David Perel

David Perel is a South African professional racing driver with a diverse and successful career in GT racing. Born on May 7, 1985, in Cape Town, South Africa, Perel began his motorsport journey in karting at the age of 15, securing five Western Province and National Championships by 23. He transitioned to single-seaters, but financial constraints led him to co-found a web company to fund his racing ambitions.

Perel made a comeback to racing in 2014 and quickly progressed through the ranks. In 2017, he achieved significant success in the Blancpain GT Series, becoming a three-time champion in the AM category with Kessel Racing. He is also a two-time Spa 24 Hour winner, achieving back-to-back wins in different categories. Perel has competed in various prestigious series, including the European Le Mans Series, GT World Challenge Europe, and the Intercontinental GT Challenge, earning podiums in each. He currently races a Ferrari 296 GT3 for Rinaldi Racing in the Fanatec GT Endurance Cup.

Beyond racing, Perel founded the Coach Dave Academy, blending his passion for sim racing with real-world driving. He is also an official Thrustmaster driver and provides technical feedback for Assetto Corsa Competizione. His journey, marked by determination and entrepreneurial spirit, has made him a respected figure in both the racing and sim racing communities.