RANDLE EXCITED FOR SPORTS SEDAN RETURN

After recently finishing within the top 10 in his Supercars Wildcard appearance at The Bend, Thomas Randle will transfer his focus to the Precision International National Sports Sedan Series.

It’s been two years since Randle competed in the title-winning Chev-powered SAAB 9-3 prepared by his father Dean, who won the 2006 Australian Sports Sedan Championship.

Randle is keen to return to the wheel of what is regarded as one of the fastest Sports Sedans in the country.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of that beast,” Randle remarked.

“It’s just a really raw machine to drive, the chassis was built by Ron Hossack back in 2009 and my dad along with many other helpers through the journey have built it to where it is today.

“Dad and a few of his crew have put a lot of hours at the shop to get it up and running, it’s just going to be great to get back behind the wheel of it.”

Recalling the last time he was behind the wheel in 2019, Randle demonstrated the SAAB’s pace, but the weekend ended prematurely.

“The last time I raced it was the middle of 2019, I think it was just after the Townsville Super2 event and the engine blew up in qualifying,” he recalled.

“We got pole, I got the fastest lap across the line, but then the engine blew up.

“The engine has been rebuilt at KRE, those guys do an amazing job and we came here last Friday for a test day.”

Wakefield Park provides a unique challenge to Sports Sedan drivers through its tight and twisty layout, which is emphasised by this being the category’s debut on the Kumho control tyre.

“I’m looking forward to getting back into the Sports Sedan Series, we’ll be running on the Kumho tyres, which I’ve never done in this category so I’m looking forward to see what that’s like,” he said.

“It’s a very short, tricky track. There are not many breaks so you’re pretty physically spent afterwards and you’ve got to really muscle that car.”

Randle has had a frantic start to the year where he finished runner up in the inaugural S5000 Australian Driver’s Championship, which was followed by a Wildcard appearance for Tickford Racing at The Bend, which will continue at the Darwin and Perth Supercars events.

Confirming his participation in all five Precision International National Sports Sedan Series rounds, Randle said the SAAB is the closest thing he drives to a Supercar as he keeps match fit ahead of his third Bathurst 1000 campaign in October.

“Every lap is important mileage and that’s where having the Sports Sedan I’m very fortunate we’ve got this car in our artillery to do these races,” Randle explained.

“To be doing five National Sports Sedan rounds is just more mileage for me, it’s something very similar power, weight-wise, no ABS, no traction control, so it’s the closest thing I drive to a Supercar.”

Randle starts his assault this weekend at Wakefield Park.

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