Birthday breakthrough

Jemma Barnes is the next in line to drive the No92v car at tomorrow's speedway, following in the footsteps of her father and older sister, as well as entering Monday's Soapbox Derby. Photo/Supplied

It may only be fledgling, but the next three days will form the biggest in the racing career of birthday girl Jemma Barnes.

The upcoming Year 8 pupil at St George's School turns 12 today, which makes her eligible to compete in the Youth Ministock class at the Oceanview Speedway event tomorrow night.

Barnes will be following in the footsteps of her veteran racer father Adrian, who will be crewing for her, as well as her older sister Aimee, who in 2012 was awarded the New Zealand Youth Ministock Competitor of the Year trophy.

Proud sibling Aimee, who now races Adult Ministock, said Jemma has learnt the skills of manual race car driving from a lot of practice and coaching from the family.

"Many traits are said to run in the genes," Aimee said.

"Jemma, who has watched from the sidelines for the past 11 years, is more than eager to get behind the wheel and take on the challenge of the dirt race track."

But tomorrow is not the only big night for the youngster, as she will be entering the Wanganui Soapbox Derby on Monday in a trolley designed and built by Aimee and her fellow Level 2 Motorsport Students at UCOL in Palmerston North last year.

Aimee added that Jemma set her sights high and wanted to be as good if not better than she was at Youth Ministock level.

"It won't be easy to better that, with no race experience up to this point, but with her sister coaching her we should be hearing of stunning results in the future from this young driver," Aimee said.

A smart young lady, Jemma won a scholarship to study at St George's for Years 7 and 8.

Racing starts at Oceanview tomorrow at 7pm with all classes except the Minisprints and West Coast Production Saloons. The Soapbox Derby begins on Monday morning.