Following the conclusion of the inaugural 400 Thunder Drag Racing Season Championship, the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) is set to increase its commitment to Australian Drag Racing. 

Owned by IRG Sports + Entertainment (IRGSE), , the IHRA sanctions more than 100 member tracks across the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Caribbean.

IRG Sports + Entertainment Chief Executive Officer, Chris Lencheski said the Australian market has become a major focus for IHRA as a result of the success of 400 Thunder.

“It’s exciting to see a renewed interest in Australian Drag Racing through 400 Thunder and we’re delighted to expand our association with the 400 Thunder through partial ownership of the series, as well as introducing our established sponsors into the 400 Thunder Series,” Lenchenski said.  Our goal is to take the 400 Thunder Series across Australia and do whatever is needed to make this happen. 

“In addition to building on the 400 Thunder brand, we are looking to grow our investment into the Australian market as we look to secure more tracks under the IHRA banner and expand our IHRA membership base Down Under.  As part of this initiative, we intend to establish a locally based IHRA office and local staff with the goal to provide member services that are second to none.” 

The IHRA is the current sanctioning body for 400 Thunder as well as key Australia venues: Perth Motorplex, Sydney Dragway, Willowbank Raceway (near Brisbane) and the recently opened Springmount Raceway (near Cairns, North Queensland). 

The renewed interest in Drag Racing arising from the 400 Thunder Series has seen unprecedented support from racers and spectators alike. Around 1,500 racing licences have been issued in the 7 months since the IHRA entered the Australian market in December 2015. 

As the Australian IHRA office will be based out of the business capital of Australia, Sydney, this guarantees direct ties to existing IHRA sponsors with overseas markets, as well as expanding the 400 Thunder Series to international audiences.

IHRA President Mike Dunn re-affirmed Australia’s importance in the global drag racing community. 

“Australia will play a key role in the IHRA’s future, and we are committed to making the 400 Thunder Series the pre-eminent drag racing championship in the Asia Pacific region,” Dunn said. 

“We have a vision of delivering a round of our new Drag Racing D1 World Championship to one of our Australian tracks, and the establishment of an Australian office will ensure we keep up with the growth of 400 Thunder Series and coordinate our member services.” 

Chairman of the Australian Professional Drag Racing Series Board (APDR), Tony Wedlock is excited by these developments.  “Both IRGSE and IHRA are a global force within Drag Racing worldwide. The benefits provided to APDR and our member tracks as we lean on both IRGSE and IHRA’s expertise, and contacts in the areas of sports marketing, as well as their business strategy development is immeasurable.”

“Both IRGSE and IHRA are highly professional organisations that see the importance of re-investing into our sport and we look forward to an even closer partnership as we look to build the 400 Thunder Series into its second season,” Wedlock said. 

The first season saw entry lists of around 1,400 professional and sportsman teams across 9 events held at Perth Motorplex, Sydney Dragway and Willowbank Raceway, and according to race series officials attracting close to 100,000 spectators.