Sainte Anne Resort & Spa initiative |11 January 2014

Motor racing champion meets local karting drivers

Michel Trollé, former French karting champion, met officials of the Seychelles Karting Federation at the Roche Caïman track on Wednesday. Trollé, who was spending his holidays at the Sainte Anne Resort & Spa, accepted to attend a training session at the request of the resort’s management as part of its community support to local sports.

The French champion was quick to be on the track giving precious advice to three promising young Seychellois talents in karting. He gave some technical tips to Ryan Marianne, Anil Gonthier and Shireen Azémia.

The teenagers were thrilled to rub shoulders with such a famous name in their sport.

“It is the first time that our federation welcomes such a famous champion in our sport,” said with much enthusiasm Seychelles Karting Federation chairperson Liza René-Cosgrow, who was accompanied by several committee members.

“I am so happy that the management of Sainte Anne Resort & Spa came up with such a brilliant initiative by convincing their guest to come and attend this training session. This is most commendable,” she added.

Also present was National Sports Council’s director for sports management, Robert Auguste.

Michel Trollé won a few Supercart 250cc championships in France in the 80s after a promising debut as a motor racer in the Formula 3000 and Formula 3 categories. His career was cut short by a serious injury.

After some races in the Porsche team at the ‘24 Heures du Mans’, Trollé now runs a karting academy for young drivers in France.

Ryan Marianne, one of the most promising local youngsters in karting, was thrilled by this meeting: “This is my New Year’s gift! I learned a lot from Michel in such a short time. And he is so friendly in his approach. I hope he comes back soon to continue this good work.”

Norbert Couvreur, Sainte Anne Resort & Spa general manager, who initiated this meeting, was quick to give a positive reply to Ryan: “We shall do whatever we can to have Michel back in Seychelles so that he can direct a longer training camp with the karting community.”

Michel Trollé and Liza Rene-Cosgrow have already agreed to stay in touch with a view of developing closer ties between the local federation and the French champion’s organisation.