Werner Mostert

Werner Mostert: A rally racer through and through

Like so many drivers, Werner Mostert has been fond of rally cars since he was a boy. While sharing his room with his brother Leon (who, incidentally, is his navigator) he used to put the centrefolds of rally cars on his wall. But the bug really bit him at the age of 10, when he went with his uncle (South African racing legend Sarel van der Merwe) for a quick lap at the Delmas Show. From that moment, Werner knew he wanted to become a race car driver.

He started with quads in 2001 and progressed to drag racing in 2004. From there he went over to racing superbikes for 4 years until a crash in 2011 forced him to retire from his 2-wheeled pursuits. He soon made the transition to rally racing, which he says looked like fun, and less dangerous than motorbikes. A decade later, he still loves every minute of it and is currently racing in Class G in a Can-Am Maverick.

While Werner has an appreciation for the dangers of the sport, he loves the adrenaline rush it provides, and the fear of the unknown. For him, there’s nothing better than overtaking a competitor. He follows a healthy diet and trains at least 3 times a week to stay in top condition. But it’s not all racing for Werner. He loves to unwind with his wife, sons, and dogs on their game farm.

For now, his focus is on survival, avoiding injuries, and becoming the best in the business. His goal in the long run? To compete in the Dakar 1 day. Of course, this doesn’t stop him from chasing after his competitors, and making jokes about how he’s coming for them now.