Lamattina top qualifier as Nitro Champs heat up
The Nitro Champs will heat up at Sydney Dragway today and Phil Lamattina heads into the big day of racing in front.
The penultimate round of the 2022/2023 Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship and the Australian Drag Racing Championship ignited on Friday afternoon with qualifying.
Despite all eyes being on title contenders Damian Harris, Phil Read and Peter Xiberras, it was Lamattina, who set the ultimate Top Fuel pace.
His 3.77 run was enough to edge out Harris, who recorded a 3.79. The biggest celebrations were seen from Wayne Newby’s team after the driver’s new personal best 3.80 being enough to score P3.
Title contenders Xiberras (3.83) and Read (4.08) rounded out the top five, ahead of Kyle Putland (4.17), Shane Olive (4.34) and visiting US star, Larry Dixon (7.690), who experienced problems in both runs.
Lamattina set the ultimate pace in Q1, with his hopes of improving in Q2 curtailed by a fire.
The LTFR driver admitted the feeling of setting such a fast run has uplifted his team.
“We weren’t shocked but obviously when you haven’t run that quick ever, it sort of takes a little bit for it to sink in for everyone,” Lamattina said.
“It was a personal best, so that is great and a really good morale booster for the team.
“Obviously we have been struggling a fair bit lately, so we have been working on stuff and we tested the car last Friday and it went well.
“It really is a testament to the hard work that has been put in by Shane Olive, and also Luke Marsden and all the work he has been putting in before he left. Aaron Hambridge sort of just gave it a few little tweaks and then bang, it is all there.”
Despite the fire, Lamattina is not concerned, stating it gives the “confident” team an idea of how far it can push the limits.
“(After Q2) we know where our boundaries are now, and we have got a good handle on the race car,” he said.
“I know it might not have looked like that, but we know what is going on and why. I don’t want to make excuses, it is what it is, and we continue to learn, so it is all good.
“We are feeling quietly confident. Anytime you start off number one it is a good thing. But there are also so many great competitors here and it is a tough field.
“Whoever gets through, they are going to have earnt it, that is for sure. At the end of the day, race day is the most important day, and that was just qualifying.”
John Zappia was the leading Top Doorslammer qualifier at the Nitro Championships. Image: Cackling Pipes Photography
Top Doorslammer points leader Kelvin Lyle got his weekend off to a good start by topping Q1 with a 5.560s time.
But his title rival John Zappia hit back to top Q2 with a 5.562s run to lead the field into race day, while Daniel Gregorini was third.
With the times being close, Zappia expects an open fight for Top Doorslammer honours after an up and down qualifying day.
“It is anyone’s game,” Zappia said.
“We overpowered it on the first run – we came with a tune-up that went well in Perth but overpowered the track here. The air was pretty good in that first one and so we had to pedal it to still do a 5.90 which was pretty impressive at 255 miles per hour.
“We backed it off a heap at the start line for Q2 and sent it, it dead hooked the Hoosiers and went on to do a 5.642 second run at 257 miles per hour, even with moving around a bit at the top end where the track was a bit loose.
“I was really happy with that, even though we nearly slowed it down too much given how it took off.
“But it got down the track and ended up holding as number one, so we were pretty impressed, especially given the 1.006 sixty foot time which is slow for this type of car.
“Saturday is another day, and we race at 2.00pm which we have not done, so it will be a bit of a guessing game.”
Benny Stevens was the fastest on two wheels at Sydney Dragway. Image: Cackling Pipes Photography
The leading Top Fuel Motorcycle qualifier was Benny Stevens, who took P1 with a 6.501s run in the opening phase.
Aaron Deery took second, but may not feature when racing begins after going too deep into the sand and sustaining damage.
Third fastest was Chris Matheson (6.860) ahead of title leader, Rob Cassar (7.039), John Zahra (13.485) and Leonard Azzopardi (22.365).
For full event information including entry lists and scheduling information, and to buy tickets, visit http://sydneydragway.com.au/
For information on the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship and the Australian Drag Racing Championship (ADRC), visit www.topfuelchampionship.com.au
Saturday’s racing will be broadcast live on 7 Plus from 1.45pm AEST.
Tune into @7plus via the web, app, or on your smart TV.
https://7plus.com.au/
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