13 July 2011

Dave Newcombe has become the first Pro Stock driver in Australia to record a time in the six second bracket during testing this morning for this weekend's Castrol EDGE Winternationals resumption at Willowbank Raceway.

Newcombe charged down the strip in a time of 6.994s at 194.8mph (313.5kph) during his test run.

The time betters the current national elapsed time record of 7.033, held by John Barbagallo and the current national speed record of 194.2mph (312.5kph) held by Peter Ridgeway.

Despite the speed and time established, given the run was held outside of a race meeting environment, it won’t count as a new national record.

“It’s very pleasing to set this time,” said Newcombe briefly whilst preparing for another run. “It sets us up well for the weekend – we hope we’ll be able to do something similar, if not a bit quicker during the meeting.”

The race has been on among the Pro Stock teams to see who would be the first to eclipse seven seconds. Earlier in the day, Jason Grima went perilously close, recording a 7.002 before Newcombe came out and pipped him.

It could not be a better way to set the scene for hostilities to resume at the Castrol EDGE Winternationals this weekend – especially with four drivers in with a shot at taking victory in the ANDRA Pro Series Pro Stock Championship.

The Pro Stock class – as the only ANDRA Pro Series category to run to a full 16-car field – is enormously tight right across the board. Several competitors had dalliances with the six-second bracket during the three qualifying sessions held on the June Long Weekend, but nobody was able to crack that barrier.

“It’s game on from now,” said Willowbank Raceway Managing Director, Steve Bettes. “To see that time on the board this morning was unbelievable, Dave and his team should be enormously proud of what they’ve achieved.

“We’re proud for him being a Queensland competitor at a Queensland track setting such a quick time.

“It’s safe to say any thoughts of winning the Castrol EDGE Winternationals are out the window now for most Pro Stock teams – the race is on for that quickest official six second pass.”

The Castrol EDGE Winternationals will resume this weekend – July 15-17 – with the final qualifier for Pro Stock and the final two rounds of qualifying for other ANDRA Pro Series categories on Saturday.

Eliminations for all ANDRA Pro Series categories will take place on Sunday. The Rocket All Stars Series Racing will resume from Friday and continue to Sunday’s finals.

There’s action on and off track right throughout the weekend at Willowbank Raceway for the whole family, including entertainment, Darren Morgan Racing’s ‘World First’ fully-operational Top Fuel dragster simulator and historic displays.

Professional drag racing is one of the few motorsports where fans have the opportunity to interact with drivers and their teams as they prepare for the upcoming run.

Schedules, entry lists, ticketing information and sales for the Castrol EDGE Winternationals is available currently on www.willowbankraceway.com.au.

Feature racing throughout the weekend will include Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer, Top Alcohol, Pro Stock, Top Bike and Pro Stock bike.

The Rocket All Stars Series and Sportsman racing will see their season’s come to a close as well, with racing from the following categories: Lifestyle Floorcoverings Competition, Lifestyle Floorcoverings Super Stock, NSANE.net.au 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, Neptunes Pool Care Super Gas