Alyssa Clapperton with Craig Baird's Holden Commodore
New Zealand female drivers have competed in both touring cars and Ute racing in recent years, both at home, and in Australia. For the earliest female racers from New Zealand, click here.
Jessica Antonievic– raced in the SsangYong Actyon Ute Racing Series in the 2014-2015 season. This was her first season of motorsport. She was 39th in the championship, after finishing all of her races. She works as an administration manager for SsangYong, and has had racing ambitions for some time.
Stef Baigent– raced in the SsangYong Actyon Ute Racing Series in 2014-2015. She was 41st in the championship, after scoring points in two of her races. She is the daughter of Kent Baigent, an NZ touring car racer, and the two of them have occasionally competed together in endurance events, driving a BMW M135.
Debbie Chapman– twice a participant in major Bathurst races. In 1999, she was tenth in the Bathurst 500, driving a BMW 320i. In 2002, she drove a BMW 318i in the Bathurst 24 Hours, but did not finish. She raced alongside her husband, Dennis. They were recognised for ten years of service to New Zealand motorsport in 2004. After that, she has remained active in endurance racing in New Zealand. In 2006, she and Dennis were still racing a 318i, and were still competitive. Two years later, Debbie was still competing in endurance racing, and was also nominated for the Lupp Award, which goes to a driver involved in historics.
Alyssa Clapperton– had her debut season of New Zealand V8 Touring Cars in 2015. She drove a Holden Commodore for Team Kiwi Racing, partnering Craig Baird, after being chosen from 2000 hopefuls for a TKR Academy race seat. As well as NZV8s, she did some guest races in the SsangYong Actyon Ute Racing Series. She began racing in 2012, in local club races, in a Toyota Starlet. In 2013, she competed with her father, Ian, driving a Holden Commodore in endurance races.
Chelsea Herbert– former junior karter who took her first steps in senior competition in the 2014-2015 season, aged 16. She raced in the SsangYong Actyon Ute Racing Series, but was unable to complete the season due to receiving a concussion in round five. After a three-month recovery, she returned to kart racing, at least temporarily. Later in 2015, she may have been part of an all-female record run at the CRC Speedshow.
(Image copyright Matthew Hansen)