Lance Larcombe had his hands full following the ANDRA Grand Final, claiming both the Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series Super Sedan Australian Championship but also the coveted John Storm Memorial Trophy.

The title fight in Super Sedan was exceptionally tight heading into the ANDRA Grand Final, with the top four racers – Larcombe, defending champion Peter Tzokas, Ned Karanovic and former champ Martin Mirco – all in with a shot to win it. Ultimately it was Lance Larcombe who would take the victory, outlasting his rivals to go all the way to the semi-final to rack up enough points to be awarded not only the championship ANDRA Christmas Tree, but also the most prestigious trophy in Australian sportsman racing.

How did you get into drag racing?

As a child I was always interested in motorsport. My brother and I raced motocross when we lived in Townsville. I nagged my father to take me to the drags until one day he did. I clearly remember hanging onto the chain mesh fence like it was yesterday in absolute awe, and from that day I was hooked. Then one day many years later in the late 80s, I was sitting in the stands at Adelaide International Raceway and mentioned to a mate that would be me out there one day – and here we are.

Now that some time has passed, has it sunk in that you are not only the 2022/2023 National Champion, but also the John Storm Memorial winner?

Winning the Super Sedan Championship is a huge achievement for us and one we are very proud of. I believe it is one of the toughest brackets to race with plenty of talented racers going rounds. As for the John Storm Memorial, well that is just the icing on the cake and something that I never contemplated we would achieve.

What does it mean to you to have achieved these amazing feats this season?

With these two achievements under our belt, which I think are the pinnacle of our sport, it justifies to me that all that time, effort and money is worth it.

How long have you been pursuing the Super Sedan championship, and how does it feel now to have achieved it?

We haven’t really been in a position to chase the championship because of work commitments previously, but this year, that changed. We just went out there racing one round at a time and had fun doing it while taking it one meeting at a time.

What are your plans for the upcoming season?  Are you planning on defending the title in the new season, and how confident are you of being able to go back-to-back?

Our plans for this season are definitely to have a red hot crack and back up the championship.

Why do you choose to compete in the Super Sedan category?

We race Super Sedan for a number of reasons. It is a class that our budget suits and also, I am comfortable with the maintenance needed to run the car, it suits us. And it is a real tough class with some great competitors in it.

Do you have plans to try other classes? Why/why not?

Super Sedan is where we will stay – we have no plans of changing.

What was your favourite event of the 2022/2023 season and why?

My favourite event last year was the Desert Nationals. It was our first Christmas Tree win and one I will never forget.

What was the highlight of your season aside from taking out the title?

Our highlight from last season was to win three events in a row, this still blows my mind that we were able to achieve that.

Who would you like to thank for the roles they have played in your title season?

I would like to thank my beautiful partner Donna Mee, Alex Mee, Ryan Lee, plus many, many others that have supported us over the years.

Also, I want to thank these fantastic businesses: Cleveland Freightlines, Overland Locksmiths, R/T Race Craft, Precision Porting, Rhemac Motors, Outlaw Speed Shop, SA Race Trans, and new sponsor, Verdon Transport – thanks everyone, we really appreciate your support!

For the complete listing of ANDRA champions, please click here