Female driver Amber Anderson put critics to rest with a superb performance at Bathurst over the weekend of 20-22 February 2009 at Mt Panorama, Bathurst.
The 5th place was sweet success for Anderson returning from her stint in the USA to compete again in her own Porsche 944 Challenge Car. ”It’s great to be back! I was keen to see how I would perform after such a huge absence- the last time I drove this car was in March 2008″.
Putting the car back together after numerous engine issues and unsuccessful rebuilds in the previous season was an enormous job which couldn’t have completed without the expertise of leading GT Championship Team, Jocaro Motorsport- “the boys put in a massive effort in the short time available and we’re here- that’s all that matters”.
Amber later grinned “Seriously, this car had some serious issues last season- disappointingly we couldn’t find the gremlins in the car and we suffered to engine detonations in 2 race meetings in 2008- so I was almost expecting the same thing to happen again here..thankfully it all held together!”.
Excited to be back at the Mt Panorama circuit again after an absence of 2 years- Amber said she couldn’t wipe the smile off her face “I just love this place- coming over Skyline, through The Dipper and the Esses- that has to be the best part of the circuit; it’s what makes you want to be a racecar driver- if you could see me face through my helmet, I was just all smiles- awesome!”.
Anderson said that competing with a field of around 28 men didn’t faze her at all “oh, no- I think that they are fairly accepting of me now- I’ve only raced against men for several years, it honestly isn’t something that even crosses my mind. I just do the best that I can out there”.
Anderson’s last stint at the 2007 Bathurst 12 Hour in the all-female team Thrifty Celica is completely different to the rear-wheel drive, left-hand drive Porsche that she was driving this year, “I found I adapted back to the track fairly quickly- there are definitely some marked differences between the Celica and the Porsche and it was interesting to revisit my track maps from 2007 and note the differences- and the similarities between them. I pride myself on trying to adapt quickly to a car and I think that I managed this quite well this time around”.
So with a 5th place tucked under her arm going into the 2009 Porsche Challenge season, Amber is looking to the future- “I’m ready to step up to the next challenge, I’m in talks with Grand Am teams in the USA and also back here in Sportscars and V8 Supercars in Australia. I’m excited about what the future holds and I hope that I can really show what I’m made of as I step up to something with a bit more power soon”.
-release ends.