Dirt, Dust & Determination
Growing up Lukas Ramsay was no stranger to the deafening roar of engines and lingering dust that follows in the world of rallying. His father has been deeply involved with the motorsport community and Lukas’s earliest memories involve being in a pram watching the cars zoom by. However, as the years have passed, he has transitioned from spectator to driver.
When Lukas was 12, he was already taking the first steps towards his motorsport career by sitting his Motorsport New Zealand license, allowing him to compete in events like motorkhana’s and auto-crosses. His journey in rallying has been a steady progression, evolving from entry-level events and starting as a co-driver, which is responsible for navigating rally stages and providing information to the driver about potential hazards and incidents to the driver.
Today, Lukas is now seated in the driver’s seat, pushing his Ford Fiesta to the limit.
What Lukas loves about the sport is the friendships he has made within the rallying community. He has a close-knit group of friends who all share the same love for the sport. This unique blend has a balance of competition and support, with each person pushing each other to be their best and creating an atmosphere of friendly rivalry.
Family is a big part of Ramsay’s success. The preparation begins at home with his mum in the kitchen making the lunches while his dad is tending to the cars to ensure they are in top racing condition. His family take a hands-on approach. They change the oil and perform any maintenance on the cars themselves. When he goes to an event the whole family comes along. “Nana and Pop come for a watch sometimes and stand in the rain, but it is all just a family thing”.
Lukas also likes to think that his own race team is one big family. There are about 4 of them that all come together for the events and offer mutual support, he says “You know we are one big family and were happy to be a big team, and we love it because everyone helps each other out, in every way possible”.
One of Lukas’ most memorable wins was in Whangarei. With only the last three stages remaining Lukas had to make up a 30-second gap to secure the win, he managed to do so with just two and a half seconds to spare. His competitor was driving a Mitsubishi Ralliart which was a 4WD, compared to his Ford Fiesta, which was a 2WD, which meant he had a disadvantage. Nevertheless, Lukas’ determination and skill really shone through, making the win even more remarkable.
While the thrill and adrenaline of racing are undoubtedly addicting, Lukas is aware of the risks that come with rallying. He acknowledges that the stakes are high and when a driver goes off the road there is the potential for it to be catastrophic. However, he approaches it with the perspective that it’s all part of the sport, “The risk is high if you go off the road and have an accident. But that’s part of it, I guess. And it’s all fun and games until it all goes wrong.”.
