It was another successful weekend on the track for Christine Orr-West at Hampton Downs on November 22-23.

Having swapped her Toyota 86 series for something more laid back, the Edgecumbe dairy farmer has started the season strongly.

She’s now competing in the V8 Utes division, which sees her car "Bell" and Commodores along with another class race alongside the trucks.

In the first round at Manfeild, her favourite track in New Zealand, Orr-West won all three races, while at Hampton Down she was second in the two races she had, but first in her class.

“It’s gone pretty well, I am really enjoying it, and I think that helps. I am going out there and trusting the car and it’s allowing me to perform well. It’s been a good start to the season.”

Brad Wenzlink, who is competing in another class, but lines up in the same race as Orr-West, took the line honours in their two races at Hampton Downs.

“I couldn’t quite catch him,” she said.

“Brad was starting from the front and my class from the back. It just made things a bit more difficult. I was stoked to get up to second; he was just a bit quick. I was going to get him in the third race though,” she said.

Unfortunately for Orr-West, that race didn’t go ahead because of an accident in another class.

In her class, she’s won five from five, while on the track she’s been first three times and second, twice.

This round she didn’t have a practice run, instead using qualifying to gauge her pace.

“I qualified first in class and second outright, so the car was doing pretty well. I was pretty stoked considering I wasn’t ragging the thing.

“There were a few dramas in race one and it was hard because Brad was really fast and I just couldn’t chase him down. He maintained a gap, and I just couldn’t get him.”

In race two, Orr-West had a good start, but again Wenzlink was too quick.

Original Super 6 is Wenzlink’s class, while Orr-West is in the trophy class.

Although she’s winning her class, she craves an overall win as well.

She is enjoying not having to worry about her car breaking down, like last year.

“It’s nice being able to say other than it being hard to handle and steer being a big old beast, there’s nothing wrong with it.”

While lower level, the competition still gets her adrenaline pumping.

“It’s chocolate fish racing, but we are a New Zealand sanctioned class and it’s stress-free racing. I jump out of the car with a smile on my face.

“It’s still hardcore, and people are going out there to win. People also come up and apologise after making a mistake, which is nice.”

Her next round is March 14-15, back at Hampton Downs.

“It’s a bit of a chunky wait but now we have time to get the car perfect and fix a few things. So, we are going to upgrade my braking system in Bell during our break.”