Fresh off his first-ever ANDRA Christmas Tree victory, South Australian Super Street racer Stefan Lainas is eyeing another big weekend as he gears up for round five of the 2024/2025 ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship.
The latest round of the burgeoning sportsman championship will be held alongside racing for the Pro Drag Racing Championship (PDRC) and Summit Racing Equipment Track Championship at Dragway at The Bend across February 8-9.
Lainas, who has been campaigning his car since 2018, captured his maiden ANDRA Christmas Tree at the South Coast Nationals in Victoria last December, sealing the win with a perfect triple-zero light in the final.
“That win was huge for me,” Lainas said.
“It was my first National event win, so to get one under my belt was a massive moment. Now that I’ve done it once, I’d, of course, love to back it up at The Bend.
“Having my family there for the fun makes it even more special.”
Lainas’ wife Bianca and daughter Georgie will again be on the sidelines this weekend at their new home track.
“I’ve had a bit of success in the local events and got a few rounds in the heat a couple of weeks ago, so I feel pretty well prepared heading in.”
Lainas’ Holden VS Commodore stands out in the Super Street class thanks to its V6 engine, which is a rarity among its competitors.
“There aren’t too many V6-powered cars running in ANDRA drag racing,” he explained. “It’s a little different, but it’ll surprise a few V8s. It’s about consistency on race day anyway.”
Lainas has no plans to make major adjustments from the South Coast Nationals event-winning setup ahead of The Bend, instead focusing on refining his approach.
“We’re always looking to go faster but we won’t be making any drastic changes—just sticking to the plan of keeping things simple. If I can be sharp on the tree and the car does what it’s supposed to, we’ll be in a good spot,” he said.
Lainas is backed by Northside Performance, a business he operates and where he’s able to build and maintain his own race machine. However, he’s also quick to acknowledge the support of his brothers, Sam and Manuel, who help him along the way.
“It’s a team effort to get to the track, and I’m grateful for everything they do,” he said.
“Winning at South Coast was incredible, but I know every event is a new challenge. There are lots of great racers out there. We’ll take it one at a time, and hopefully, the beers will have to wait till after the final round.”
The ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship will next be on track at Dragway at The Bend for round five of the 2024/2025 series across February 8-9. For event information, visit www.thebend.com.au
The ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship is proud to have the support of series bracket sponsors Gallagher (Modified), the South Australian Drag Racers Association (Super Gas), Top Sportsman Competitors Group (Top Sportsman), the Super Sedan Competitors Group (Super Sedan), Lectron Australia (Competition Bike), Goodyear Racing (Super Street), Langtree’s Machinery Services (Junior Dragster), Huntsman Racing (Supercharged Outlaws); Ballistic Performance Parts (Modified Bike), and Jackie Watt Consultancy / Fardella and Watt Racing (Super Stock); as well as Top Qualifier Medallion sponsor, New Gen Business Park. If you are looking for business opportunities within the ANDRA Regional Sportsman Championship, please email info@andra.com.au
For more from ANDRA, visit www.andra.com.au
