AUSSIE TOP FUEL RESUMES WITH MATCH RACING AS STARS GO MISSING.

by John Doig, CompetitionPlus Australia    Sun, 2021-03-28 05:35

 

The first event on the 400 Thunder Top Fuel calendar since January 2020, The Apex Epoxy Flooring Super Thunder meeting at Willowbank Raceway on April 2-3, has attracted two entries and will feature three-time champ Phil Read match race Sydney team owner-driver Peter Xiberras.

Missing from the entry list are leading Australian teams Rapisarda Autosport International and Lamattina Top Fuel Racing.

Xiberras is no stranger to match racing having gone head-to-head with Phil Lamattina at Perth Motorplex in March 2020. The Brisbane based team is scheduled to test prior to the meeting and will be hoping for better luck after their previous attempts to go testing were thwarted by Covid-19 restrictions and rain.

Read will look to build on a solid test and tune session at his home track in Sydney earlier this month, clocking a best lap of 3.83/306 mph just shy of the 3.80/315 mph track record he set in January 2020.

The non-appearance of RAI is a major surprise. The team has been the backbone of the sport for almost a decade fielding three and on occasion four entries headed by local heroes Wayne Newby and Damien Harris plus NHRA stars Ashley Sanford and most recently Richie Crampton.

The absence of team owner-driver Phil Lamattina is puzzling. The two-time champ had tested at Sydney Dragway only three weeks ago ahead of an expected return to racing at the Willowbank meeting.

Pro Slammer has attracted five entries lead by series leader Steve Ham and the in-form Mark Hinchelwood.

Ham, a one-time Top Alcohol champ, is chasing his maiden slammer title and will benefit from the absence of his nearest rivals, John Zappia and Ben Bray.

Hinchelwood looms as the most likely candidate to upstage Ham after posting a career-best of 5.62, 252 mph in testing earlier this month. Team owner Maurice Fabietti has also entered a second car to be driven by Sam Fenech, who returns for the first time since a massive crash at Sydney Dragway in January 2019.

Pro Stock will field six entries led by reigning 400T king Aaron Tremayne and sibling Tyrone with local veteran Wayne Daley scheduled to debut his recently acquired Dodge Dart.

Top Bike returns for the first time since June 2019 with six-time champ Chris Matheson match racing fellow Queenslander John Zahra.

Kudos to the Pro Mod brigade, making in their maiden appearance at Willowbank with nine entries, including four New South Wales teams making the journey north. All eyes will be on Queenslander Peter Gratz, a multi–Australian Nationals Doorslammer champion in the 90s who will make his debut in the category. Gratz last raced Supercharged Outlaws in June 2019.

 

 

 
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