17 April 2011

Fresh from securing the Top Comp championship in his home-state of West Australia, Rob Pilkington is about to head cross-country to Willowbank Raceway for the Castrol EDGE Winternationals.

Pilkington will race his Chev Monte Carlo Funny Car dragster across Friday June 10 to Monday June 13 in the Top Alcohol bracket, one of the six ANDRA Pro Series categories that will be enjoying the season finale event - the largest drag racing event outside of the US - at Willowbank Raceway.

The 44 year old construction manager said he is expecting frenetic racing at the Queen’s Birthday long weekend event, which will be his first on-track outing at the Willowbank Raceway facility.

“We haven’t raced at Willowbank before, but I can’t wait, it is a great facility and always has an outstanding atmosphere,” said Pilkington.

“I expect the racing to be highly competitive, in the Top Alcohol field there are numerous cars being imported at the moment, and its only going to get tougher.

“With the high class cars currently in the field, and the Winternationals being the season finale, I think its going to be pretty intense.”

While not confirmed, Pilkington’s cross-country jaunt for the Castrol EDGE Winternationals could be the start of a more extensive ANDRA Pro Series campaign for the 2011/2012 season.

“We haven’t been racing in the Pro Series this season due to the Top Alcohol calendar this year, so we are really looking forward to the challenge that the biggest race meeting of the year – the Winternationals – will throw at us,” said Pilkington.

“At this stage we aren’t able to confirm our budget for next season, so we will be restricted to limited rounds for now until we can confirm sponsorship.

“This event is the culmination of the Australian Drag Racing season – it is where you want to be, it is certainly where we want to be – competing with the Australian elite of the Top Alcohol ranks.

“We are under no illusion as to how difficult the task will be, but we also aren’t travelling to make up the numbers and will be using all of the resources available to us to try and bring home that Winternationals title.”

The Castrol EDGE Winternationals is an entertainment extravaganza held annually across the Queen’s Birthday weekend (Friday June 10 – Monday June 13) and is expected to provide an economic injection of millions of dollars into the South East Queensland region.

As the season-finale for all six ANDRA Pro Series categories and the Rocket All Stars Racing Series, the racers of Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer, Top Alcohol, Pro Stock, Top Bike and Pro Stock Bike 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