15 April 2011

Only eight weeks remain before the largest drag racing event outside of the US comes to Willowbank. The Castrol EDGE Winternationals set to kick off on June 10 – 13 at Ipswich's Willowbank Raceway.

The Castrol EDGE Winternationals is an entertainment extravaganza held annually across the Queen’s Birthday weekend and is expected to provide an economic injection of millions of dollars into the South East Queensland region.

In a time when the state of Queensland is rebuilding following a natural disaster-ridden start to the year, Ipswich City Council Mayor Paul Pisasale said events such as the Winternationals were critical to the state’s continued recovery.

“The Castrol EDGE Winternationals is the Ipswich region’s biggest event, and with 40,000 spectators and more than 500 racers from all across the country and New Zealand, it is pretty important for the whole South East Queensland region,” said Cr Pisasale.

“The event brings valuable business into our region every year and I am very pleased to get behind this great event which also boosts the number of day visitors and tourists discovering Ipswich and its surrounds.”

Willowbank Raceway Managing Director Steve Bettes said 2011’s running of the four-day event was set to be an entertainment festival across the Friday to Monday format.

“For 2011’s event we have introduced a move to a Friday to Monday format, to make the most of the Queen’s Birthday long weekend public holiday,” said Bettes.

“What better way could there be than to spend the long weekend out at Willowbank Raceway, taking in the extraordinary sights and sounds of 7000 horsepower flame-throwing Top Fuel dragsters.

“While the racing is set to be intense as the season finale of the ANDRA Pro Series championship chase, there is plenty to see and do off the quarter-mile surface as well, with roving entertainers, kids rides, display vehicles and pit lane to explore.”

The Castrol EDGE Winternationals will be the season-finale for all six ANDRA Pro Series categories, with Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer, Top Alcohol, Pro Stock, Top Bike and Pro Stock Bike all set to hit the track across June 10-13. They will be joined by in excess of 500 sportsman racers of all types and sizes, as the entire Willowbank Raceway precinct comes alive with all types of things to see and do.

Children aged 13 and under are able to gain free admission to the Raceway during the Castrol EDGE Winternationals, and students with ID are able to gain discounted entry. One-day, two-day and full-event passes are all available – for more information, to purchase tickets and for schedules, please visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au

Willowbank Raceway is Queensland’s premier drag racing facility, hosting year-round racing including four ANDRA Pro Series rounds per year including the Castrol EDGE Winternationals. For more information, please visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au

EVENT INFORMATION: CASTROL EDGE WINTERNATIONALS

Feature racing: Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer, Top Alcohol, Pro Stock, Top Bike, Pro Stock Motorcycle

Also racing from: Lifestyle Floorcoverings Competition, Lifestyle Floorcoverings Super Stock, Super Compact, Competition Bike, Allstar Batteries Supercharged Outlaws, Knijff Earthmoving Modified, Powercruise Super Sedan, Speed Elec/Prime Signs Super Street, Modified Bike, Donnelly Blasting Services Junior Dragster and Super Gas.

Schedule
(Approximate and subject to change – visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au
for updates)
Friday June 10
On-track qualifying action from 9.00am – approximately 7.30pm
Pro Stock Qualifying at 5.00pm

Saturday June 11
On-track action from 8.00am – approximately 8.00pm
ANDRA Pro Series Qualifying from 12.00pm – approximately 5.30pm

Sunday June 12
On-track action from 8.30am – approximately 6.30pm
ANDRA Pro Series Qualifying from 12 noon – approximately 5.30pm

Monday June 13
On-track action from 8.30am – approximately 4.30pm
Opening Ceremonies – 10.30am
ANDRA Pro Series racing at 11.00am, 1.15pm and all finals from 2.45pm

Ticketing – tickets available for purchase from www.willowbankraceway.com.au

NB: General Admission = access to the spectator mound and paddock area
NB: Multi-day passes are available for pre-purchase through the Willowbank Raceway website only, no at-gate purchase of multi-day passes will be available

General Admission Tickets:

One-day passes:
Friday June 10 – Adult General Admission- $20.00
Friday June 10 – Student/Concession General Admission (Must show ID) – $20.00
Saturday June 11 – Adult General Admission – $50.00
Saturday June 11 – Student/Concession General Admission (Must show ID) – $42.00
Sunday June 12 – Adult General Admission – $50.00
Sunday June 12 – Student/Concession General Admission (Must show ID) – $42.00
Monday June 12 – Adult General Admission – $50.00
Monday June 12 – Student/Concession General Admission (Must show ID) – $42.00

Two-day General admission pass (available in Saturday/Sunday or Sunday/Monday format):
Adult – $90.00
Student/Concession (must show ID) – $75.00

Three-day General admission pass, including complimentary Friday General Admission:
Adult – $140.00
Student/Concession (must show ID) – $110.00

Reserved seating (price DOES NOT include admission), available for Saturday, Sunday and Monday:
Startline Club – $16.00 per day
Grandstand – $12.00 per day

For information on corporate options at the Castrol EDGE Winternationals, please visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au