Tayla Relph takes first podium in WorldWCR

After just eight races in the inaugural FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship (WorldWCR), Australia’s Tayla Relph has got herself onto the podium, finishing third in a dramatic Race 2 at the 3.768km Cremona Circuit in Italy.

Relph, the sole Aussie on the grid in the all-female circuit racing championship, was as high as fifth in Race 1 before it was red flagged. In the restart, the 27-year-old was unable to get back into her groove, then made a big mistake going into Turn 10, ultimately crossing the finish line in seventh.

In the second WorldWCR race at Cremona, Relph started from eighth on the grid and spent more than half of the 12 laps in seventh place. With five laps to go, the Aussie advanced to fifth, passing Beatriz Neila and the wildcard for this round, New Zealand’s Avalon Lewis, to be on track for her best finish of the season.

Up front, the leading quartet, which included polesitter and Race 1 winner Maria Herrera, Ana Carrasco, Roberta Ponziani and Sara Sanchez, started to battle amongst themselves, with Herrera and Carrasco aggressively trading places in the closing laps.

On the last lap, this group entered the final combination of corners literally four abreast. Sanchez took the inside line, locked up and T-boned Herrera, sending both into the gravel and out of the race. Their exit allowed Relph to pick up the pieces, finishing behind Carrasco and Ponziani for her very first WorldWCR podium.

“I’m so over the moon right now,” enthused Relph. “The TAYCO Motorsport crew and I have worked so hard to get over to Europe to chase this dream. So, to finally get onto the podium is such a great way to reward them and our sponsors who have put in so much to help us.

“I just can’t believe it. It’s what we needed to give us a big confidence boost heading into the last two rounds of the championship.”

The result at Cremona moved Relph up to seventh in the championship with 54 points, while Herrera’s DNF saw Carrasco inherit the overall lead – 163 points to 154. Sanchez retained third in the championship, despite the Race 2 DNF.

Words: Russell Colvin