Australian Motor Racing Series Thunder Sports Latest News

Category Calendar Available for Download

Click the icon to the right to view the 2008 Thunder Sports calendar. Right click and select "save as" to download a copy of the file.

Stay tuned for the launch of the brand new Thunder Sports website that will be at the address: www.thundersports.net.au - update your bookmarks now!

Category Calendar Available for Download

Click the icon to the right to view the 2008 ProtoSports calendar. Right click and select "save as" to download a copy of the file.

Stay tuned for the launch of the brand new ProtoSports website that will be at the address: www.protosports.net.au - update your bookmarks now!

New Website for Thunder Sports and ProtoSports

Heading into the 2008 season, Thunder Sports and ProtoSports are set to gain their own websites.

The AMRS website (www.amrs.net.au) will continue to function, and will serve as a central meeting point of the categories competing in the 2008 AMRS, and both Thunder Sports and the newly created ProtoSports will now gain their own sites to better reflect their status. Work on the new sites is underway, and they should be released early in the new year.

March 1-2 - WAKEFIELD PARK (NSW)
April 25-27 - CALDER PARK (VIC)
May 17-18 - QUEENSLAND RACEWAY
June 14-15 - WINTON RACEWAY (VIC)
July 26-27 - ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY (SA)
August 30-31 - CALDER PARK (VIC)
September 27-28 - QUEENSLAND RACEWAY
November 1-2 - WINTON RACEWAY (VIC)
November 29-30 - WAKEFIELD PARK (NSW)

Newly crowned 2007 Australian Thundersports champion Tom Drewer has been signed to race for the PVM Team in the American LeMans Series’ IMSA Lites in the USA next year (2008).

‘Signing to drive in the USA has really capped off a stellar 2007 for me. I had my first Fujitsu V8 Supercar drive, I won first time out in the V8 Giants category in Garry Wilmington’s car, we won the Thundersports title and now I have a full season next year in IMSA Lites in America’, an elated Drewer said this week.

Drewer said his drive in the USA had come about as a result of driving the Australian factory entered WEST car owned by Greg Steer in the Thundersports category.

‘The guys in the American factory have been keeping an eye on the results and the data from our car in Australia and this is how the opportunity arose’.

Drewer will be racing a brand new tunnel version of the WEST in the L2 division of the IMSA Lites Series for the Atlanta based PVM Team that has direct links with the factory.

‘I leave for the USA early January and the team have found me a place to live, so it’s all great. I will be shaking down the new car soon after I get there in advance of a three day official test at Sebring, where my first race will be in March at the American LeMans 12-hour meeting’.

Drewer said the decision to take the drive in America had been an ‘easy one to make’.

‘I was in line for a test for a main game V8 Supercar team and would still like to take that opportunity, but
I think racing in the USA can only help my career. The opportunity to race at circuits like Sebring, Road Atlanta, Lime Rock, and Laguna Seca doesn’t come along every day of the week and I will be going all out
to perform well in a totally new environment’.

‘I guess I will have to spend plenty of time on the PlayStation learning the tracks, but at least I know the car pretty well, although the chassis I will be driving in the USA will be a lot quicker with its high down force tunnel floor and it will also have a upgraded electronic paddle shift as compared to the Australian car’.

‘I have resigned my job as an Art Director at an advertising agency and sold up everything to go and live in the USA and while I am looking for sponsors both in Australia and the USA the drive is secured, so now it’s up to me to prove I am worthy of some commercial backing’.

Drewer said he had already received some support from individuals who would have their name on the race car in the USA.

‘Its been great that people who have followed my racing have said they would like to help and so every
time I step into the car over there I know there are people back in Australia who are supporting me with their name on the car. I can guarantee I will give it my best shot and won’t leave anything in the garage in my quest to succeed’.

Prior to racing the WEST in the AMRS Thundersports Championship, Drewer raced in the National Saloon Car Series coming 9th in the title chase in 2005 and was also the SA Formula Vee Champion and came 5th in the Formula Vee nationals in his rookie year. He began karting at the age of 7 winning numerous titles.

Drewer said he was extremely grateful to Greg Steer from WEST Race Cars in Australia and Terry Little for giving him the opportunity to drive for WEST in Australia and now in America.

South Australian driver Tom Drewer is the 2007 Australian Thundersports Champion in the Australian Motor Racing Series that was decided at Sydney’s Oran Park circuit at the weekend. (November 24-25).

