MOTOR racing often is accused of being a boys' club but Leanne Tander aims to shift the gender imbalance a little.

While she has made some appearances in the V8 Supercar "main game" in the enduros, the better half of Holden V8 Supercar driver Garth Tander is using a different forum to put her name in front of the sport's powerbrokers.

Tander is lining up in this year's Autobarn Touring Car Masters series behind the wheel of a machine almost a decade older than her - a 1973 Ford Falcon Phase IV XA GT.

"I'm pretty excited to finally confirm I'm racing. I wasn't sure I would be racing anything this season," she said.

"I'm thrilled to be racing in the Touring Car Masters.

"It's one of the more exciting categories, with all different cars competing.

"It's one that I've liked to watch in the past."

The car, believed to be the first of its kind to race anywhere in the world, was knobbled before it was even released in 1973, thanks to the 1970s oil crisis and supercar scare.

The Clipsal crowd will be among the first to finally see the Falcon Phase IV GT, owned by Phil Morris, in Wilson Security Racing/Team McGrath colours after an eight-month preparation program.

"The history of the Phase IV makes it more interesting, too," Tander says.

"Although it was made before I was born, I do really like big muscle cars of that era. It will be really interesting to see how this legendary car performs. I've had a lot of support from John Bowe and Wilson Security Racing and I really have to thank them for pulling this together with Phil Morris.

"I'm excited to be continuing the relationship with the McGrath Foundation as well."

Tander, 29, is a two-time Formula 3 series runner-up.

She also was the first woman to win a Formula 3 race. She has driven V8 Supercars, most recently in the 2009 endurance rounds, including an 18th-place finish at Bathurst.

Stuart Martin - Motoring Editor

From Adelaide Advertiser 10/03/2010
Printed with Permission.