Sydney drag racer Paul Mouhayet, the world’s fastest doorslammer racer, will be making his first appearance in WA in the turbocharged Moits Racing Ford Mustang, contesting the APSA Extreme class.
The Western Australian drag racing season begins again this Saturday at Perth Motorplex with the Grand Opening featuring the APSA Pro Street Shootout.
Mouhayet said he has been looking forward to racing in Perth for a long time and will be keen to set off a battle between drivers using turbochargers and those using mechanical superchargers.
“I am happy to go over there and mix it up with the blower (supercharger) guys, that’s what the crowd want to see. Whether the Top Doorslammer guys like it or not the people who pay to see it want it,” he said.
A war of words has developed in the past few months with each team claiming the superiority of their equipment.
Mouhayet said the team expect to take a few runs to adapt to the Perth racing surface but based on past performances it should be capable of holding some strong times.
“We have data on Sydney and I can go 5.8sec. there easily, but I have never raced in Perth so a lot of those Top Doorslammer guys have the upper hand,” he said.
Mouhayet has run as quick as 5.75sec. and as fast as 420kmh in his Australian car which makes it the second quickest doorslammer in the country after WA’s John Zappia. His US-based Mustang has run 5.59sec. at 440kmh and holds the world record for speed.
The Australian car was originally designed for 10.5 inch wide tyre racing, a popular sub-category of doorslammer racing in the USA.
“It’s a 105 inch wheelbase with single frame rail, the same as a Pro Stock car, most Top Doorslammers are 115 inch with twin frame rail. We have all the odds stacked against us but it seems to work on the little tyre,” he said.
“It is interesting to drive because of the wheelbase and it makes it fun, but when you lay into it we do struggle as it power wheelstands.”
Inevitably Mouhayet’s achievements draw comparisons to Top Doorslammers, but despite the hype he is wary to try and match the two up.
“It’s the same weight as a Top Doorslammer, but we’re probably 10 or 12 cubic inches bigger.”
Among the racers Mouhayet will confront in the APSA Extreme category will be Top Doorslammer drivers John Zappia and Daniel Gregorini, plus fellow NSW turbocharged racer Zoran Gajic.
Qualifying begins from 11am Saturday with the feature program from 5pm.
{fcomment}