Driving the Oasis Systems sponsored WEST factory entry car, Drewer adopted a more conservative approach to the final round in order to secure his first Australian motor racing title.

‘I put the WEST on pole and won the first scratch race and then played a safe game for the two handicap events’, Drewer said after taking a fourth and third respectively despite starting race two 85 seconds behind the pole man and being given a full lap handicap in race 3.

‘All year we have proved we can win off the back of the grid with some mighty handicaps and its made for great racing having to push so hard and pass so many cars, but this was m y Championship round and there was too much at stake to go for a win in each race.

There was no way I was going to risk the trophy, given the effort that the team has put in all year. I might be driving but you don’t let down the sponsors and the guys like car owner Greg Steer who have given you the opportunity to take an Australian title by being rash at the last round’.

The newly crowned 23 year old champion said 2007 had been ‘the best’ of his motor racing career that began at the age of seven in karts.

‘I also had my first Fujitsu V8 Supercar drive with the Prodigy team and won first time out in Garry Wilmington’s V8 Supercar in the V8 Giants category, so it’s been pretty hectic but you wouldn’t have it any other way’.

Drewer’s success in the American built WEST sports racing car has seen four other examples of the marque already sold and racing in Australia with at least another three cars heading ‘down under’ for the 2008 season.

Drewer said that he was extremely optimistic that his racing program for next year would be finalised within the next couple of weeks.

‘We have been looking at several options and it’s a matter of making the final decision and getting the deal done, but I do know that its going to involve a lot more racing at a higher level again. Its going to be tough but that’s what its all about’.

The WEST WR100 piloted by works driver Tom Drewer has continued on its winning way in the Thundersports category at the AMRS Series round held at Wakefield Park at the weekend (October 27-28).

‘The last time I raced at Wakefield Park was in a V8 Supercar so I had to quickly adjust to the extremely high levels of cornering grip and late braking distances that the WEST provides in comparison to the sheer grunt of a big V8, but the awesome thing is that the WEST laps in very similar times’, Drewer said after he had put the Greg Steer owned and Oasis Systems sponsored #53 car on pole.

Drewer’s qualifying time of 59.6254 put him .9383 seconds ahead of Mark Buik’s WEST with Graeme Cook, also in a WEST 2.2973 seconds astern of the pole time. Fourth fastest in qualifying was John Biddlecombe in a Saker followed by the WEST of Bruce Burchett.

Race 1 saw Drewer take the victory over Buick, although he didn’t win the start off pole position.

‘It wasn’t a totally clean start for me and Mark got the jump, but I was confident of my car speed and once I passed him for the lead it was just a matter of getting a good rhythm around this track which is quite technical’, Drewer said after the victory.

Race 2 was the first of the handicaps and as has become the norm Drewer was given a 60 second time penalty of the rear of the grid.

‘We came through the field to take the win which was really pleasing as the track had well and truly gone off after 64 millimetres of rain overnight, so the times weren’t near my normal pace, but a win is a win especially when you have to negotiate so many passing moves’, Drewer said in the post race television interview.

Race 3, another handicap event saw the officials give Drewer a full lap penalty plus 20 seconds and in 12 laps that ultimately proved a little too much for the WEST/Drewer combination.

‘I made it to third place by the time they waved the chequered flag, but having to pass the slower cars twice in the distance was a big ask. Still I got all but two of them, Drewer joked as he climbed out of the cockpit.

‘I could have pushed a little harder, but I have to think of the Championship and pole position, two wins, a third, and the round win makes for a good week end’.

WEST and Drewer lead the Under 1400cc Championship and Outright Thundersports points tally as they head to the final round of the Series to be held at Oran Park on November 24-25.

Round 7 of the 2007 Thundersports Championship was held at Wakefield Park over the weekend, in conjunction with a 300 kilometre endurance race on Sunday afternoon.

Queanbeyan’s Kerran Dal Maso enjoyed mixed success: finishing third overall for the round in the Future Racer category, and in doing so consolidated his second place in the championship; before blowing a gearbox early in the enduro.

Kerran qualified his Independent Steel, Hebditch Haulage and Down Under Directional-supported Future Racer in a disappointing fifth place; behind surprise pole sitter Jade Barnes.

