18/01/2013
LAMATTINA AND REED THROW THEIR SUPPORT BEHIND WILLOWBANK RACEWAY'S REVOLUTIONARY EVENT FORMAT FOR EASTER 2013
Former national Top Fuel champion Phil Lamattina and Top Alcohol veteran Steve Reed – winner of the 2012 FUCHS Winternationals Top Alcohol trophy – have thrown their support behind Willowbank Raceway’s revolutionary new Santo’s Cranes Super 3 Extreme Drag Race event.
Announced at the end of 2012, the Santo’s Cranes Super 3 Extreme Drag Race concept, featuring the Louie Rapisarda Top Fuel Trophy Race, will see professional drag racing not only return to the Easter timeslot (29-30 March 2013) at Queensland’s premier drag racing facility for the first time in years, but do so with a format never before seen in Australian national title competition.
Both Lamattina and Reed – each an integral player within Australia’s drag racing arena - are looking forward to taking to the track this Easter at Willowbank Raceway to try the new format out for size.
“From my standpoint as a long-time drag racer, it is absolutely a revolutionary approach – light-years away from the traditional eliminations format we are all familiar with,” said Brendale’s Reed.
“While tradition is a great thing, I am all for this event – the benefits to the fans, the sponsors and of course to the racers are undeniable.
“There is more entertainment for the fans and more track-time for the sponsors, and for the racers you are guaranteed at least two runs each day – eliminating the possibility of sitting out the action just because things didn’t go your way during qualifying.”
Lamattina said he was looking forward to racing for the Louie Rapisarda Trophy as he chases the Top Fuel national championship.
“Easter at Willowbank Raceway is certainly going to be something different,” said Mildura’s Lamattina.
“First of all, a hat tip has to go to Santo Rapisarda (of Santo’s Cranes) and the whole Rapisarda family. To do what they have done to get behind this event – I know it means a lot to us to be able to head to Willowbank Raceway this Easter and race with them and against them in the Louie Rapisarda Top Fuel Trophy Race.
“The new event format is going to deliver a real treat for the fans by creating a pressure-cooker for the racers – thanks to the pair of one-day events, we are going to have to be on our game and ready to win from when we roll off the trailer.
“Strategy and tactics are going to be key and there will be a fine line to tread between being too aggressive and too conservative. For the fans, that is going to mean intense and hard-fought racing right from the get-go.
“With two events in two days, if things don’t go your way you have the chance to redeem yourself on day two which is great and a benefit championship-wise as well with points on the line each day – having said that though, if you have a bad weekend overall it could hurt!
“The pressure will certainly be on, I know for us personally we will be looking to milk every possible opportunity out of the weekend as we pursue the national championship – everyone wants to win, but we feel we are in a very strong position at the moment and we do not want to see any chance slip away.”
The Super 3 Extreme Drag Race concept will operate on the idea of two individual championship rounds in one event, with a winner to be crowned on both the Friday and the Saturday of the event.
Racing will begin with the first pass for all cars at approximately 5.00pm followed by an elimination round for all cars later in the evening. From this round, the third and fourth quickest winners will proceed to the ‘Preliminary Final’ while the two quickest winners battle it out in ‘The Final’, as per the Special 3 Round Format ratified this season in the ANDRA rulebook.
Once the winner is crowned on Friday, the full field for each bracket will get ready to do it all over again on Saturday.
The Santo’s Cranes Super 3 Extreme Drag Race will also feature the Louie Rapisarda Trophy Race, honouring the Top Fuel driver who passed away in 1990. Thanks to a partnership between Louie’s father and event sponsor Santo Rapisarda and Willowbank Raceway, a special commemorative trophy for the winner of the Top Fuel bracket will be on offer.
Willowbank Raceway is Queensland’s premier drag racing facility, located 45 minutes from Brisbane or just a short drive from Ipswich, offering a year-round program of events for the entire family. For more information including a full event calendar, please visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au
