This Saturday January 16 could see Australia make a clean sweep of the USA vs AUS Nitro Funny Car Challenge at Willowbank Raceway, or it could see the Americans claim one back with a resurgent performance.

Either way, the action is set to be intense, after West Australia’s Damien Harris bested American Jack Wyatt – who struggled with the unfamiliar locale - at round one.

For round two, Harris will be joined by 2009 series Aussie standout Mark Sheehan along with Ricky Steffens and Chris Stipanovic, upping the ante even further. The American team however will be better prepared this time around, with two weeks and some local experience for their driver up their sleeves, so who will take out this final is anyone’s guess.

This Saturday January 16 could see Australia make a clean sweep of the USA vs AUS Nitro Funny Car Challenge at Willowbank Raceway, or it could see the Americans claim one back with a resurgent performance.

Either way, the action is set to be intense, after West Australia’s Damien Harris bested American Jack Wyatt – who struggled with the unfamiliar locale - at round one.

For round two, Harris will be joined by 2009 series Aussie standout Mark Sheehan along with Ricky Steffens and Chris Stipanovic, upping the ante even further. The American team however will be better prepared this time around, with two weeks and some local experience for their driver up their sleeves, so who will take out this final is anyone’s guess.

Harris and Wyatt met up at Willowbank Raceway today ahead of this Saturday’s racing, testing out the quarter mile on wheels of a different kind – trading in their Nitro Funny Cars for a pair of bicycles - before taking time out to chat to the media about their upcoming battle.

“Jack is certainly going to be on the pace this Saturday after a struggle at round one,” said Harris.

“They have had time to go away and have a look at it, get their set up sorted and they will be looking to run the big numbers and take one back Saturday night, I have no doubt about that.

“However, we will be looking to do that too – as one of Wyatt’s team-mates have said – we waxed them at round one, and we want to wax them again and make it two from two for the Aussies!"

Harris is the form man leading up to round two, after a 310mph/500kmh plus run in Perth on Boxing Day (which saw him better American Gary Densham’s speed mark for the category set at the 2009 series) followed up by the four second pass at 300mph at Willowbank.

“Harris is certainly a threat – he and his team have been performing really well with Perth and then at Willowbank, they are strong and it will definitely be a fight come Saturday,” said Wyatt.

“All of the Aussies are real top competitors, but we are focused – we are the American team here at this event so we are representing the United States and we want to get one for us!”

The January 16 event is the second and final round of the International New Year Series at Willowbank Raceway, featuring the USA vs AUS Nitro Funny Car Challenge. The Challenge for national pride will take to the track at 6.00pm, 8.00pm and 10.00pm, while the on track action starts early with qualifying from support categories from 7.30am.

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