Reigning champ Peter Xiberras has eased his way into the points lead of the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship after the final round of racing at Sydney Dragway was abandoned on safety grounds due to the rapidly plummeting track temperature.
 
The A final between rookie Shane Olive and Peter Xiberras, the B final with Phil Lamattina against Damien Harris and Wayne Newby versus Phil Read in the C final will be decided at Heathcote Park Raceway, May 21-22.

The race schedule was thrown into disarray when the cars were being marshaled for round two when a start line explosion and firebomb injured five crewmembers from Jim Read Racing. 

Racing resumed after a delay of two hours and by then, officials had decided to cancel the final round.

“It a disappointing outcome," said co-series promoter Nathan Prendergast. “We were having an incredible race meeting. But safety is paramount. We will run all the finals, probably, on day one of the Heathcote meeting.”

Round four of the ATFC produced some of the finest qualifying performances of the season and was dominated by Rapisarda Autosport International pair of Damien Harris and Wayne Newby. 

Honors went to Harris who set a new track record of 3.77 seconds and the Australian speed record of 327 mph. Newby was second with a 3.80/ 323 mph ahead of series leader Phil Lamattina, who posted a career-best 3.82/308 mph." To get a pb [personal best] is good. It also shows there's still a lot of life left in this old dog," said Lamattina. 

Reigning champ Peter Xiberras was fourth, followed by veteran Phil Read and rookie Shane Olive.

Damien Harris’s track record of 3.77 barely survived  24 hours.

In round one, Xiberras came from behind to defeat Lamattina and smashed the track record with a 3.76 sec. Lamattina’s run ended after dropping a cylinder near the 330-foot mark. 

The in-form Harris led all the way to notch up an easy win over Olive and in the final match-up, Newby posted a no-frills 3.78, 323 mph. to account for Read, who blew the tires off on the hit.

After the incident with the JRR car, round two got underway but produced very little side-by-side racing as teams toiled to tame the rapidly cooling track and air conditions. 
 
The highlight of the round was when Olive, in only his fourth event, upstaged his more experienced rival Newby with an eye-popping run of 3.85, 306 mph. The win and bonus points for quick time of the round were sufficient to book passage to his maiden final at Heathcote Park Raceway in two weeks.  
Team boss Phil Lamattina came from behind to defeat Harris, who struggled with grip.

Xiberras, on a solo after the withdrawal of Phil Read, shook the tires and rolled through with an 8.46, 76 mph. 

Olive’s win was the standout performance of the meeting.

“We didn’t get off to the best start on the weekend,” said Olive. "We regrouped overnight and struggled again in the first round against Damien. Then all the pieces fell into place. To walk away with a 3.85 under those cool and tricky conditions was something special. The stars lined up perfectly.”

OUTRIGHT POINTS AFTER FOUR EVENTS AND TWO ROUNDS OF RACING

Peter Xiberras - 315
Phil Lamattina - 310
Phil Read - 250
Damien Harris - 250
Wayne Newby - 225
Shane Olive -160
Larry Dixon - 50.