For someone who has just completed his first season racing blown alcohol sedans, in fact blown alcohol anything, Brent Whiitingham's report card would have an A+ written in the top corner. Taking like the proverbial duck to water as the saying goes, Brent, Tess and the entire crew not only jumped in at the deep end, but made it look easy. Nothing is ever easy of course, but the manner in which they snuck up on things while gaining Brent valuable seat time is a lesson other more experienced teams could learn from, along with those new to any form of the sport.

The car itself may seem familiar to most, having first been campaigned by Steve Milne, then by the Rotorua madman Russell Lowe. When Brent purchased the car, to say it was used and abused would be an understatement, and an extensive amount of work was undertaken by Brent himself and Grant Downing of Paralax Race Cars. What rolls into the beams now is a whole new animal, albeit a rather tamed down driveable version of what it once was under previous ownership. The basic ex Shane Lodge combo, a 509 BBC with massive 14-71 Kobelco supercharger remains, and gives a muscle machine type look which makes it a favourite among young and old. Only one season into his blown alcohol apprenticeship, Brent has already reeled off numbers in the 7.20 range, more impressively hiking the wheels and carrying them nicely on each and every hard launch. He even saved his best for last, winning the first event of Wild Bunch's return at April's Bay Rodders Nostalgia Drags, besting Michael Franklin's Pontiac GTO in the final.

Torrent Floodgates, Out The Gate Racing, Tremaine Panel and Paint and Custom Art supply the support, while partner Tess and a dedicated crew supply the back up to one of the nicest guys in the sport - just don't ever challenge him to an arm wrestle, or drink tequila with him, either way you'll probably end up under the table in pain. One thing you can bank on though is that win, lose or get put on the trailer early by The Joker, the big bad Bow tie Racing Team will have had fun doing what they love.

Age: old
Day job: Self employed
Daily driver: Ford Ranger
Dumbest way you've hurt yourself : Too hard to narrow to just one
Name a store you would max out your credit card: Liquor store
What movie title best describes you : Big Bad Bowtie gaps The Joker (due out 20never)