PHIL LAMATTINA TO LEAD CHARGE AT KEY MOMENT IN AUSTRALIAN TOP FUEL CHAMPIONSHIP
by John Doig, CompetitionPlus Australia Tue, 2022-03-08 18:00
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Round two of the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship at Sunset Strip Dragway Mildura, March 12 -13, will be a watershed moment for Australian drag racing, according to leading team owner and driver Phil Lamattina.The category will race outside an Australian capital city for the first time in over 30 years.
Lamattina, who lives at Wemen, 70 miles south of Mildura, has long advocated for the category to race at tracks in rural Australia.
“What the organizers of the ATFC series are doing to take racing to new tracks, particularly in country areas, has been fantastic,” said Lamattina.
“I think when we have raced at tracks in the Capital cities, we have taken a lot for granted. Moving away from traditional venues will be a significant step in creating and developing new audiences and markets for Top Fuel. This weekend is a major step forward and the beginning of a new era. Going to tracks that no one would have ever dreamed of is the way of the future.”“The ATFC is creating its own energy.”
Top Fuel previously appeared at the track in 2014 when Phil Lamattina match-raced younger sibling John. Since then, the venue has undergone a major refurbishment, including laying an all-concrete racing surface.
"Racing at Sunset Strip over eighth-mile instead of the usual 1000 feet will be interesting," said Lamattina. "The most important part of the race track is up to the 330-foot mark and then it doesn't really matter if you’re racing 1000 foot or eighth-mile. My job is to cut a good light, keep the car straight in the groove and drive it over the finish line.”
“The pressure will be on the crew chiefs to get a tune-up that works.”
Veteran Phil Read leads the series from reigning champ Peter Xiberras and Lamattina. Three-time champ Wayne Newby lies in fourth place ahead of rookie Shane Olive. The series has been bolstered by the return of Rapisarda Autosport International star Damien Harris.
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