The weather report wasn�t good for the Saturday and the light rain on the way to Taupo was a sign that things could get pretty messy.  We had an awesome cooked breakfast at the track club rooms, and then a driver brief.  A friend and I were helping out marshalling for the day, with the promise of free food, a ride in a Porsche, and front row seats to watch the racing.  At the driver brief the range of experience became apparent, from first time drivers (in a $250,000.00 C4S) to experienced racers (the winner of the Porsche series last year).

As the cars completed their familiarisation laps the rain cleared, the track dried, and it turned into a beautiful day!  We watched some spectacular head to head racing with some very evenly matched cars and some just blitzing the rest.  There were a few duals going on between the faster cars as they raced in bent sprint style.

At the end of an awesome day of racing it was topped off by the marshals getting a ride in some of the cars.  I made my way to the fastest car of the day, a 1990 carrera cup car  (factory built race version) and we did a couple of 44.6s laps with me in the passenger seat on the right hand side.  It was amazing to be ripping around the track with no control, and going on average 50km/h faster than I normally do!!!

The folks from the Auckland Porsche Club were a very friendly bunch and great to talk to.  And it was a thoroughly enjoyable day and a great way to learn more about racing. 

By Ben Luders