Lee Bektash has armed himself to the teeth for an assault on the ANDRA Drag Racing Series in Pro Stock this season, coming into the opening event in Adelaide on October 20 with what he says is his best horsepower yet under the bonnet of the factory-backed Mopar.

Last season Bektash finished with just one round win from five events but also lost three races by less than a tenth of a second. With a bunch of testing done in the off season producing quality results including an unofficial highest ever speed for an Australian Pro Stock car at 196mph (315kph), the Mopar team has positioned itself for a turn around.

“We’ve got our brand new billet engine that arrived at the Fuchs Winternationals,” Bektash said. “We are in a real good position, we will end up with three engines and we are teamed up with (fellow Mopar driver) Wayne Daley. Our shock absorber program and engine program is really a good step from where we’ve been.

“I can honestly say that this year is probably the best position we have been in with inventory. It all has to come together for us and hopefully on race day it works.”

The Victorian driver is keen to find out what the Pro Stock field will be able to manage at Adelaide International Raceway where the opening round of the championship will be held.

“Adelaide will be the place where if your set up is not 100% you are going to fall behind,” he said. “Horsepower is not going to be the key at Adelaide. But you don’t know, if the weather is right and the track temp is right it could still be there for fast times.

“We are leaving the car set up as it was at Willowbank and we will see how the track goes. My crew chief Tommy Laine is keen on making changes every run, he has the confidence and knowledge to do that.

“The speed (in testing) is a good thing to base yourself on but time is what will make you win races, so we need to concentrate on the first half of the track in our set up now. What we did in Queensland testing was not try and run personal bests but to get down the track. I have no doubt the car can run seven flat at 195mph every pass. We are chasing consistency and aiming at being the best.”

You can read more on Lee Bektash and his Mopar team in the November issue of Motorsport News, on sale soon.

For more information on the ANDRA Drag Racing Series season opener, click here.