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2022/23 TOP FUEL SEASON REVS UP FOR ALICE SPRINGS OPENING

By Timothy Neal

Date posted: 30 August 2022

The world’s fastest accelerating race cars are amassing at Alice Springs Inland Dragway (ASID) for the opening round of the Australian Top Fuel Championship on September 1-2 as part of the Red CentreNATS festival.

The seven round season, which will also hold its finale in the NT at Darwin in June 2023, starts this Thursday in conjunction with round two of the Australian Drag Racing Championship, at what will be the biggest Red CentreNATS ever held.

The vehicles average up to 510-520km/ph and up, covering the 1000 foot tracks in around three to four seconds in an exhilarating display of flat-out straight-line speed.

PremiAir Racing will be defending their Australian Championship title, with Supercars team owner Peter Xiberras, a veteran of the Top Fuel scene, going for three consecutive titles.

Although they didn’t win a single race last season, its consistency took PremiAir to back-to-back titles, with Xiberras aiming for some victories this time around.

Xiberras with his championship winning dragster

“Last season we took out our second consecutive national Top Fuel title and remarkably, we did it without winning an event; it all came down to our consistency with constant runner-up results across the season,” Xiberras said.

“This season, we want to not only defend our title for a three-peat, but we also want to claim some event trophies along the way!

“We have been unable to do any off-season testing due to rain disrupting our plans, but as always the crew’s preparation has been meticulous, and I am confident we can have a very strong showing in Alice Springs this week.”

PremiAir Racing’s Top Fuel Crew Chief, Tim Adams, says the team is looking forward to racing in Alice Springs for the first time.

“From what we hear, the local fans are very excited about Top Fuel coming to Alice Springs, and with the event being being part of the Red CentreNATS event, a huge crowd is expected,” Adams said.

“We can’t wait to put on a show for the fans in Alice Springs, and hopefully come away with the winner’s trophy and the best possible start to our title defense.”

PremiAir’s Championship winning Top Fuel team watches on

Xiberras took last season’s title in dramatic fashion over Phil Lamattina – a two time Top Fuel champion – after blowing a championship lead at the final round in Darwin, before wrestling it back in the second round of proceedings to make the final and claim the repeat title.

Damien Harris and Wayne Newby came in third and fourth respectively, with Harris having a successful season, claiming two victories after missing the first round, finishing just 70 points off Xiberras on 470 points. 

Newby, who is also a two-time champion, had a frustrating season from a mechanical side of things, and will tackle this year with Rapisarda Autosport International. He’ll be hoping to improve on what can be considered an unlucky fourth place finish to contest for the championship once again.

Phil Read, another former Top Fuel champion finished in fifth, with Shane Olive in sixth for his debut season which included a round four victory, and Larry Dixon rounded out the seven.

Ahead of the Red CentreNATS, Andy Lopez, Red CentreNATS event promoter and Top Fuel promoter, spoke about the upcoming event.

“We’re expecting bumper crowds across all four days,” says Lopez. 

“We’re taking drag racing to the absolute next level this year with the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship and the ADRC Top Doorslammers joining the Heavy Hitter action. There’s so much top shelf drag racing that we’ve had to extend Red CentreNATS to four days so we could fit it all in.”

The Top Fuel’s first round will feature on the Thursday and Friday of the Red CentreNATS event, with the qualifiers to run on the Thursday, and races one and two plus the final (9:00pm) on the Friday.

AUSTRALIAN TOP FUEL 2022/23 CALENDAR 

Round 1 – Alice Springs NT Sept 1-2

Round 2 – Heathcote VIC Oct 1-2

Round 3 – Perth Motorplex WA Nov 11-12

Round 4 – Willowbank QLD Jan 6-7

Round 5 – Tailem Bend SA Mar 11-12

Round 6 – Sydney NSW May 5-6

Round 7 – Darwin NT JUN – TBC

For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the latest issue of Auto Action. 

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