The WA Grand Final will be the stage for a number of exciting championship scenarios to play out this Saturday at Perth Motorplex.
Chief among them will be a couple of Camaros both aiming to secure their first track championships.
Daniel Gregorini is in the box seat to take out the Top Comp championship, while Martin Mirco has a healthy lead in the Super Sedan chase.
Gregorini will be taking on a big 16 car field in Top Comp and has to keep main rival Wayne Keys at bay.
“To win a championship in Top Comp would mean a lot to our team,” Gregorini said. “We are a small budget race team running nine local shows and travelling back and forward from east coast Top Doorslammer rounds is a huge effort.
“This would be the biggest reward to take the state championship home. And to do it all in TD trim against a very hard track record of a 5.68.”
Gregorini is looking forward to the confrontation with Keys throughout the event.
“Wayne is our closest opponent and when it comes to contesting things out me and Wayne do it well,” Gregorini said. “Our last challenge was trying to be the first into the five second zone, with me going 6.001, then Wayne going 5.97.
“I’m hoping it doesn’t come down to the wire. With bonus points as well it could get close. I just have to do what I’ve done all season and get the job done.”
Gregorini has been happy with the performance his supercharged Camaro has shown, including his late season shift into the 5.8 second zone.
“My biggest challenge this season has been stepping away from getting tuning help from the Yanks and doing it all on my own,” he said. “Tuner/driver/crew chief is a hard gig but it will all pay off hopefully when we take home the gold in the 2014/15 championship.”
Gregorini is no stranger to championship success – he won the Super Sedan title for the 2005/06 season.
Hoping to emulate that for the 2014/15 season will be Mirco. He is in only his fourth season of racing and even though dial in racing like that typically found in Super Sedan can take years to perfect, Mirco and his Camaro have quickly found a partnership that works.
“It would be a great achievement to win the championship, I never thought I would be in this position in only my fourth season of racing,” he said.
“The biggest challenge this season has been to maintain consistency after winning the opening round and being able to hold onto the points lead for the whole season in a tough class.”
Though Mirco has a lot of points up his sleeve, he is not ruling out the strength of his competitors.
“Matt Gullotto because he has a very consistent race car and you can never write off last season’s champion Leigh Fallon,” he said. “Winning last month’s Nitro Max event extended the points lead enough to take a bit of pressure off going into the last couple of rounds.”
Sportsman qualifying for the WA Grand Final begins from 9.45am on Saturday, with the night program kicking off at 6pm.
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