IHRA Australia has imposed a maximum speed limit of 260 mph for all sedan type vehicles. Effective immediately.
The decision is primarily aimed at Pro Slammer and Pro Mod cars and is in response to a series of high-speed crashes over the just completed 2022-2023 season.
In November, local racer Michelle Davies crashed heavily at Sydney Dragway. Then, at Willowbank Raceway in January, one of the most popular racers in the category Sam Fenech lost his life after impacting both retaining walls. The final round of the Australian Drag Racing Championship at Hidden Valley Raceway, Darwin two weeks ago saw rookie stand-out Lisa Gregorini and champ elect Kelvin Lyle lucky to survive high speed crashes.
According to a statement from IHRA AUSTRALIA:
A review has been undertaken at a series of the past events in relation to the performance, driver behavior, aerodynamics, parachute failures and accidents caused by mechanical failures, there is no doubt that through the advent of mandated rules under IHRA Australia that Electrimotion, Dual Net Systems, Sand Traps, attention to track prep have all aided in lifting the safety standards for these categories, with the recent increase in performances base on state of the art technology these particular vehicles are pushing boundaries far greater than what we see internationally.
A racer will receive an initial warning and will be logged appropriately and any further breaches of these performance guidelines will see them excluded from the event.
The fastest time this season of 257 mph was set by Australia most decorated Pro Slammer John Zappia at the Perth Motorplex, November 2022.