Championship leader, Jeff Davy, took out a comfortable victory in Race 1, while Kerran had a race long battle for second with Chris Clearihan and Robert Free. In a blanket finish, Kerran finished fourth, but of more importance for the Championship, he finished ahead of Jade Barnes.

Races 2 and 3 were handicap affairs, with Kerran finishing second and fourth respectively, which was enough for him to secure third place for the round. It also meant he has put more points between himself and Barnes, in their fight for second overall for the Championship, behind the run-away leader, Jeff Davy.

But he didn’t have everything go his own way, with tight racing and panel rubbing in all three races. Kerran explained what happened when he and Scott Macarthur came together in Race 3.

“Three of us were going through the Fish Hook side by side, and Scott Macarthur was on the dirty part of the track and didn’t want to give up. He just didn’t get out of it, and someone had to go!”

Between the final sprint race and the 300 kilometre enduro, the team discovered a split in the long range fuel tank.

While the team fixed this problem prior to race start, this would be the least of the problems for the Kerran Dal Maso/Jeff Davy entry.

Kerran started the race, leaving Jeff Davy the task of bringing the car home for the second half of the race.

But just sixteen laps in, the #5 Future Racer’s gearbox let go without warning; ending their race.

“We were leading the other Future Racer’s by half a lap at that stage” explained Kerran, “and we were sixth outright. There were three V8 Touring Cars in the lead, and we were chasing a couple of Clubman’s in front of us”.

The final round of the 2007 Thundersports Championship will be held at Sydney’s Oran Park Raceway, on 24 th/25 th November.

Fresh from a confidence building third place at the last round of the Australian Future Racers series at Melbourne’s Calder Park Raceway two weeks ago, Adrian Coppin is looking forward to this weekend competition.

Driving his Integrating Technology Bendigo sponsored Future Racer Coppin will take the grid at Wakefield Park Raceway, near Goulburn chasing the first win of his short career.

Coppin hopes the Victorian event two weeks ago was the turning point. “For the first time we were close to the pace” Adrian said. “It was great to reward my sponsors while they were at the event and make some progress towards the front of the grid” he said.

The Future Racers are a locally built race car, powered by a 1000cc Yamaha motorcycle engine. Weighing only 400kg, the pocket rockets have a top speed of approximately 240 kph. Complete with Kumho racing tyres, fully adjustable suspension and incredible brakes, they are a great introduction to motor racing.

This weekend’s event at Wakefield Park should see series leader Jeff Davey seal the title but the scrap for the minor places will be intense. The field is dominated by mature racers, many of whom have been successful in other categories, enjoying the twilight of their career. But that doesn’t make them any slower or less competitive. The young guns in the field have only got one objectify: beat the old guys!

“These guys have 100’s of years motor racing experience between them and I am learning so much race craft from them when we aren’t competing but start that engine and I have one objective – beat them” Coppin said.

I love this circuit, it rewards someone who has good skills and is prepared to have a go” he said.

For many race drivers, green might be a nice colour, but one that will never appear on their race car; as it has long been associated with bringing bad luck to a race team.

Obviously Queanbeyan’s Kerran Dal Maso isn’t the superstitious type, as he debuted his freshly-painted bright green Future Racer at Calder Park Raceway, for Round 6 of the Thunder Sports championship.

Driving the Independent Steel, Hebditch Haulage and Down Under Directional-supported Future Racer, Kerran enoyed a trouble free meeting, finished third overall; behind series pace-setter Jeff Davy, and Brian Hall.

After qualifying a strong third, Kerran undid his good work by looping the car in Race 1, giving away five places in the process. A storming drive through the field brought him back to sixth, behind race winner Terry Clearihan and Jeff Davy.

Race 2 saw Davy and Del Maso clear away from the rest of the Future Racers, with Davy taking the win just over a second ahead of Dal Maso, with daylight third.

Races 3 and 4 were handicap affairs, with Brian Hall enjoying a forty second head start!

With Hall receiving such a generous present from the handicapper, it was always going to be tough for the quick drivers to pull back the lead.

As it was Race 3 was taken out by Scott McArthur, ahead of Brian Hall, with Jeff Davy, Jade Barnes and Kerran Dal Maso rounding out the top five. After some confusion, officials determined that Race 4 was won by Jeff Davy, with Hall edging out Dal Maso for second.

