Sport
1 February, 2024
Big night of racing at Blue Ribbon
Blue Ribbon Raceway will host Round Three of the Wingless Sprint Super Series Formula 500, along with a round of an AMCA Series on Saturday.
Driver of the V60 Wingless Sprint, Horsham's Steven Hateley, will be one of the competitors in the event on Saturday night.
Hateley has been racing for nearly 20 years but has been competing in the class since 2016.
As he explains, "a Wingless Sprint is a purpose-built chrome moly chassis race car with an engine, a seat and steering wheel, quick change diff, some big tyres and not much else".
"They are exciting and lightweight," he added.
Having won the last Wingless Sprint race at Blue Ribbon, Hateley said the aim is to go back-to-back on Saturday, but admitted he hasn't had the greatest start to the season.
"Blake Walsh has just about won everything this season and will be hard to beat, Chris Ansell has been fast this season as has Nicholas Ryan, Tom McDonald and Will Caruso," he said.
"Even Cameron O'Brien may have a shot."
A big field has also nominated for the first round the AMCA Interstate Challenge.
Hugene Charvat, the representative of the State for AMCA Nationals Victoria, explained AMCA are a specifically built chassis based on a Holden HQ clip front, can be either left- or right-hand drive, with open wheels at the front and the rear wheels under the deck.
"They are unique in that sense that they are half open wheel, half sedan," Charvat said.
“We run a controlled tyre, so the class is close, and we are in the process of going from a Holden 253 as the only engine that you can run, to now being able to run the 602 Crate Chevy.
"The Chevys are basically an engine that is sealed, so all exactly the same, and all that has done is bring the class and the racing closer together, so it comes down to the ability of the driver more so than how much money they have."
Charvat said drivers to watch out for included Justin Richardson and Neale Peachey, both of whom have won feature races this year, along with Stevie Hopkins and Stewey Campbell.
There will also be action aplenty besides the features, with supports provided by Production Sedans, SSA 1200 Juniors and V8 Trucks.
Gates open at 3:30pm, with racing from 4:30pm.