2010 AUSTRALIAN WINGLESS SPRINT RACING NATIONAL
TITLE
The excitement, the tension,
the pressure and the commitment are all the ingredients for the
build up to the 2010 Australian Wingless Sprint Racing National
Title. For drivers and their pit crew, the recent weeks of
preparation have been essential for their shot at being Australia’s
#1 Wingless Sprint driver.
The National Title is being
held at Borderline Speedway, Mount Gambier on Saturday 06 and Sunday
07 March 2010 and has attracted more than sixty drivers from five
Australian States. Drivers from Western Australia, New South Wales
and Queensland will make the long haul to Mount Gambier whilst
drivers from Victoria and South Australia dominate the entry list.
For most of the competitors,
the lead up weeks have gone according to plan, but for Western
Australian driver Marshall McDiarmid, things turned sour last
weekend when he blew his race engine. McDiarmid was making keen to
contest the title and was considered by many critics to be a serious
challenger for the title but his major engine destruction now has
him waiting until 2011. Fellow Western Australian driver, Lee Nash
will take his place in the Championship field and he comes to Mount
Gambier in brilliant form, having swept all before him in his home
State this season.
The Queensland contingent
will be headed by experienced campaigner, Anthony Vanderreyden.
Whilst his competitive record in the Wingless Sprints category is
limited, Vanderreyden has vast experience in the sprintcar division.
Adam Butler is expected to
be one of the leading contenders from New South Wales. He has won
his home State title and along with fellow New South Welshmen Craig
Skene and Daniel Flood are expected to make their mark on the title
chase.
However, the strong list of
competitors from Victoria and South Australia are the firm
favourites to grab the title. South Australian Rory Button is the
defending National Champion and the pressure will really be on him
to make it back-to-back crowns. The two South Australian drivers who
have been in hot form this season Mason Merritt and Todd Wigzell.
Merritt won a lead-up race at Murray Bridge Speedway last weekend
and is naturally confident that he can carry that form into the
Championship chase. On the other hand, Wigzell won the South
Australian Wingless Sprint Title this year taking the honour from
Rory Button and many critics believe that Wigzell’s driving record
and style make him the early favourite for the event.
Victorian drivers dominate
the nomination list with almost forty competitors indicating that
they will contest the Championship. State champion, Jeffrey Judd,
Steve Trigg, Mark Walsh and Phil Micaleff will head the strong
Victorian contingent. One of the interesting facts from the
nomination list from Victoria is that no less than four Balcombe
family members will be hard at it on the racetrack. Leigh, Mark,
Mathew and Brendan Balcombe will put family ties aside as they
strive to win the coveted Australian Title.
Drivers will use Friday night 05 March practice sessions as their
final preparation for the AWSR National Title, with qualifying heats
to be run on Saturday night 06 March, with the last of the
qualifying heats and the Championship Final to be contested on
Sunday night 07 March.
