007, Clare Vale became the first lady racer to race in the premier national WesBank V8 Supercar series. In March of 2009 at the WesBank V8 race at Kyalami, she became the first lady racer to take pole as well as lead a V8 race. Clare also became the first lady racer to have a podium finish in WesBank V8 Supercar history: at the historic East London Grand Prix circuit Clare finished a podium 3rd place in October 2010.
She then moved to the drifting motorsport discipline, becoming the first female driver to participate in the Supadrift Series. After moving between circuit racing and drifting during the 2012 season, she will be focusing on National drifting for the 2013 season. Her Gatorback Ram sponsored Mustangs produces serious muscle, 600hp and 450kW of power. These engines make the V8 Supercars the fastest saloon cars in the country, and Clare’s drift Mustang is powered by the same engine, making it unique in South African drifting.
Clare won her first race during the Springbok series at the Killarney circuit in 2006, racing a Shelby Can-Am sports car. She has raced in the national Shelby Can-Am series as well in Production Cars Class A, in a Subaru STI. She has also raced a Porsche 917 in the International Sports Prototype class, finishing 2nd in the Championship in 2011.
Off circuit, Clare is a director of The Truck Man in Boksburg, dealers in used trucks and trailers. She has taken on the Ann Van Dyk Cheetah Centre – De Wildt as a personal cause and is a past President of MSA’s (Motorsport South Africa) Women in Motorsport Panel. She has been nominated twice for the Colin Watling Award for service to motorsport.
In 2010, she was appointed as a Road Safety Ambassador for the Road Safety Foundation and in 2011 was appointed as Chairperson of the Women in Road Safety Forum.
Affiliates:
Clare Vale has always felt that giving back should be a priority as a racing driver. Over the years she’s become involved with various causes and the team has supported these causes as well. Below please find causes and supporters of her causes.
Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre: Clare has been an ambassador for the Centre since 2008. The team also hosts an annual charity karting day in aid of the centre. Clare hopes to use her profile to raise attention for the centre and events such as the karting to raise funds for the Centre. www.dewildt.co.za
Road Safety Foundation: Clare was appointed as an ambassador for the Foundation in 2009. She works closely with them on various road safety projects. www.roadsafetyfoundation.co.za
Women in Road Safety Forum: The forum was founded in 2011 and Clare was appointed their first Chairperson. The forum aims to raise awareness around Road Safety.
Enviropaedia: A “Green” website we’ve worked closely with other the years, leading to our relationship with the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre. www.enviropaedia.com
Fleetwatch Magazine: Fleetwatch is an important partner of the Road Safety Foundation, particularly regarding commercial vehicle road safety matters. www.fleetwatch.co.za