McFadden Aussie assault boosted by new Toyota factory engines

Aussie global star James McFadden and Hodges Motorsport are primed for another big summer of speedway with the valuable addition of new Toyota engines.

McFadden is back in down under after another impressive campaign in the cutthroat World of Outlaws championship in America and wants a third Grand Annual Classic crown.

Once again the five-time World Series Sprintcars is fronting up with the newly formed Hodges Motorsport team backed by NAPA and the likes of Scott McLaughlin, Jack Riewoldt, Gerard Whateley and Tim Hodges.

James McFadden tinkering with the TRD engine in his Roth Motorsports World of Outlaws machine in America. Image: Trent Gower/WOO

Whilst they will be racing the same #5 car, the team is boosted by the presence of factory Toyota Racing Development engines.

McFadden has worked closely with the Japanese manufacturer, having raced their power plants in America for Roth Motorsports and pushed the TRD 410 engine to two wins within its first 10 races.

James McFadden celebrates victory at the Southern Iowa Speedway with a Toyota engine in the WOO. Image: Richard Hathaway

Through this connection McFadden will have two Toyota sprintcar engines at his disposal this season and believes they could be an ace up his sleeve.

“Right now there are only eight Toyota sprintcar engines in existence, so to have two come down here and represent them is really cool,” McFadden told AUTO ACTION.

“They don’t do anything by halves so I will get a really good and promising engine.

McFadden racing at the Premier Speedway, finishing in P2 at Max’s Race in the new NAPA Auto parts Sprintcar last year.

“Toyota are heavy in speedway and grassroots racing in America. Their midget program is huge being 60 to 70 percent of the field and this year their development stuff with the 410 has been a lot of fun.

“I am excited with what is going to come with them and having them in the sport will only make it better.

“What they do in America in sprintcars and NASCAR is top notch, so I am excited to take them racing in Australia.”

McFadden and Hodges Motorsport will complete their first race together at Max’s Race at Premier Speedway, Warrnambool on Saturday, December 16, which will be a valuable stepping stone to the Classic.

Main image by Steven Walters

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