“We were fast, but we just weren’t fast enough” explained Kerran after the meeting.

“It was a bitterly cold weekend, and we had some tyre temperature problems, but then we put a new set of tyres on the car, and were back on the pace.”

Round 7 Future Racers action takes place at Wakefield Park, near Goulburn, on October 27/28.

WEST works driver Tom Drewer has succeeded in gaining three wins from three starts in the Thundersports Australian Championship at Round 7 of the Australian Motor Racing Series held at Melbourne’s Calder circuit at the weekend (September 29-30).

‘It was a great result particularly as we were pushed all the way by Mark Buik in his Buik Motorworks backed WEST. The pace was really on as we were racing a second and a half a lap quicker than last time I visited Calder’, Drewer said after podium presentation.

In addition to the three wins Drewer, driving the Greg Steer owned and Oasis Systems sponsored car, also set a new lap race record for the category with a time of 57.7857 seconds.

In race 1, Buik beat Drewer off the front row of the grid and lead into the first corner by several car lengths, but the gap was reduced to a matter of millimetres as the cars completed the first lap.

‘It was an awesome race as Mark and I battled for position, and while I figured I was carrying a little more speed I couldn’t make a pass stick until coming into second last lap’.

Drewer took the chequered flag and fastest race time of 58. 2143 seconds with Buik less than two seconds in arrears at the finish line.

Race two was the first of the handicap races with both Drewer and Buik off the back of the grid 55 seconds in arrears of the pole car.

Drewer launched better than Buik and then proceeded to pass the entire field to win the race with Buik again in second while Drewer posted the fastest lap with a time of 58.0223 seconds.

In the last handicap race Drewer again got the jump over Buik and won the race after carving up the field and finally leaving the lap record at 57.7857 seconds.

‘It was a great weekend and even though I am leading both the under 1400cc and outright points tally there are two rounds to go, so I will really have to think about the Championship as a priority instead of race wins from now on’, Drewer said after the meeting.

The WEST WR1000 is the latest example of the marque and is a 260+ kph state of the art sports racing car that weighs in at a mere 375 kilos with 174 horsepower at the rear wheels delivered via a Kawasaki 1000cc engine.

WEST are official constructors to the IMSA Lites Series and produce the most successful D Class Sports Prototype in the USA.

The AMRS Endurance Championship has been officially announced, and will take place at Goulburn's Wakefield Park, 27-28 October.

The event will be a gruelling 300km around the technical Wakefield Park circuit, and will feature cars from a variety of AMRS categories, including:

Each car will have at least one driver change during the event, and may be driven by up to three drivers over the course of the 300km. Subclasses within the event will be established for cars based on the refuelling method used, with classes for timed fuel stops (where cars must pit for a fixed period of time) and classes for churned fuel stops (where cars pit for as long as it takes to fuel the car).

Further details will be announced soon. To find out now if your car is eligible, contact the AMRS: rod@amrs.net.au or garry@amrs.net.au

With three races remaining in the 2007 Future Racers series, Integrating Technology Bendigo has stepped up their commitment to the category.

The Calder Park round of the championship will see a second Integrating Technology car make its series debut. The teams existing driver, Canberra's Adrian Coppin will be joined by, Tim Hardy.

Tim hails from Tomakin, on the NSW South Coast where he works for Boral. Tim's motor racing pedigree includes time chasing a NSW motocross championship and a stint in speedway.

Tim's call-up came after the last round at Wakefield Park. "I was watching the coverage on SBS and was impressed by Tim's performance." said Integrating Technology's, Steve Robertson.

"Having two cars in the field increases my exposure and I'm glad to welcome Tim to the team." Robertson said.

The second car will feature the same striking side splashes as the existing racer but will be a mirror reverse of the color scheme. Like Coppin, Hardy made his debut in the category at Winton.

Like Coppin, Hardy made his series debut at the Winton round. He also struck mechanical problems when the engine self destructed but since then he has gone from strength to strength.

At the Wakefield Park round, just before the mid-season break, he was mixing it with the front runners and acquitted himself well. "I am just starting to get to grips with the car and the lap times are improving." Hardy said. "I am pleased to be part of the Integrating Technology team and look forward to getting some good results for them before the season ends." Tim said. And when asked if there was any inter-team rivalry, both drivers acknowledged that if you can't win, then beating your team-mate is the next best thing. There are no team orders, so it's each man for himself.

