Fast Females Take It to 'Em in NZ Six

Fast Females Take It to 'Em in NZ Six

In a sport known for for testosterone-fuelled bravado, big machinery and even bigger egos, a small group of keen females racers are taking it to the men in the NZ Six Series.

And they're beating them at their own game.

The formation of the NZ Six category a couple of seasons ago allowed for two of New Zealand's staple championships - the classic HQ Holden's and the underrated but seriously quick Super 6's - to be amalgamated under one governing body.

Running in a combined grid and allowing a step-laddered platform for drivers new and old, the NZ Six concept has been a significant success story for the IRC Race Series.

But one aspect of the championship that wasn't expected, was the rise in both numbers and competition from the fairer sex, led by Holden racing stalwart Darrell Harris.

Harris is a familiar face around the pits, having raced HQ's for many years before spending time in the Commodore Cup class, driving a VN Holden Commodore.

When the Commodore Cup series ceased, Harris took a couple of seasons out of the seat before returning with a vengeance to the NZ Six Series, where she finished in second overall in the 2010/11 HQ Holden championship run as part of the IRC.

Closely following Harris was Janine Douglas in third overall, driving her striking hot pink HQ and adding fuel to the fire that motorsport is a competition based more on skill, strategy and intelligence, rather than muscular strength and size!

This season, Harris has already proved her mettle with two race wins to her name, and currently sits fourth overall with all to play for at the final round of the championship at Taupo on Easter weekend.

Douglas has missed a couple of events this season but has been competitive when present, and a third female in the HQ's, Linda Torrens, was impressive in mixing it with the big boys in the early rounds of the championship.

Up the road in the Super 6 class, Sheryl Hanright is becoming a stalwart of the series in her Ford Falcon, backed by her driver training & experience company, TrackDrive.

Hanright has the measure of most of the field in the Super 6's despite being the only female driver, and sits in seventh place overall of the seventeen scoring drivers with Taupo just around the corner.

Also in action at the final round of the 2011/12 IRC Race Series at Taupo, held over Easter weekend on April 8-9, are the fire breathing GT1, GT2 and NZGT classes, the nimble Formula Firsts and NZ Sports Cars; and races within races in the Mazda Pro 7, SS2000, Pre 65, Mini Challenge and Bridgestone Porsches.

The seven rounds of this year's IRC Race Series has seen events right across the North Island, travelling from Manfeild to Taupo, and up to Pukekohe and Hampton Downs.

The action at Taupo kicks off at 09:00am each day; each class with a qualifying session and one race on Saturday, and two races on Sunday. Tickets are $10 and children under 17 are free.

ENDS

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