After a difficult 2022 campaign, Kurt Stenberg has returned to form across the opening rounds of the 2023 Motorsport Australia Logitech G Pro Invitational Cup. Currently sitting a comfortable 12th place in the standings, Stenberg has found consistency across the opening 3 rounds, firmly cementing himself as a contender amongst the 45 car strong field.

With a strong start under his belt, the driver of the #47 Trams Tasman Racing Commodore will look to continue putting together consistent results as the season progresses.

We took some time to sit down with Kurt Stenberg in the lead up to Watkins Glen on the 28th of June.

R: With the cancellation of Road America we now see the series head to the Watkins Glen Cup Layout for the 4th round of the championship. have you been happy with 2023 so far heading into Watkins Glen?

KS: Yeah I've been pretty happy with my season so far. I had a solid results at Sebring and Phillip Island which I had hoped for in the lead up. I always knew Spa would be my worst track of the season, so to escape it without incident and get points was all I could ask for.

R: You’ve shown your ability to be consistent across a season in the past, for you, what is the key to maintaining the consistency and building a solid championship campaign in 2023?

KS: Honestly, staying out of trouble. In the 2022 season I tended to qualify poorly which put me on the backfoot. I got involved in a lot of incidents being in the wrong place at the wrong time trying to make up positions. The key is to stay out of trouble and finish solidly at the rounds where I'm lacking speed and to try my best to maximise any rounds where it comes together. Not try to make something happen when it isn't your night. The quality of drivers in the field is high so that the difference between a good night and a bad one is only tenths in qualifying. Without a drop round, you really cannot afford a DNF or a bad round in my position when you aren't fighting for wins.

R: What’s your thoughts on Watkins Glen Cup layout? Being new to the calendar in 2023, what challenges do you think it will provide for yourself and other competitors?

KS: I'm a huge fan of Watkins Glen Cup. Anyone who knows me knows I used to do tons of NASCAR Truck Official races there. It's very good to have it on the calendar, probably my favourite addition of 2023. It will be the first time i've seen the new rescan of it run in an iRacing Supercars race which will throw a curve ball for the experienced drivers. Watkins Glen Cup layout always has weird, drama filled races in iRacing Supercars. It's high speed flowing, banked nature makes it a track really unlike any other, the superspeed of road courses you could say. Anything can happen and will. The key will be to get slipstream in qualifying and to qualify well. Then to be patient and let the race unfold and play the strategy well staying in the main train of cars. A huge accident is only 1 small mistake away especially in the uphill esses and bus stop so you need to really pick your opportunities well.

It's been a track that's been very good to me in the past so I'm hoping I can maximise qualifying and try to survive the drama that will happen.

R: your currently in a great championship position sitting 12th, what’s your hopes or expectations heading into the upcoming round?

KS: P12 is above where I could of expected to be at this point. There are plenty of names behind me that I expect to fire and beat me in races this season. If I can leave Watkins in P12 or above then that will be expectations met. That will set me up to be safety in the Top 20 at the back half of the season. I have had a huge break from iRacing since the last round at Spa, not even turning a lap on the sim between rounds until this week. It's been a refreshing break that will help my motivation for the rest of the season. It will just mean I will need some extra laps in the preparation to get re-adjusted and hopefully continue where I left off at Watkins Glen.

As the series sets its sights on another action packed round of racing, be sure to keep up with all the latest at https://supercarsproinvitational.com.au.