It was with excitement and anticipation that the Kat Benson Racing team loaded up the BurgerFuel GSR for their first competition event of the season, a double header organised by the Manawatu Car Club held at Manfield in the heart of the lower North Island. Driver and Owner Kat Benson was feeling good, having had strong response to the car's new look at the CRC Speedshow, and was looking forward to testing a few subtle improvements that had been made to the car in the off season.
With Sony stablemate Jono Lester and his father Richard, who between them have probably done more laps of Manfield than perhaps anyone in NZ acting as advisor and mentor respectively, the team set themselves some challenging but achievable goals for the weekend.
Any thoughts of going overly fast on Saturday were dashed when upon arrival, torrential rain decided to appear making levels of visibility and grip were as low as they could possibly be. The day became pure familiarisation sessions with a car that hadn’t been driven in anger since April, as Kat quickly found the limits of the Nitto NT05 tires and had several unplanned moments which resulted in Jono suggesting that she back off a little and adjust to the conditions. Rain would eventually cause the Superlap program to be cut short, with Sunday to become a full day for drivers to effectively have an open track to lay their best time.
With 330kw+ to play with, a dry track and proven rubber, a time in the 1.18s was the goal for Sunday but it would prove too much of an ask for the day. Kat would get faster each session and clock a respectable 1.20.8 as a new PB, giving her the pro -street round win. While disappointed not to hit her goal time, PB’s are always a nice way to leave a meet and put a smile on the face.
Happy with being back in the car again and enthusiastic about what the season will hold, the team loaded up and headed for a much needed meal at the local BurgerFuel before the long trek back north, instagraming along the way.
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Kat thanks BurgerFuel, Sony Xplod, Advanti Racing, Nitto Tire, E & H Motors, Etnies , Wynns NZ, Vortex Racewear, MGNinc, Brent Lucas, Andrew Redward and all the people who keep supporting her.
