KILMORE’S Christine Clancy could be the Australian F2 sidecar racing title holder by year’s end.

The 36-year-old has raced alongside her husband, John, who plays the role of driver, for the last five years.

In the opening two rounds of the season, the pair came second and first, respectively, and with two races to go, the title is within their grasp.

The venue and date of the third round is currently unknown, but the final round will be staged at Phillip Island.

“I’m only classed as a rookie still. My husband, John, used to ride two-wheels and I’ve always liked the sidecars. I had the opportunity one day to go on one and from then on it just escalated,” Ms Clancy said.

Ms Clancy said her improvement in sidecar racing came down to “a lot of track time and trial and error.”

“You learn if you go too fast at a corner and spin out, not to do that again.”

Ms Clancy, who recently visited the Netherlands for a ride with prominent sidecar racer Adam Treasure, said she takes part in intra-club racing in between rounds in the F2 sidecar.

She also rides bikes at least three decades old in the Victorian Historic Motorcycle Championships (VHMC).

Ms Clancy also looks set to win that title in her Honda sidecar.

“It’s a huge change from the F2. There is not much speed difference, but the handling and characteristics are quite different.”

Trusting your partner is the key to success in sidecar racing, Ms Clancy said.

“It’s about the confidence that you know what the driver is going to do. There is probably once where I’ve slapped him (husband, John) across the head and said ‘hey, remember I’m here’. Apart from that, it’s all trust.

“He’s the one who needs me more than I need him. If I’m in the right position, I steer the bike, so I help it around corners and I stabilise it.”

Ms Clancy will return later this month after a trip across England and Belgium. She will then concentrate on securing titles in the Australian F2 and VHMC.