Reigning ANDRA Top Fuel Champion, Phil Lamattina has launched his season with a pair of second places at the Perth Motorplex, whilst brother John has secured fourth place in the championship standings following some consistent performances in the second Fuchs Top Fuel dragster at the Nitro Max event.
The qualifying sessions for both days proved to be some of the best and tightest on record, with all six cars tightly locked together in terms of performance in the four-second bracket.
On day one it was Sydney-sider Wayne Newby in the top spot, followed by the Fuchs dragster of Phil Lamattina heading the field on the following night of racing.
“What a qualifying session!” exclaimed Lamattina. “To have it that tight in Top Fuel racing is something else, it’s great to see everyone stepping up their game.
“Having the two cars will help us get these cars humming but this event shows we will not have it all our own way. It’s going to be on for the championship”
Phil made the final on both nights but was unable to get the win light against WA native, Damien Harris who took two round wins from as many nights.
Harris leaves Perth with the points lead, though with Phil Lamattina earning the several of the bonus points highest terminal speed over the event, the gap between the two is minimal.
The ANDRA Top Fuel Championship now moves on to the Santo’s Super 3 Extreme Drag Race at Willowbank Raceway on Easter Saturday for the Louie Rapisarda Memorial Trophy.
Phil concluded, “To leave with second for me and forth for John in the standings is a good result but we’d obviously like to take the win in Queensland for the Louie Rapisarda Memorial Trophy.”
“Leading into this event, unfortunately we had a memorial of our own, we lost our good friend and team chef, Adrian Broom. We would have loved to have honoured Adrian with a Christmas Tree Trophy and a win but in the end I’m sure he saw us wearing our ‘Broomy black aprons’ and smiled down on us.”
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