RECORDS AND BLUE SKIES MAKE AMAZING DAY 3 OF FUCHS WINTERNATIONALS, RACE DAY TOMORROW
7 June 2014
Race day at Willowbank Raceway’s FUCHS Winternationals is set to be a true bonanza of entertainment after a frenetic day today which included world and Australian records held under a beautiful blue sky.
World, Australian and track records fell with the weather and track conditions perfect for fast and thrilling performances from the more than 420 racers on-track.
The Celica of New Zealand’s Rod Harvey became the fastest six-cylinder vehicle in the world after setting a 237.71 mph (approx. 382.55 km/h) pass in the exhibition bracket Factory Xtreme.
“What an amazing pass, I am so excited with that result, it is fantastic and I can’t wait for the next time we get back on track, I know we can go even quicker and faster!” said Harvey.
Also having the crowds on their feet was Lee Bektash, with the Victorian becoming the quickest and fastest Pro Stocker in the country on his way to becoming the top qualifier for his class, with a 6.964-second elapsed time across the quarter-mile at 196.67 mph (approx. 316.50 km/h) Saturday afternoon during the following qualifying session.
Drawing more cheers was the fact that Bektash went event quicker in his first round of racing with a 6.960-second pass, resetting the elapsed time record he claimed only hours before. Also heading through to tomorrow’s further racing in the Pro Stock bracket are John Barbagallo, Wayne Daley, Nino Cavallo, Paul Beauchamp and brothers Aaron and Tyronne Tremayne.
“I am pretty speechless to be honest, which is surprising because I was yelling my head off down at the end,” said Bektash soon after the record-setting run.
“This is just fantastic and a real testament to the hard work of the team.”
In Top Fuel, Phil Lamattina set a new track speed record with a 4.560-second pass at 327.27 miles per hour tonight ‘backing up’ his 327.98 mile per hour (approx. 527.83km/h) effort of last night. Today’s elapsed time sees him on the top of the time sheets ahead of tomorrow’s race day.
“That was freaking awesome, after struggling for a couple of meetings we always knew we had the car and that our team had it in us, we just had to find it,” said Lamattina.
“I can’t say enough about Aaron (Hambridge, Lamattina’s crew chief), he thought he had lost his way but we are back now and what a way to do it at the FUCHS Winternationals in one of the FUCHS dragsters, to be number one qualifier is great.”
In Top Alcohol Gary Phillips has seen his top qualifying time of yesterday be enough to see him remain on top of the sheets heading to Sunday’s race day. Earlier in the day, Phillips had hosted V8 Supercar star Shane van Gisbergen in his pits, putting the Tekno driver in the seat of his Top Alcohol funny car for a fire-up.
In Top Fuel Motorcycle Mark Drew saw Australia’s quickest Top Fuel Harley performance from Friday (6.378 seconds at 228.96mph (approx. 368.48kmh) keep him on the top of the timesheets for the bracket heading to eliminations tomorrow.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle defending champion Luke Crowley of Ipswich top qualified to lead his bracket to race day tomorrow courtesy of an 7.285 second pass at 182.70 mph (approx. 294.02 km/h).
In Top Doorslammer, the first round of eliminations saw John Cannuli, Stuart Bishop, Andrew Sutton, Grant O’Rourke, Daniel Gregorini, Maurice Fabietti, John Zappia and Victor Bray make it through to the next round of racing.
Before the Top Doorslammer round, Victor’s son Ben Bray experienced a roll over in his Factory Xtreme Nissan Altima, hitting the wall and rolling before coming to a stop on its roof. Bray walked to the ambulance, and was later transferred to hospital where he is in a stable condition.
The fourth and final day of the FUCHS Winternationals will hit the track tomorrow (Sunday 8 June) with eliminations racing on-track from 8.00am including group one eliminations scheduled for 10.30am and 2.15pm before the finals for all brackets from 4.00pm. Tickets are available at the gate at $50.00 for adults, $35.00 for Students with ID and Concession Card holders (age and disability only) and children aged 13 and under gaining free admission. Event information is at www.willowbankraceway.com.au
Willowbank Raceway is Queensland’s premier drag racing facility, located 45 minutes from Brisbane or just a short drive from Ipswich, offering a year-round program of events for the entire family. For more information including a full event calendar, please visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au
EVENT INFORMATION: 2014 FUCHS WINTERNATIONALS (5-8 JUNE 2014)
Feature racing: Top Fuel, Top Alcohol, Top Doorslammer, Pro Stock, Top Fuel Motorcycle, Pro Stock Motorcycle
Other racing includes: Competition, Super Stock, Super Compact, Competition Bike, Donnelly Blasting Servies Supercharged Outlaws, Knijff Earthmoving Modified, Powercruise Super Sedan, Prime Signs/Speed Elec Super Street, Modified Bike, Junior Dragster, Super Gas and Factory Xtreme.
SCHEDULE
Please go to http://www.willowbankraceway.com.au/events/detail.aspx?EventGroupID=89 for the latest event scheduling information.
TICKETING
- Student/Concession (MUST SHOW PHOTO ID). Concession prices are for age and disability pension only.
Sunday 8 June 2014:
- Adult - $50.00
- Student/Concession – must show ID - $35.00
For more information on tickets, scheduling and the event, please visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au