The wraps are officially off the brand-new XTR Nitro Funny Car, with the striking new design set to debut at the 2026 Gulf Western Oil Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway.
Piloted by Damon Paton under the Aeroflow Nitro Funny Cars banner, the XTR machine will hit the track for the first time at the biggest event on the Australian drag racing calendar, combining a bold new look with one of the most consistent Funny Car programs in the country.
“Funny Car racing is extreme in every sense, and that’s exactly why the partnership makes sense for XTR. It’s a category built on performance, innovation and standing out from the crowd — all things we value strongly as a brand.” — Glen Collett, Aeroflow Performance Brand Manager
For Damon Paton, the new-look XTR Funny Car represents far more than just fresh paint ahead of the sport’s biggest event.
“What can I say — the guys absolutely nailed it again. It’s pretty cool to have the two best-looking Funny Car bodies in the country… although I might be a little biased!” Paton said.
“This new look means a lot heading into the Winternationals because it represents our brands and sponsors so well. We genuinely couldn’t do this without their support, and having a car that looks this good only makes me even hungrier to put it in the winner’s circle.”
While unveiling a brand-new design at the Winternationals could bring added pressure, Paton says the overwhelming feeling within the team is excitement.
“By this stage of the year, everyone’s working together seamlessly and you really start to build momentum. Debuting the new design at the Winternationals just adds to the excitement and gives the team even more motivation to perform on the biggest stage in Australian drag racing.”
“The team has gone right through the car, dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s to make sure we roll out with a consistent and reliable race car. Everyone has put in a massive effort, and we’re confident we’ll be in a strong position when we hit the track at Winters.”
Currently remaining firmly in championship contention, Paton says the team is determined to make a statement at the Winternationals.
“We’ve had one of the most consistent cars in the field this season, even if the championship points don’t fully reflect that,” he said.
“A weather event and an unfortunate technicality — things largely out of anyone’s control — have cost us valuable ground. But the statement we want to make at Winters is simple: we’re still very much in this championship fight, and we won’t stop pushing until the final race is run.”
The XTR Nitro Funny Car will make its official on-track debut at the 2026 Gulf Western Oil Winternationals, June 4-7 at Willowbank Raceway.
