The Lamattina Top Fuel Racing (LTFR) team made their return at the 54th Westernationals at Perth Motorplex, delivering awesome performances and gaining valuable data as they battled some of the best in the sport.
Testing and Qualifying: The weekend kicked off with a successful test pass, where Phil Lamattina piloted the LTFR FUCHS Top Fuel dragster to a strong launch and a solid half-track shut-off. The team gathered important data ahead of the first round of qualifying.
In Q1, Phil came out strong, launching hard off the line. However, the track couldn’t quite hold the power, and the tyres started to haze past half-track. Despite the challenge, the team gathered crucial information to fine-tune their set-up for Q2.
Q2 saw another hard launch, but once again, the LTFR dragster overpowered the track just after the 60-foot mark, forcing an early shut-off. While not the ideal outcome, the team remained focused, knowing that race day would be the true test.
Race Day Action: LTFR’s first elimination saw Phil lining up against the PremiAir Racing team. The car was well-matched, but in an effort to push the limits, Phil jumped early, lighting the red and handing the win to Peter Xiberras.
Undeterred, the team delivered an incredible side-by-side battle in the following session, with Phil and Damien Harris leaving the line with identical reaction times and staying evenly matched through 60-foot and 330-foot. In the end, Harris edged ahead, but both cars ran spectacular 3.8-second passes, showcasing the very best of Top Fuel racing.
In the C-Final, LTFR gave it everything but fell short of the result they were chasing.
Despite the challenges, the weekend was filled with positives, and the team is already looking ahead to their next opportunity to fire up.
Looking Ahead: While the Westernationals didn’t end with the results LTFR had hoped for, the team remains focused and determined. A huge thank you goes out to all the fans, both at the track and online, for their continued support.
“It was a tough weekend, but that’s Top Fuel racing—you have to be prepared for anything,” said Phil Lamattina. “We gave it everything we had, and while the results weren’t what we wanted, there are plenty of positives to take away with a great new crew and some fantastic signs. The car showed strong potential, and we’ll be working hard to come back even stronger at The Bend.
“A massive thank you to our team and all the fans who support us. We’ll be ready to fire up again soon.”
LTFR will regroup and come back stronger for their next battle at Dragway at The Bend, South Australia, April 4 – 6.
