Whakatāne motorsport driver Christina Orr-West has made the perfect start to her NZ Super Six season with three straight victories.

Orr-West is the defending champion in her grade and getting a good start to the season was key for her.

She knew people would be trying to run her down following her strong form last year, but she managed to hold them off.

In the first race, she had been hoping to start in the front row to be a bit of a menace to the utes, but instead had to start back in grid 21.

“I managed to get through the field and catch the top ute. I managed to get past him; we had good battles.”

In the second race, she started from the front of the grid.

“I passed four utes. Three got back past, but I held onto the back of the faster ones and they pulled me away from the others in my field.”

The last race was reverse grid, with Orr-West starting from the back.

“It meant I had to work my way through the grid again, which I managed and caught the ute I had been challenging all weekend. We made a good race of it.”

Racing took place at Manfeild, her favourite place in New Zealand to race.

“It’s always been a place where I have great results … Me and the track just seem to click.”

There are three classes Orr-West races in and she won 16 of 18 races in the 2025-26 season, which she hopes to better this season.

She is pleased to be “blow the cobwebs off” and be back racing after working through the winter, although she appreciated the downtime to concentrate on farming and family.

“Not having to worry about my body being kicked or stood on or bruised was a real bonus, and it was good to have some family time as well.”

Next up, she is off to Hampton Downs where she knows there will be plenty of competition, including her main rival Brad Wenzlick.