MOTORSPORT - Girl-racer in fast lane

North's rally entrant has no problems competing with the boys
You'd imagine she'd be given a hard time now and then but being a young woman in a man's world has never been a problem for Whangarei rally driving star Kirsty Nelson.
"Everyone always asks me if the boys give us grief, but they don't, they're really supportive.
"You get the occasional joke but they're pretty rare, the boys tend to behave themselves ... there are more and more women coming through in the sport, so it's not so much of a big deal any more," she said.
Nelson has the opportunity to boost her standing in the New Zealand Rally Championships in her home town rally today but the 18-year-old knows she also has a chance to forever alter her future in the sport.
Nelson will slug it out with seven other drivers this weekend to become one of the two qualifying drivers in the Pirelli Star Driver search.
The successful drivers will earn direct entry into the Rally of Malaysia in October, with all expenses paid. The Malaysian event will act as the final regional qualifier to identify one under-27 Asia-Pacific driver to join the Pirelli Team for six rounds of the 2009 World Rally Championship, driving a Group N car.
"The Pirelli [driver search] is my ticket to the top and is my best shot at going professional.
"I don't think I can call myself a pro until I start making money," Nelson laughs.
Nelson literally grew up alongside the roads used for the rally with some of the stages going past her family's farm at Waiotira.
After two rounds of the Vantage Aluminium NZ Rally Championship Nelson sits in 10th place overall on the points table, equal with Mark Tapper and just three points ahead of Emma Gilmour.
Richard Mason and Hayden Paddon are expected to fight it out with the top Asia-Pacific drivers for the Whangarei title again this year, but Nelson's battle is for the Pirelli places.
The 21-year-old Paddon is the defending champion here and will surely take one of the Pirelli spots if he completes the rally without any mishaps but the second spot is up for grabs with Nelson, Tapper, Sloan Cox, Andre Meier, Patrick Meyer, fellow Whangarei driver Ben Jagger and Australian Brendan Reeves all in the race.
"You never know what could happen, anyone can crash and leave the gate wide open and so hopefully I can give it all I've got and stay on the road.
"Knowing the roads and the crests is such a big help, you don't need to button off at all because I know them all so well."
Nelson commences the Rally of Whangarei as the top woman driver in the championship standings after Gilmour had mechanical problems in the Rally of Otago.
Nelson was able to overtake her in the rally and in the standings, where her consistency has seen her quietly climb up the points table.
With the home advantage against the more experienced Gilmour, the battle between the two women of the national rally scene will add another interesting dimension to the event.
Gilmour may be a little tentative at this year's Rally of Whangarei after rolling her car down a steep bank and sustaining a serious concussion last year, perhaps giving Nelson an edge in the contest.
"I would love to beat Emma this year.
"She's a good driver but it would still be very nice if I could be the top female this season," Nelson said.
Nelson has rally racing in her blood - her parents are rally fans and it's what she has grown up with.
"We started with local events in an old Ford Escort and upgraded to an [Mitsubishi] Evo3 before getting the Subaru I'm driving at the moment.
"Mum and Dad take care of the business and sponsorship side of things," Nelson said.
She may have a head for the business when she completes studying for a bachelor business degree in Hamilton - but at the moment rally driving is her main focus.
And did she grow up playing with trucks and cars as a child?
"No. I was a proper little girl," said blonde-haired Nelson.