World Rally Champ in the Making
Racing His Way to the World Rally Championship
Rotorua 16 year old, Sloan Cox has plans to be New Zealand’s first World Rally Championship winner. And on his success so far, you would be prepared to bet he will do it.
He took up the sport as a 12 year old, the same year he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Along with learning how to manage his condition, Sloan quickly learnt the finer points of rally driving, starting first in a Baleno and Evo 3, before getting behind the wheel of dad Steve’s high powered 4WD 2000cc turbo-charged Nissan Pulsar GTI-R. His skill and determination was immediately evident when he took second and third placings at local hill climbing events.
Gaining his National Race and Rally licence at only 15, Sloan has moved on to bigger events and recently won the Tasio Rallysprint Series day. He has also recently been awarded a scholarship to the Elite Motorsport Academy taking place in Dunedin this month.
Two of the country’s top drivers, Dean Sumner and Geof Argyle are so impressed with his talent they are mentoring him on to success.
”He has that X factor to make it as a champion racer,” says Dean Sumner, whose previous racing car is now being driven by Sloan.
“He has talent and ability beyond his years,” says Sumner, “and he hasn’t put a scratch on that car.”
He sure sounds like one cool customer. And that’s equally true when it comes to managing his diabetes. Sloan’s mum, Toni Cox says ever since he was diagnosed he has just got on with it, never complaining.
“He’s truly an inspiration to our family and his mates.”
But how, we wondered, does he cope with diabetes when he’s full tilt in the middle of a rally?
It all comes down to being prepared. At the start of the rally, and at the beginning of every stage, Sloan does a blood test to check his glucose levels. He has fast acting glucose and muesli bars on board the car to deal with potential hypos, and these are re-stocked at every service park. And he uses a camel-pack of water, strapped to the back of his seat with drinking tubes over his shoulder, so he can keep hydrated easily. But interestingly, his levels don’t tend to go low during the event.
“It took a bit of working out, but we discovered the adrenalin pushes it up, so he doesn’t usually need to adjust his insulin during the rally, although it can come down quickly afterwards” explain mums Toni.
Extra help is on hand during the rally, if needed, thanks to sister Tarryn, who is Sloan’s co-driver.
“A driver is only as good as his co-driver,” says Sloan, “and she’s one of the best.”
Along with guiding Sloan through the rally course, calling the corners and terrain, Tarryn also knows the ins and outs of diabetes, and keeps a watchful eye on Sloan’s condition. But, thanks to Sloan’s willingness to test frequently, they haven’t ever had a diabetic incident during a rally.
They’re a really great team,” says mum Toni, who is quite sure her son is heading for the top of his sport.
He’s got a really good future ahead. No one at his age has achieved what he has done in rally driving, so it’s very exciting and we are sure he’s going to reach his goals.”
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