After a week driving the All-Wheel Drive Subaru Solterra, Hannah Berry loved the idea of an all electric car that can fit in with busy and adventurous kiwi lifestyles.
Hannah Berry recently spent a week driving the All-Wheel Drive, electric Subaru Solterra and she "loved how smooth, quiet and safe this car felt."
Hannah Berry uses her All-Wheel Drive Subaru Crosstrek to get her around the country when she's in New Zealand
Subaru brand ambassador Hannah Berry absolutely ran away with the win on her debut at the Cairns Airport IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championship Cairns yesterday.
The Mt Maunganui 33-year-old leapfrogged into the top five of the Pro Series season standings with victory at what doubles as the Asia Pacific Championships.
Berry’s relationship with the Subaru brand is in its fifth year, with most of her kilometres clocked up driving back and forth to training sessions in her Subaru Crosstrek. Her determination has paid off after she stormed away from her rivals yesterday in the 42.2km run to finish in 8hours:44mins:31secs.
It was a lonely day, with Berry out there in the swim, bike and run stages on her own but the end result was achieving her fastest ever Ironman time, with the best bike time of the day (4hours:42mins:05secs) and a PB (personal best) marathon time of 3hours:04mins:53secs.
The 2021 IRONMAN New Zealand winner, Berry has been in form this season and came into yesterday’s race hoping to back up her eye-catching 4th placing at Ironman Texas in late April. She was ranked third for Cairns behind two-time champion and course record holder Kylie Simpson and Sunshine Coast-based Dutchwoman Lotte Wilms but outshone both athletes.
Wilms finished runner-up 2mins:22secs behind Berry, with Simpson rounding out the podium.
The win may have looked effortless, as Berry took the lead 10km into the run and never relinquished it, but she described it as a “real tough day.”
“It was the hardest I have had to work in a race ever. Started out, I had a solo swim and came out 4th behind the front three girls who were swimming together. Which then led onto being a completely solo ride for 180km, which was mentally really tough to be honest. At every turnaround, I could see the front three were working together for the most part of the ride,” Berry says.
Not giving in, she gave herself a good talking to.
“I told myself to put my head down and stick to my numbers. Just do what I can.”
Nailing the fastest bike time of the day over the 180km ride, Berry began to hunt down the race leader from around 90secs behind as she transitioned into the run. She settled into her pace and then the mental game really began.
“I’m basically trying to tell myself to stay calm and relax. I’m thinking about run form or trying to. I often have that laser focused look and I wish I could do more, or respond more, to the crowd. I hear all those cheers and they mean so much. I’m trying to stay nice and calm and get to that finish line as fast as I can,” Berry explains.
The crowd support was phenomenal and Berry felt like she was racing back home in New Zealand as she crossed the finish line to be congratulated by her husband Nick.
“Unbelievable. I really enjoyed it. Really hard but an incredible day out there,” she summed up.
For Berry, the chance to compete in the new Ironman Pro Series with its US$1.7 million bonus prize pool, has been a motivating factor. She loves the format where 5000 points are on the line for full distance (226km) races with a point deducted for every second an athlete finishes behind the winner thereafter.
“The IRONMAN Pro Series has been so great so far. I love the idea of being strategic about races and also racing for every second.”
Berry will rest up after her impressive endeavours yesterday and will compete in a 70.3 race before she lines up for the ultimate goal – the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Nice, France on September 22.
Head of Brand Marketing for Subaru of New Zealand, Daile Stephens says the team at the Subaru head office in New Zealand were excited about her achievement.
"The Subaru team have enjoyed following Hannah’s progress as a professional triathlete over the years. Hannah embodies the Subaru brand and is like a lot of our Subaru drivers in many ways, although her achievements and especially yesterday's result, surpass most of us! She works hard to achieve her own goals and encourages others to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Beyond her results as an athlete, Hannah has been our wellness and lifestyle ambassador and has shared over the years with Subaru drivers how to add value to their lives through living a 'bigger life', beyond the daily grind. To see her on top of the top of the podium after such a challenging day of racing is truly inspiring.”
"A huge congratulations to Hannah on her well-deserved, stunning victory in Cairns and we look forward to following her throughout the Pro Series." Stephens concludes.
Subaru brand ambassador Hannah Berry drives the compact, capable All-Wheel Drive Subaru Crosstrek when she is home in New Zealand, which provides her with all the safety and control she needs to get to her favourite training spots around the country.
Catherine Pattison
Public Relations
Inchcape New Zealand Limited
M: +64 27 4455389
E: catherine.pattison@inchcape.co.nz