Just three races into his circuit racing career and young Canberra driver, Adrian Coppin is learning just how tough motor racing can be.

Adrian made his debut in the ultra competitive Future Racers category of the Australian Motor Racing Series at Winton in the middle of June, hoping to be on the pace but the road to the podium has been tough. A series of niggling mechanical issues conspired to prevent Coppin from getting up to speed a Winton.

The next event at the ultra fast Queensland Raceway was even worse, as the continuing lack of power translated into a serious driving lesson from his fellow competitors. "The last three months have been hard going" Coppin said. "My car has been down on power since we debuted at Winton for our new sponsor, Integrating Technology Bendigo" he said.

After Queensland the engine was rebuilt and Coppin was getting closer to the pace at the last round at Wakefield Park but a fuel surge problem affected the carburetors and the cars performance was patchy but nevertheless showed improvement when it ran properly.

The mid season layoff has seen new carburetors fitted and the car and driver now seem to be on the pace, if the results of the last round of the ACT Hill Climb Championship are any indication.

Driving in his first hill climb against more experienced competitors, Coppin set a new class record and finished 2nd overall only 4/100th of a second behind the winner.

"I think we have finally got on top of our problems and I am really looking forward to the Calder race," Coppin said. "I'm totally reliant on my sponsors support, especially Integrating Technology, to be on the grid. I need a result this year so that I can re-sign them for 2008 or it's all over before it begins" he said.

One thing is for sure, the next round at Calder Park is vitally important and you can be guaranteed the Integrating Technology entry will be driven 10/10ths to get to the front end of the field.

Since January 2007, the Australian Motor Racing Series website has had over 4 million hits. 226,000 pages on the AMRS site have been viewed in that period. Over 40 gigabytes of data have been downloaded from the site in that time.

There is a new and improved look planned for the site in the near future, but the thing that keeps visitors coming back is content. And largely, www.amrs.net.au relies on you for that content.

Results, championship standings, event details and entry forms are taken care of internally, we upload photos when they are available, but with just under 200 competitors having taken part in the AMRS so far in 2007, it is simply not possible for www.amrs.net.au to write stories on each and every competitor.

For the competitors, it means that we're relying on you to provide press releases or content you would like included on the site. To get your message across to the plentiful visitors to the site, you need to supply information and photos to the site - you have the opportunity to get additional exposure for your sponsors, and potentially catch the eye of new sponsors who might be visiting the site.

For the fans, if you have a story you'd like to share about your experience at an Australian Motor Racing Series round, send it in, and we'll include suitable stories on the site. If you have photos you'd like to see on the site, send them too, and if you have your own online photo album you'd like us to link to we can add it to the links page.

For everyone, if you have suggestions for the site, or something new you would like to see included, send it through. Now is the time for innovations to be incorporated into the next generation of www.amrs.net.au

To all those competitors who have been supplying content for the site, we thank you, and look forward to receiving more. To those planning to submit more content to the site, thank you.

Queanbeyan Future Racer, Kerran Dal Maso, started Round 5 of the Thunder Sports championship at Wakefield Park last weekend on the back foot, but finished the weekend off strongly with a victory in race 3.

Kerran’s motor locked up solid during Friday’s practice day, forcing Kerran and his crew to put the car back on the trailer and head back to the workshop for an overnight engine swap. The spare motor proved to be no slouch, with Kerran qualifying second fastest, behind Jeff Davy.

Unfortunately his strong qualifying effort was brought undone during race 1, after Kerran was turned around by a fellow competitor on lap three, and pushed back to seventh.

A storming drive through the field saw Kerran - who is supported by Independent Steel, Hebditch Haulage and Down Under Directional - recover to take third, behind Davy and Robert Free.

“Jade Barnes gave me a love tap in the bottom turn; but we got back on and got through into third on the last corner of the last lap” Kerran explained after the race.

So did you have smoke and fire pouring from your nostrils after being turned around?

“Oh no; that’s probably why I caught (Jade), because I kept calm” replied Kerran.

Races 2 and 3 were reverse grid affairs, which, along with the varied nature of the Thunder Sports fields, ensured that drivers who could scythe through heavy race traffic were rewarded for their efforts.

Starting eleventh on the grid for race 2, Kerran attacked from the outset, taking four places on the opening lap, before going on to claim a strong second place finish in class.

