Rapisarda Autosport International has confirmed plans to race at all rounds of the 2022-23 Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship.
The seven-round series begins at Alice Springs Inland Dragway this weekend, then travels to Victoria, Perth, South Australia, Queensland, Sydney and finishes at Hidden Valley Raceway Darwin in June 2023.
“The family sat down after the final round of last season in June and mapped out a race schedule for the next 12 months,” according to Santo Rapisarda Jr.
“First and foremost on our mind was to commit to the Burson Top Fuel championship for the 2022-23 season. Unfortunately, that clashed with the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis. We are disappointed because we haven’t had the opportunity to race in America since September 2019. We are planning to return and are looking at several options early in 2023.”
Rapisarda Autosport International will field an unchanged driver line-up with Damien Harris and Wayne Newby.
Western Australian-based Harris missed the opening round of last season due to interstate border closures caused by Covid-19, then took wins at his home track in Perth and Hidden Valley, Darwin.
Two-time champ Newby will be looking to improve on his last season, which was blighted by a series of mechanical woes and bad luck.
Santo Rapisarda Jnr will tune the Damien Harris car and sibling Santino will be in charge of the Newby car.
“Our goal is simple,” said Rapisarda. “To win the championship. Last season we started on the back foot, having sat out racing for 18 months, then after a slow start we finished on a real high. Damien won the season’s final round, his second victory of the year and finished third in the championship. Wayne set the Top Speed of the meet and finished fourth overall.”
“Like last year, when we ran at Mildura and Heathcote Park for the first time, you’ve got to be on the ball pretty much from the first qualifier. There will be a lot of challenges over the two days. I’m quietly confident that a Rapisarda car will come out on top.”
