Leading Australian Top Fuel team - Rapisarda Autosport International - has confirmed plans to race at all rounds of the 2022-23 Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship.

“The family sat down after the final round of last season in June and mapped out a race schedule for the next 12 months,” according to Santo Rapisarda Jr, son of team owner Santo Rapisarda. “First and foremost on our mind was to commit to the Burson Top Fuel 2022-23 championship series.” 

“Unfortunately, that meant the opening round of the series at Alice Springs Inland Raceway clashed with the U.S. Nationals at Indy. We are disappointed because we haven’t had the opportunity to race in America since September 2019.”

Rapisarda Autosport International will also field an unchanged driver line-up with Damien Harris and Wayne Newby.

Western Australian-based Harris, who missed the opening round of last season due to interstate border closures caused by Covid-19, then took wins at his home track in Perth and Hidden Valley, Darwin. 

Two-time champ Newby will be looking to improve on his last season, which was blighted by a series of mechanical woes and bad luck. 

Santo Rapisarda Jr will tune the Damien Harris car and sibling Santino Rapisarda is in charge of the Wayne Newby car. 

 “We are planning to return to America and looking at several options, including early 2023.” 

“We still have a car, trailer and transporter in Indy and it wouldn’t take much to get prepped to go racing.”

“The Australian schedule runs from September 2022 to June 2023, so ample opportunities exist. It's a matter of planning and organization.”