Rudi Schüssler got the chance to represent South Africa at the Tillotson T4 Nations Cup in Valencia, Spain and found great kindness and sportsmanship amongst his competitors.
South Africa (26 October 2023) – Rudi Schüssler got to represent South Africa in the international division of go-kart racing before turning 16 years old. He joined the South African team at the Tillotson T4 Nations Cup in Valencia, Spain. While he didn’t get to bring home the trophy, he brought home incredible lessons of kindness and good sportsmanship.
From the 21st to the 24th of September 2023, Rudi Schüssler took part in the Tillotson T4 Nations Cup at the Kartodromo Lucas Guerrero in Valencia, Spain, where he represented South Africa in the Senior Category. He was one of 65 racers that took part.
According to his mother, Grethe Doubell Schüssler, the racing was tough, of a high standard, and the racers were experienced.
“America and Britain took a strong lead with big teams taking part and that could race together in every heat, but Rudi and a few other racers from different countries also worked together to race in teams and could help each other in this way to get faster lap times.
In the Friday practice rounds, Rudi was extremely fast, on Saturday he continued with this good streak but unfortunately did not have the best qualification round and this started him only in 19th position. Rudi fought back hard, and raced in the Final (only the top 36 raced here), and managed to make up some places to end overall in 14th position of the 65 Senior Category drivers. Vamos Rudi, proudly South African!!”
But something shone through in all these races. The smaller teams from various countries pulled together to support each other on and off the track. Rudi and the racers from Bulgaria and Guatemala tried to work together on the track until they were separated. In the final race, Rudi and an Australian racer worked together, creating slipstreams and bump-drafts, to get faster times.
We chatted to Rudi about his time in Spain and what it felt like working with other countries to get better race results.
“There were many countries who had multiple drivers who were all bump drafting each other so that they could be faster than others, but a lot of countries were composed of only 1 driver who were at a big disadvantage without a teammate to help them, which is where the drivers had to work with people from other countries to form an “alliance” to help each other by bump drafting.”
Rudi helped others do this, so they could stay close to the racing pack at the front of the track.
“Most drivers were doing it, especially the top 20 drivers, but I was mainly helped by (and helping) drivers from Bulgaria, Guatemala, Ireland and Australia throughout the course of the weekend.”
This form of sportsmanship is what sports is all about, uniting and working together while following ones passion or dreams.
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