Sydney Dragway has sent an email to racers advising them that the venue will not be hosting vehicles quicker than 10.00 seconds while repairs are made to the catch net system at the end of the braking area.
The email, signed by Sydney Dragway general manager Peter Beaumont and IHRA CEO Maurice Allen read as follows:
The sanctioning body for Sydney Dragway, IHRA Australia, has conducted a series of investigations following the incident involving Sam Fenech’s Pro Slammer at the Santo’s Summer Thunder event last Saturday.
Inspection of the catch net system has identified that one of the support posts at the side of the net has been damaged. This damage has been inspected by an engineer and they have determined that this post will require replacement in order to be fit for competition vehicles and any vehicles quicker than 10.00 seconds (1/4 mile) and 130mph (1/4 mile).
Unfortunately, this determination will force the postponement of the Test and Tune scheduled for the 3rd February 2019 to a date to be announced, as it will not be possible to undertake the necessary repairs in time for this event. Once the new date is confirmed, the entries from the 3rd February event will be automatically transferred to the new date.
This determination will also mean that next Wednesday’s Race for Real (30th January 2019) will be for vehicles slower than 10.00 seconds (1/4 mile) and 130mph (1/4 mile) only.
We are working closely with IHRA Australia and engineers in order to review all aspects of the catch net system, and are taking this opportunity to enhance the safety systems that are already in place, with the ever increasing performance of drag racing vehicles and the future in mind.
We apologise for any inconvenience; however, racer and spectator safety will always be our first priority at Sydney Dragway.
We thank you for your understanding and will provide further updates as they come to hand.
