She did a few laps around the revamped Hampton Downs International Raceway, near Hamilton, following her recent selection as one of two drivers to compete in the inaugural Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) Trans-Tasman Women's Challenge on Saturday week.
Clapperton (20), who will represent New Zealand, and CAMS Academy graduate Charlotte Poynting, representing Team Australia, will drive identical ARCs, which are powered by 1.2-litre 125hp twin cam 16-valve engines that rev to 11,500rpm and weigh only 450kg.
''I couldn't believe how amazing they are to drive. They are so much fun. I definitely wasn't expecting how well they handle,'' Clapperton said.
Admittedly, she was driving Hampton Downs, Highlands Motorsport Park and ARC series owner Tony Quinn's Mustang-bodied pocket rocket, so naturally it was ''well prepared'', Clapperton said.
Earlier this year she co-drove for Quinn in the Catlins Coast Rally and more recently in the South Canterbury Car Club's Spring Rally, where he offered her the drive as the Kiwi half of the women's challenge race.
The two females will compete with the rest of the 30-plus ARC's field in the season finale meeting at Hampton Downs. Then they will face off against each other in a winner-takes-all battle - starting out ahead of the other ARC cars in the second race.
CAMS CEO Eugene Arocca said the organisation was proud to support this initiative.
''Aussie Racing Cars have done a great job in providing accessible national level motorsport as well as excellent opportunities for women to get involved,'' he said.
Quinn said he looked forward to welcoming the women to Hampton Downs.
''With more women regularly competing in ARC than any other category, I wanted to promote women's involvement on both sides of the ditch with a unique and exciting women's challenge,'' he said.
Clapperton, who works in retail but aspires to become a full-time professional driver, has recently raced in a New Zealand V8 Touring Car Championship Commodore, her father's endurance racing BA Ford Falcon, a SsangYong ute and a Toyota Trueno in the South Island 2K Cup. The ARC was however, ''one of the most fun cars I've ever driven'', she said.
