Reigning back-to-back Australian Super Gas Champion Matt Forbes is so determined to take out the southern hemisphere’s biggest drag racing event, Willowbank Raceway’s Winternationals, that he’ll contest two categories to get it done.
Forbes will defend his Super Gas title in his ’57 Lucas Oil Corvette Roadster, but will also debut a Lucas Oil dragster in Modified Eliminator at the Fuchs Winternationals.
Despite chasing three Super Gas crowns on the trot, Forbes says a title isn’t his top priority this weekend.
“I’m not there to play games. I desperately want to win the Winternationals, it’s the only major event I haven’t won,” Forbes said.
“I’ve got a cabinet of trophies from the Spring Nationals, Nitro Champs and ANDRA Championships, so adding a Winternationals trophy to the collection is all I have my mind set on.
“I haven’t raced at Willowbank since 2006, but I’ve got a good history there.”
Forbes will make his Modified debut in an NHRA national event-winning dragster built by TNT Supercars in Texas and formerly owned and raced by Lucas Oil Products co-founder Charlotte Lucas, and knows he has a strong car.
“I’m quietly confident we can go a few rounds in the Lucas Oil dragster,” Forbes said.
“I haven’t raced a dial your own index bracket since my 20s, but I’ve done six passes and [the dragster] runs fantastic.
“I’ll be racing aggressively, just like I do in Super Gas, with the intention of making the final round.”
Forbes heads into the final event of the 2015 Summit Equipment Sportsman Series third in Super Gas points, but said the title hunt is in the back of his mind.
“There’s several guys with a chance of winning, so we just need to take each round as it comes. We’re all battling for sheep stations, so I’ll keep assessing my title chances as we go.”
Racing both the Super Gas and Modified brackets will make for a busy weekend for the Lucas Oil team, but Forbes is believes it will give him the upper hand.
“More runs will put me in good stead for race day. It will give me a really good read on the track, and you can never get enough experience at the tree,” Forbes said.
“Willowbank is the only track in Australia to use LED lights, so the more times I can line up in in front of them the better.”
The Fuchs Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway begin this Thursday, 4 June, and run until Sunday, 7 June.
