Amber joined the Briffa Smash Repairs Team for Round 4 of the Shannons Australian Production Car Championships at Phillip Island.
When Amber Anderson received a phone call from Bathurst team mate Steve Briffa’s to drive his newly purchased Holden Vectra, Amber couldn’t say no! (Sponsored by Veganpet and Briffa Smash Repairs).
Competing in the Australian Production Car Championships (Class C and Trophy Class), the new Vectra was painted in exactly the same silver/blue livery as Steve Briffa’s winning SS Commodore.
Despite appalling wet and wild conditions at Phillip Island, the practice sessions on the Friday ensured that Amber put the car in form for the worsening conditions over the weekend.
It also gave Amber a chance to re-familiarise herself with a front wheel drive- her last front wheel drive experience being in the Toyota Celica at Bathurst in April.
A wet qualifying session saw Amber blitz the opposition- qualifying the front wheel drive 2 litre Holden Vectra in first place in Class C and also ahead of the majority of the field- the only cars in front of the Vectra were Gary Holt and Barry Morcom’s BMW 335T’s, two A Class Commodores and Keene’s powerful B Class Mini Cooper S.
In deteriorating conditions, Race 1 was held early, much to the competitor’s surprise after the Formula 3 races were forced to be cancelled due to the weather. The 8 lap race was held in the pouring rain and howling wind. An inevitable off at the apex of turn 12 was the result of hitting a track run off point which was gushing with water – luckily Amber managed to get the car out of the thick mud and grass and back onto the track eventually- finishing the race in a disappointing position 11.
A decision was made by officials on Saturday night to add 35kg to the Holden Vectra’s overall weight which hindered Amber’s pace in the dry on Sunday morning’s 10 lap race. The car bogged down in corners with the additional weight, but despite the added hindrance, Amber managed to keep up the momentum around the flowing circuit and finished a credible 8th in an incident packed race which had 3 cars DNF.
Race 3 saw yet more dark clouds roll in across the circuit but Amber was very confident in the wet and had shown great pace in car the earlier wet sessions.
“Thank god it rained” said a delighted Anderson.
Starting with the Class C cars at the start of the pack, Amber romped away right on the bumper of David Mertens in the Proton Satria.
“I sat right on Dave Mertens bumper, just waiting for an opportunity to pounce”
She didn’t have to wait long as Dave Mertens locked up a brake at Honda and it sent the Proton off into the run off area and Amber took the race lead.
The track was very greasy and despite the treacherous conditions Amber pulled away from the pack and continued to lead outright. As the track dried out, after 8 laps leading the race Amber moved slightly from the wet line around Lukey Heights- the move proved too ambitious and the Vectra hit a patch of water which sent it momentarily off the circuit.
In the boggy conditions, it was enough for Dave Mertens & Barry Morcom to pass and while Amber rejoined the circuit, she was relegated to 3rd place on the last lap. Crossing the start finish line, team mate and owner, Steve Briffa launched a past the matching Vectra and took 3rd position.
In hindsight, Anderson decided that it was good karma not to beat the boss on a debut! Amber was delighted to take a class 1st place in the Production Cars Trophy Class and second overall in Class C. Team boss Steve Briffa was rapt with gritty Amber’s debut win in the car and is pumped for her to drive the car again.
Explore Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit with Google Earth
Amber is hoping to compete again in Victor the Vectra at the upcoming Mallala 1 Hour Production Car Endurance Race if she can raise sufficient funding in time.
Amber’s next race is at Phillip Island in the Porsche 944 Challenge on 1st and 2nd September where she is hoping to improve yet again on her recent impressive performances.