KELLY BETTES TAKES TOP FUEL HONORS AT WILLOWBANK
Queenslander Kelly Bettes has stormed into contention to take out the Australian Top Fuel championship after a superb win over Peter Xiberras at the Santos Super Thunder meeting at Willowbank Raceway.
Bettes, in her sophomore year in the elite category, has moved to within two points of Rapisarda Autosport International star Damien Harris with two rounds remaining.
The Good Friday meeting attracted six entries headlined by the Rapisarda Autosport International squad of Damien Harris, Wayne Newby and Californian Ashley Sanford, making her fourth trip down under for RAI this season, Sydney team owner/driver Peter Xiberras, who scored his maiden win at Willowbank in January, and Kelly Bettes. Rounding out the field was Sydney veteran Phil Read on the comeback trail and making his first appearance at the ‘bank since 2014.
The single day meet was run under the ‘all in format’ which is fast becoming the norm for the Pro ranks in Australia. Two rounds of paired racing with 20 points for the win 5 for the loss and a sliding scale of point for ET, culminating in the top two in the points advancing to the final.
On race day Bettes and Xiberras were the only teams that took up the option to do a lap during the test and tune session. RAI in a surprise move, elected to leave their cars in the pits.
“The plan was to come up here and do only one test run on the day before the meet,’ explained Santo Rapisarda Jr.. “We have had a heavy workload including racing in Adelaide last weekend. We don’t want to kill our crew by doing four runs in the one day.”
In first round Xiberras was untroubled to drive around Sanford, who was out of contention after popping in the ‘chutes. Harris had a comfortable win after Read tossed a blower belt and Bettes drove around Newby and also pocketed bonus points for low ET with a 3.92, 295 mph.
Sanford’s woes continued in second round when her car went up in smoke on the hit to give her opponent, Xiberras, his second win and passage to the final.
Harris outpaced teammate Newby and claimed low ET with a classy 3.89/294 mph. Bettes advanced to the final with an easy win after Read lost power off the line.
The Bettes versus Xiberras final was an ugly affair with both cars struggling for traction.
“I came out all right then got into some tyre shake,” said Bettes. “I tried to drive through it, got into it too much, gave it a quick pedal, hazed the tyres then the car started to drift. Peter was right there and I hung on for the win.”
“The final probably wasn’t either what Kelly or I was expecting,” according to Xiberras. “The car left hard then smoked the tyres. I got off it then I saw Kelly beside me. I jumped back on it and almost caught it. Not the result I hoped for, but, I think the fans loved it.”
RAI finished the meet with Harris third, followed by Newby and Sanford in fifth place.
“It was a tough weekend for the team. Not quite the result we wanted,” said Santo Rapisarda Jnr, tuner of the Harris car. “Congratulations to Kelly from the Rapisarda Family. Damien won two rounds, still leads the championship and we look forward to returning to our home track in Sydney for the next round.”
“Our car made two solid runs and I’m happy about that,” added Newby’s tuner, Santino Rapisarda. “We tried a couple of new things that didn’t quite work but that’s all about the learning cycle in Top Fuel.”
For Sanford, the Willowbank meet was about growing her knowledge and experience in the fine art of Top Fuel racing.
“With every challenge you learn more and more. This weekend will go into the memory bank and make me a better and more resilient driver in the future. I’m disappointed that I couldn’t give the Rapisarda family a better result than what they deserved,” she said.
For Phil Read the return to Willowbank, home to many victories in his illustrious career, was a bittersweet experience.
“We had a few mechanical gremlins including breaking a brand new belt. I was surprised and humbled at the number of people who came around our pit for a chat and make us feel welcome to be returning to Willowbank.”
In Pro Alcohol, local identity Russell Mills lead all the way to defeat category legend Gary Phillips. Mills, stopping the timers with a 5.62, 239 mph sec pass to Phillips 5.51/262 mph. Mills trails series leader Steven Reed by 13 points heading into the penultimate round at Sydney next month.
Pro Slammer star Ben Bray traded in his usual mount to match race New Zealander Rod Harvey in Factory Extreme. Bray in front at the end of the night after Harvey was sidelined after round two with engine woes.
“We had a great time at the Santo Super Thunder meeting - what better way to spend a day than racing at your home track against my mate Rod Harvey. “It was a great day all-around really and Santo Rapisarda really does deserve recognition for all he does for our sport. It was really great to be able to be a part of the show. I hope all the fans enjoyed it as much as we did!”