Despite everyone’s best efforts, completion of the penultimate round of the Atura NSW Championship Series at Sydney Dragway seemed doomed from the onset.
With a dire weather forecast, qualifying was reduced to just two rounds in the hope of squeezing the event in before a predicted severe storm unleashed hell – and the event may of just been completed if the day went smoothly like most track championship events do. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case this time, with a string of severe oil downs and delays pushing the amended program back, and when the predicted fury of the approaching storm cell struck, only a few brackets had completed their round one of eliminations.
The day started on a downer when current Super Street points leader Stan Nikitaras snapped a crank in his Capri during Q1 causing all kinds of mess. Fortunately for Nikitaras, the rain out limits points damage, and should he be able to fix the Capri, will still be in with a shot and the final round.
As the day trudged on, delays and oil downs littered proceedings. The worst coming from the new JSS Racing Pro Slammer Camaro driven by Sam Fenech. The first time out for the team’s new car went pear shaped on their second run when a mechanical failure sent the Camaro hard right across track, Fenech did a sensational steering job to keep the Camaro from impacting the wall as it skated in oil, but unfortunately tagged left wall coming back the other way. It is a devastating blow for the team with the new car, which will now see them thrash to have it ready for East Coast Thunder.
There were a few other professional teams testing, but no serious numbers were dropped.
Craig Burn’s had a near miss in his freshly painted blown Mustang weapon that looks stunning, they are set to race Pro Radial at East Coast Thunder.
Of the rounds of racing that were run, Modified contenders Peter Brown and Daniel Flack both won their first round match ups.
Top Sportsman saw the debut of Frank and Ronnie Palumbo’s GTO, and Pete and Sarah Glass’ ‘Black Betty’ Torana, unfortunately it was during Top Sportsman’s first round when the storm cell released its fury.
Super Sedan championship leader Robert Chapman kept his 20 point advantage by winning round one as he looks to win back to back championships.
We will know who this year’s track champions at Sydney Dragway will be at the completion of the final round on November 24.
A video of a few of the “moments” from the event.
