NEW EVENT DATES, NEW CALENDAR FOR WILLOWBANK RACEWAY IN 2010/2011
10 June 2010
Castrol EDGE Winternationals to move to Friday to Monday format from 2011
While the 2010 Castrol EDGE Winternationals will kick off tomorrow Thursday June 10, Willowbank Raceway management would like to announce that the largest drag racing event outside of the US will move to a ‘Friday to Monday’ race format from 2011.
The move will see the Queen’s Birthday long weekend event kick off in 2011 on Friday June 10 and continue through to Monday June 13, taking full advantage of the Monday public holiday.
Willowbank Raceway Managing Director Steve Bettes said the move to the new format for 2011 onwards had come about after careful consideration of the needs of fans wanting to come along to the largest drag racing event outside of the US.
“The decision to move to the Friday to Monday race format has been made to create a great opportunity for race fans to attend this great event,” said Bettes.
“We understand how difficult it is for most to get away from work commitments on a Friday, so we have moved the entire program forward to take advantage of the Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday Monday.
“The change means that the ANDRA Pro Series Championship categories will now qualify on Saturday and Sunday before racing Monday, while the sportsman categories will qualify Friday and Saturday, before their racing continues Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
“All in all, this new format brings the absolute best racing – from qualifying and eliminations – on to days where the spectators can come and see all of the action without having to sacrifice work to do so.”
The 2011 Castrol EDGE Winternationals date change is not the only change to Willowbank Raceway’s major event calendar for the coming season, which will see Queensland’s premier drag strip host four ANDRA Pro Series events.
The New Year Series will again run over two rounds in Janaury, with a return to the two day format seen last in 2009.
Round One will take place over January 1 and 2, with ANDRA Pro Series racing from the Top Fuel and Top Alcohol categories, before the series continues with round two across January 14 and 15, headlined by Nitro Funny Car racing as well as ANDRA Pro Series racing from the Top Doorslammer and Pro Stock categories.
From there, Willowbank Raceway will next host the ANDRA Pro Series in March, with the Australian Top Fuel Championships (previously held in April) moving to March 25 and 26, with racing from Top Fuel, Top Bike and Pro Stock Bike, before the season-ending Castrol EDGE Winternationals again hit the track over Friday June 10 to Monday June 13.
While Willowbank Raceway will host four ANDRA Pro Series events for the 2010/2011 season, also on the calendar for the Ipswich quarter-mile are weekly test and tunes, bracket meetings, the return of the Pro Street Nationals and the Jamboree as well as a great many other events throughout the year – be sure to check out willowbankraceway.com.au regularly for full schedules and information on upcoming events.
The 2010 Castrol EDGE Winternationals is set to kick off tomorrow on Thursday June 10, with in excess of 480 racers to hit the track over the four days.
The Thursday June 10 to Sunday June 13 event will host the championship ANDRA Pro Series final rounds for Top Fuel, Top Alcohol, Top Doorslammer, Pro Stock, Morgan & Wacker Top Bike and Morgan & Wacker Pro Stock Bike as well as final championship rounds for all of the sportsman brackets. For more information, schedules or to purchase tickets, please visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au