Carena West Wins Miss TW Steel Australia-New Zealand

Taupo, New Zealand January 25, 2009: TW Steel, the ‘Official Watch and Timing Partner’ of A1GP World Cup of Motorsport hosted the fourth round of the ‘Miss TW Steel’ competition at Taupo Motorsports Park in New Zealand today as Adam Carroll led A1 Team Ireland to Sprint victory and Neel Jani scored a Feature race win for A1 Team Switzerland to kick start the 2009 leg of the 2008-09 season.

Off-track there was just one winner, Auckland’s Carena West as she triumphed over a select group of ‘Miss TW Steel Australia-New Zealand’ contestants. The 22-year-old proved to be the unanimous choice with the judging panel, winning a TW Steel watch and a $1500 US prize in the process.

Miss West will now head to the United Kingdom later in the year for the grand finale of the ‘Miss TW Steel’ competition, where the winners from the national rounds, all held at A1GP events, will go head-to-head for the overall title, a cash prize of $25,000 US and a photo-shoot with a leading lifestyle magazine.

Currently studying for a Bachelor of Business degree and having recently filmed a TV programme focusing on learning to drive race cars, Carena was a popular winner with the Taupo crowd. Today’s judging panel consisted of Steven Rom, the Australia/New Zealand distributor for TW Steel, A1GP race winner and Kiwi favorite, Jonny Reid, local Taupo radio host, Brendon Weatherley and A1GP’s Scott Smith.

“It was certainly a close call today but no doubt Carena’s a worthy winner of this title,” commented Steven Rom. “Needless to say her win was well received by the Kiwi crowd but all the contestants, representing both Australia and New Zealand, did a terrific job and they’ve been great ambassadors for TW Steel throughout the weekend in the paddock.”

Carena West was thrilled to win and equally excited about the prospect of going to London for the first time later in the year.

“I’ve had a great time here this weekend and I’m obviously really excited to have won ‘Miss TW Steel Australia-New Zealand’,’ enthused West. “I’ve never been to the United Kingdom so I’m happy to be going there for the grand finale and making the most of the opportunity to be there. The atmosphere at Taupo was fantastic so it was well worth making the trip from Auckland to compete here this weekend!”