Dane van Heerde
Dane van Heerde, a second-year student majoring in English and Psychology at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, is making quite a name for himself in the INEX Legends racing series, which is one of the fastest growing motorsport series in the world. With races taking place in the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Scotland, Ireland, Finland, Russia, Denmark, France, Belgium and Holland, Van Heerde has his eyes set on finishing in the top 3 this year.
Says Van Heerde: “My dad was into racing when I was younger, so naturally I developed an interest in it. I started go-kart racing at the age of 13 and raced on and off for about four years, which was followed by a three-year absence from the sport. This year he offered me the opportunity to drive in an INEX-Legends car as my primary focus, whilst I’ve also started to compete in the national karting events.” Van Heerde’s father is quite the racer himself in the Master Class.
Van Heerde explains that this is his rookie season. “I’m placed in a semi-pro class. Overall, I’m in sixth position due to two races I didn’t finish. I’m making up for this as I recently took an overall win, which will boost my points. I hope to finish in the top 3 overall by the end of my rookie year.”
Dane van Heerde truly believes it is something special to be racing in a Legend. “We drive cars with sealed engines, which levels the playing field. Performance is up to the driver, not the car. This type of racing never disappoints as there is always a fight for position, no matter where you are on the track. Travelling at around 200km per hour, holding your car mere centimetres from the track limits and other cars, leads to an adrenaline-filled, nail-biting experience, leaving the driver craving more.”
Van Heerde does not only dream of racing, but also of becoming a writer, hence his choice of study. He has been living at CampusKey since 2016. “I believe it’s the best place for any student. I made lifelong friends and joined a support structure that never left me feeling overwhelmed by the natural ripples of life. Without a doubt I’d recommend CampusKey to anyone. Studying full-time whilst managing a racing career can become tiresome. The stressful workload meshed with the demands of a high-performance sport calls for commitment and dedication. CampusKey allows me to balance my two lives in the most harmonious way possible. I use both the gym as well as study rooms. I know that if I were sending a son or daughter to university, I would want them to be placed within this safe and growth driven environment.”
Leon Howell, MD of CampusKey, adds: “CampusKey, the premier provider of secure student accommodation in South Africa, is delighted to support Van Heerde’s dream of becoming a world champion in the INEX Legends series. We want to empower our students to aim for the stars. They are the leaders of tomorrow!”
Dane van Heerde concludes: “My greatest achievement in racing would be winning the club championship for karting. However, this pales in comparison to my goal, which is to be the INEX Legends World Champion. I believe it’s achievable, especially if my progress in my rookie season continues as it is. I’d like to thank CampusKey for their wonderful support and also for believing in me. Though INEX stands for inexpensive, as it is one of the cheapest motorsports there is, racing is still pricey.”