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| Dave Perrel |
TWO very fast South African karters, David Perel and Jonathan
Aberdein, both from the Western Cape, have moved another step up in racing
ranks.
Wheels has been an avid
follower of Cape Town’s Perel, who has thrown everything he has (and owned) at
his dream of becoming a race driver on the Euro circuit.
After a successful season as GT racer with Bonaldi Lamborghini in
the Italian GT Cup last year, Ferrari world championship team Kessel Racing has
now signed Perel to drive a Ferrari 488 GT3 in the AM category of the Blancpain
World GT Endurance Championship for three years.
“Kessel Racing Ferrari and David Perel have just signed a contract
that sees David becoming an official Kessel Racing Ferrari race driver beginning
with the 2016 season,” a team statement confirmed last Monday.
“The objective of this co-operation is not only to try to win the
2016 Blancpain AM Endurance Championship, but also to build a long-term
relationship with Kessel Racing and to assist David to reach his goal of
becoming a top professional GT driver.
“Kessel Racing Ferrari was highly impressed by the young South
African driver in his recent first test for the team — David’s approach is very
professional and even if he doesn’t have long experience in GT Series he’s very
fast and consistent. We are most excited and confident to have David driving for
us this season.”
Perel, who thoroughly impressed in his maiden GT season for Bonaldi
Lamborghini in the Italian GT Cup, is delighted at this chance. “It’s still all
pretty surreal,” he admitted. “It’s been 10 years of hard work and there have
been many bumps and disappointments along the way, but this really makes it all
worthwhile — I think I need to pinch myself to believe it!”
Perel will team up with a pair of gentleman drivers in the
five-race Endurance series that visits the world’s classic circuits Monza,
Silverstone, Paul Ricard, Spa Francorchamps (for the 24-hour race) and the
Nurburgring grand prix circuit. Perel will also take part in the official series
pre-season test at Paul Ricard on the French Riviera.
The Blancpain series comprises two separate Sprint and Endurance
series, which races in three classes; Pro, Pro-Am and Am, where Perel will
commence his Kessel Racing Ferrari career.
“Because this is my first year in the series I am still a bronze
category GT driver,” Perel explains. “That means despite my quick pace, I am
still able to compete in the AM class and that will have a positive affect on my
team’s overall pace.”
Perel also paid tribute to his former Bonaldi Lamborghini Italian
GT Cup team. “It is important that I recognise my previous team, who also
offered me a drive this season and I was really keen to continue with them,”
Perel said.
“But the offer from Ferrari secures my long-term future as a racing
driver, which is quite special. Still, I will forever be thankful for what
Bonaldi did for my career and I will carry those memories very proudly.”
David Perel’s story is, however quite inspirational — following a
successful local and international karting career, he had a less than thrilling
initial step up to the main circuit in various local series. Ever determined,
Perel concentrated on his online business, which soon became successful enough
to finance an attempt at the racing big time, which he prepared himself
intensely for in every respect.
When the opportunity came for Perel to race for Lamborghini in
Italy, he took it with both hands, throwing literally everything he had at the
effort that saw him and former team-mate Mirko Zanardini win most races of all
in that series. Now he has a Ferrari contract in pocket — living proof that
everything is possible for those prepared to make the effort to go get it …
Aberdein coming through
Having won everything there is to win in South
Africa, Aberdein is moving up the ranks a lot faster than Perel. The South
African Rotax Max DD2 and double Western Province DD and Senior Rotax Max
karting champion next will compete in this season’s German ADAC Formula 4
championship.
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| Jonathan Aberdein |
“Jonathan Aberdein will drive for Team Motorpark in the 2016 ADAC
German Formula 4 championship,” team principal Timo Rumpfkeil confirmed.
Jonathan, son of former top SA race star Chris Aberdein, raced
karts under his dad’s watchful eye as he developed as a driver over the past six
seasons, culminating not just in last year’s triple title, but also in strong
showings in the European Rotax Max championship and World Finals. Aberdein also
put in a spectacular performance when he stole sixth overall in a recalcitrant
kart in the Rok World Finals.
Aberdein will race against another son of a top racer, Mick
Schumacher, son of Michael.
“I am honoured to have the opportunity to race in Formula 4 with
Team Motopark in 2016,” Aberdein said.
“The German Formula Four Championship is highly competitive and
will give me the ideal platform to advance my career in motorsport.”
“2016 will be a steep learning year for Jonathan,” Motorpark team
principal Rumpfkeil pointed out. “He doesn’t know the car or the tracks yet, but
he’s a natural talent and we will do our best to support him, so I’m confident
that he can break into the top 10 quickly.”
The ADAC German Formula 4 season starts at Oschersleben on
April 17.
