The last time Enio Marrocco raced it was at the 2020 South Coast 660 and he went all the way to the final in Super Sedan against eventual winner, Graeme Cooper.
Twelve months later, Marrocco and his fellow Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series competitors are eagerly preparing for next weekend’s 2021 South Coast 660 at South Coast Raceway.
The January 23 and 24 event will mark a return to competition for the extended 19/20/21 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series after COVID-19 forced a pause in proceedings in March.
“Looking back on the 2020 South Coast 660, it sure does feel like a long time ago,” Marrocco said.
“That was the last event that I raced at due to all of the COVID-19 stoppages and we are definitely looking forward to getting back into it, enjoying the day and having some fun with friends we haven’t seen for a while.
“Portland’s South Coast Raceway is a great little track; it is nice and green, and the team is really great.
“Last year the event went well for us and we went all the way to the final, but as anyone who has been in this sport a while knows, you need to have some luck go your way as well!
“I have been racing against Graeme for more than three decades. We have had some great battles over the years, and I believe that was the first time he had beaten me – it is always great to race against him and you cannot win them all, especially given that he is one of the toughest competitors in the field!”
While Marrocco, the owner of Martello Automotive, has had an extended off-season this year, he has not made any changes to his Chev-powered Gemini Coupe.
“The day after every race meeting, I always do a full check over of the vehicle front to back including a full engine and fuel service, but since the post South Coast 660 check last year, I have just had it raised up on the hoist and I haven’t done anything to it at all,” Marrocco said.
“I will start it up this weekend to make sure everything is okay as we don’t want any nasty surprises at the track, but other than that it will be as it was at the 2020 South Coast 660.
“After so much time away, the first pass is always going to be fast, and I am really looking forward to getting back into it.”
Marrocco, the 1994 National Super Street Champion, has been drag racing for more than 30 years.
“I started out in Super Street and took out a national title in 1994, but the majority of my time has been spent in Super Sedan,” he explained.
“It is a really good bracket. A lot of people do not realise it is not just ‘green light and go,’ there are a lot of tactics involved. Our field of racers are also very tough competitors, and they are all on the ball.
“I am excited to be getting amongst it with them again this weekend and hopefully we can have some luck!
“In the meantime, I would like to thank my wife Isabella for all of her support over the years, my business Martello Automotive, and also my crew members Frank Bellinvia and Darren Nichele for all of their help.”
The South Coast 660 will be held at South Coast Raceway across Saturday January 23 and Sunday January 24 and will host SRESS racing for the Summit Racing Equipment Junior Dragster, Modified Bike, Super Street, Super Sedan, Modified, Top Sportsman, Competition Bike, Super Stock, Competition, Supercharged Outlaws and Super Gas brackets. For further details, visit www.southcoastraceway.com.au
The event will mark round 10 of the 19/20/21 Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Series season which has been extended in the face of COVID-19 to not only deliver successful completion of the current competition, but also a record prize pool thanks to Summit Racing Equipment. The performance powerhouse has announced it will offer 50 percent extra end of season prize money for a total prize pool of more than $100k including $10k for the prestigious John Storm Memorial, creating the biggest prize pool in Australian Drag Racing history. For more details, please click here.
For more information, visit www.andra.com.au
IMAGE: ENIO MARROCCO IN ACTION AT SOUTH COAST RACEWAY. CREDIT: OUTLAW IMAGES