The reigning Class D winning squad from the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour is looking to return in 2023 with an all-female, cross-Tasman squad to take on the Easter Production Car classic.

Slated to join forces are Chelsea Angelo with Kiwi compatriots Rianna O’Meara-Hunt and Chelsea Herbert, who will be looking to add to their motorsport resumes in the highly competitive event.

Pending final entry list confirmation, the crew plan to campaign the Toyota 86 as driven to the class win in the 2022 event by Supercars driver Jaylyn Robotham, Mitchell Wooller and BPRO team principal Brett Parrish.

Angelo is a product of karting and Formula Ford and has gone on to compete in classes such as the Super2 Series, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge and most recently in TCR Australia, along the way registering significant Bathurst experience.

She has also previously lined up with BPRO in Hyundai Excel competition, having twice joined Tim Slade in the team at the annual Queensland Raceway enduro event.

Herbert meanwhile brings race-winning pedigree from top-tier New Zealand competition to the team, where in 2017 she became the first woman to win a New Zealand V8 Touring Car race.

Outside of NZV8s, she has experience campaigning in the Mike Racing Aston Martin, testing F3 in Almeria for the WSeries, competing in the Toyota Racing Series in 2020, and racing in the NZ Toyota 86 Championship in 2022.

She has recently returned from America where she was an entrant in The Heart of Racing team’s Aston Martin GT4 shootout.

O’Meara-Hunt meanwhile has significant go karting credentials to her name, with titles earned in New Zealand and Australia.

She has podiumed at events in Europe and represented New Zealand in the World Cup, and like Herbert, has recently returned from the GT4 Shootout, with the outcome of the program currently pending.

The Bathurst 6 Hour is scheduled for April 7-9.

QUOTEBOARD

Chelsea Angelo

“I’m so excited to race in the 6-hour with BPRO in their Toyota 86. It will be my first official enduro and to have two other females by my side is incredible. We all have credibility behind us as racers, and I couldn’t be any more pumped. I’m also excited about returning to the Mountain. I’m very fortunate to have raced there three times, ranging from Formula 3, Super2 and TCR.  Racing in an 86 will be a blast, and I’m really looking forward to the weekend. I know I’ll be giving it my all.”

Chelsea Herbert

“Racing at Bathurst has been a dream of mine for many years. To be presented with this opportunity to race the 6 hour with two other talented females is a race that simply can’t come soon enough. I am really looking forward to getting back into the Toyota 86 after racing in the NZ championship earlier this year, but this time, competing across the ditch. Two Chelseas, two Kiwis and three females sounds like a race-winning combo!”

Rianna O’Meara-Hunt

“I am so excited to be a part of this experience and proven race-winning team driving alongside two other very talented female drivers. Laps around Bathurst has always been a dream and I feel privileged to be given this opportunity so early in my racing career.”