Kelly Bettes can’t wait to get back in the seat at the FUCHS Winternationals next week especially since her last appearance behind the wheel came at the Sydney Jamboree in March.
Bettes, who broke the New Zealand four-cylinder record at the V4 and Rotary Nationals earlier this year, expects the Super Compact field to be very tough with some quick cars to contend with.
“A lot of cars are capable of running a fair way under there respective indexes so it could come down to a reaction time advantage to be able to take the win,” she said.
“Preparations have been good, the car is ready to go. Not a lot needed to be done following the last event. We have given it a good check over and added weight to bring it up to the ANDRA CC/SC weight. I haven’t raced at all since the Sydney Jamboree in March so I am very much looking forward to getting back in the seat!
“It will be my first go at racing in the Group Two index racing format as last year at the Winternationals we unfortunately had to pull out after qualifying.”
Bettes has had few chances to compete in Super Compact on a National level but reflecting on the bracket she said it’s the “craziness of the vehicles involved” that excites her.
“They are mostly small cars with a lot of power and trying to get that down the track and have everything go right is a real achievement. These cars are on the edge with their performances and I think it’s a category that a lot of young people these days can relate to.”
Besides competing Bettes will also be a keen observer as her brother Scott steps into her vacant Modified Dragster seat and Jett Racing team owner Collin Willshire who races in the Factory Xtreme exhibition bracket.
“I am very much looking forward to seeing my brother race. I have offered him my Modified Dragster to run at the Winternats as his car is currently not running. I haven’t been able to race it much of late and he hasn’t raced for about 6 months. We all know that it sucks to not be able to race at this prestigious event, so with my car he could still be a part of it.
“I’m also glad to see Factory Xtreme running at the Winternationals again this year, and am looking forward to seeing, Collin go well in his Mitsubishi Eclipse.
“The Winternationals is really the one big event that most wait all year to attend. It brings many people from all over Australia and is an event that really has that special atmosphere!”
The FUCHS Winternationals will be held across the Queen’s Birthday long weekend (Thursday 5 June to Sunday 8 June 2014), with 430 racers from all across the country and New Zealand to compete in front of approximately 30,000 spectators across the four days.
For full information, please visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au or click here.
Images courtesy: Dragphotos.com.au