In news that will resonate well beyond Victoria, it has been announced that Heathcote Park Raceway will return under new ownership, marking a major boost for Australian drag racing.
Victoria has been in desperate need of a dedicated, operational quarter-mile drag strip capable of hosting national championship-level racing, and Heathcote Park Raceway now looks set to finally fill that void.
While the sale of HPR has been rumoured for months following the venue’s closure by the previous owner on July 21, 2024, confirmation has now come via Facebook that the venue has entered a new chapter. Wally and Lyn Szabolics, Daniel and Sandy Szabolics, along with John and Lauren Ricca, have come together as the new ownership group.
“This has been a long and challenging journey to reach this point,” the new owners said in a joint statement.
“We are incredibly excited about what lies ahead, not just for Heathcote Park Raceway, but for drag racing in Victoria and the wider racing community. Our shared vision is driven by passion, respect for the sport, and a deep commitment to the racers, teams, families and fans who make this community so special.
“This is only the beginning. We can’t wait to share what’s next and take you along for the journey as we build the future together.”
Previously, Lance Warren purchased the venue off long time owner Russell Clarke in 2020 and promised grand plans to return the venue to its former glory as a premier drag strip for Victorians. The future looked promising on the back of some initial track works and the very successful return of professional racing to the venue when the Australian Top Fuel Championship rocked the venue in 2022. But since then there has been a steady decline in venue operations due to a number of factors leading to the shut down.
While the closure came as a gut punch to the Victorian drag racing community, the outlook has now shifted dramatically. With committed new owners at the helm, a critical missing piece of the national drag racing puzzle is back in place — and the future of Heathcote Park Raceway looks brighter than it has in years.
