Sisters Megan and Lola Verlaque are the only all-female team on South Africa’s rally scene. The Mail & Guardian spoke to Lola about her passion for cars and racing
How did you get involved in motorsport? Was it a lifelong passion or something you were talked into?
Our Dad got involved in rally and once I had gone to Kenya and seen the safari rally, I was hooked.
Considering that it’s a male dominated sport, did you find it difficult to find sponsors that would take you seriously?
To this day alot of people think we are just messing around. I think now our sponsors know that we are professional and take our rallying seriously. Subaru South africa has a female director and she is very proud of us.
Did other drivers write you off as talentless simply because you are women or were you welcomed into the racing drivers’ fraternity?
When a man gets beaten by a female he will make a lot of excuses. They will never say congratulations and praise you, but that just gives me more inspiration.
What have your best and worst experiences as rally drivers been?
At the Total Rally of South Africa last year, we took a jump that made a lot of cameramen run for their lives. It was so amazing to see that.
In Namibia we were leading the event and the engine expired 500m from the finish. It was an uphill, we pushed and still didn’t make it.
What’s the story with stalkers? Have you had to take legal action against anyone?
Strangers seem to find telephone numbers. The weird thing is that a stranger thinks you are going to be impressed by random phone calls in the middle of the night. No legal action, just verbal abuse.
Do you believe there are differences between male and female drivers, or does winning a race come down to who’s willing to work for it?
I think there are different obstacles for females, but we are just as capable of winning. I just wish I started at an early age. You get to start training to be a winner.
What makes a good driver?
Commitment, no fear and the ability to have fun.
What do you say to the chauvinists who say: “Girls shouldn’t be racing, they should be at home making dinner for their husbands and tending to the children”?
I am glad I am not one of their daughters. I have been brought up to believe that I can do anything I put my mind to.
What was the first car you bought and what influenced the purchase?
I am a bakkie girl. Mainly because of the work I do and what I do on the weekends.
If you had a weekend to drive to any destination in South Africa, where would you go, what car would you be driving and who would you take?
Megan and I often go on a girls’ weekend with our friends and cousins. On our next adventure we want to go to Mpumalanga.We will go in a Forrester, obviously because it has a lot of baggage space (for Megan’s bags).
What would the music be?
Coldplay and Abba.
In which car have you attracted the most attention for any reason?
A yellow STi, ja it’s yellow.
When was the last time you knowingly broke a traffic law?
I can’t drive slowly on the highway.
What annoys you most about other drivers?
When they slow down to see if there are any bodies at an accident scene.
What is your dream car?
Petter Solberg’s current world rally car.
What gadget should car manufacturers put into cars that would make your life easier?
A small fridge.