Race 3 saw Kerran benefit from an on-track incident between Future Racer leader, Jeff Davy and another competitor in race 3; which left the door open for Kerran to press on and claim victory.

Jeff Davy took the round honours, ahead of Kerran, who was getting stronger as the meeting progressed, with Robert Free third.

Round 6 Future Racers action takes place at Winton Motor Raceway on August 26/27.

Track temperatures barely above zero, a brush with a slower car, and starting the last handicap race from pit lane with a seventy second penalty from the first car were not sufficient impediments to stop Tom Drewer winning the Thundersports category at the Australian Motor Racing Series Round 5 held at Wakefield Park at the weekend (July 14-15).

Drewer was re-united with his regular #53 chassis WEST for this event (having driven a new customer car to victory at the previous Queensland round) and it didn’t let him down with pole position in qualifying, victory in the scratch race, second in the first handicap race, and another victory in the second handicap event even though fellow WEST driver Graham Cook greeted the chequered flag first.

Drewer’s victory in the final race came about as a result of Cook incurring a 30 second penalty because he improved his lap time by more than 2 per cent over his qualifying time.

‘It was a great race and Graham drove very well. I was on a mission, and almost had him despite his 20 second head start and tough traffic, finishing just 1.272 seconds behind at the end of the 12 lap race. Handicap races are difficult at the best of times but even more so when you start 20 seconds behind an identical car, so I suppose we were both winners’, Drewer said after the event.

Drewer’s lap time of 1:00 minute .0315 seconds made his WEST the fastest car at the meeting beating the times set in the V8 Giants category, but the ultra cold conditions were not conducive to him lowering his Wakefield Park qualifying record time of 58.7171 seconds set last year.

‘The grip levels were just not available with the track being like ice, so there wasn’t a chance to go near last year’s time. We will just have to wait for a warmer day to have another crack at the record’, Drewer said.

New WEST owner and rookie driver Bruce Burchett has his first ever race meeting and improved his time lap times considerably over the course of the week end before suffering minor accident damage in the last race.

The only disappointing aspect over the weekend was a technical issue for the WEST car of Mark Buik that prevented him from competing. Buik’s form at the Queensland Raceway round would have inevitably made him strong competition for both Drewer and Cook.

WEST are official constructors to the IMSA Lites Series and produce the most successful D Class Sports Prototype in the USA.

It was predicted before the latest round of the Thunder Sports championship that established pace-setter, Tom Drewer, would have his hands full dealing with some of the new competition in the class at Queensland Raceway. And the prediction has come true, with two newcomers outqualifying Drewer.

Steve Morcom, driving a Chiron prototype proved too quick for the field, needing just 8 laps to qualify on pole with a 1m12.2s lap. Lining up alongside him will be a WEST prototype, but not that of Drewer, instead it will be newcomer, Adelaide-based Mark Buik heading a group of 4 WESTs. Drewer qualified 3rd, with Ash Samadi 4th, Graeme Cook 5th, and series regular Dennis Holland in 6th. The Future Racers are close behind, with Jeff Davey proving the fastest of the bunch. John Biddlecombe's Saker was on the pace in the early practice sessions, but unable to reproduce the speed in qualifying, and he will start from 13th, right in the middle of the Future Racer pack.

With fine, cool conditions forecast for Sunday, the Thunder Sports field promises action-packed, close racing around the fast QR layout.

In a late announcement, Tom Drewer will step aside from his regular #53 steed, and is set to pilot the Bruce Burchet car at Queensland Raceway. The car Tom has previously driven will be driven by Carrera Cup gun, Ash Samadi - yet another driver and car combination with the credentials to take outright Thunder Sports honours at the fast Queensland Raceway layout this weekend...

Thunder Sports is one of Australia's most rapidly growing racing categories, and always offers action packed racing. The WEST D of Tom Drewer has dominated in outright terms since its debut in 2006. Now though, Drewer’s WEST will be joined by three more identical models, and the battle is set to intensify. One of the cars will be driven by Bruce Burchet, and the other two will be campaigned by Graeme Cook’s Container Solutions team, with the second driver announced today as Mark Buik, from Buik Raceworks.

For readers unfamiliar with the WEST, it is a US-designed and built prototype car, featuring advanced aerodynamics, an ultra-light composite body, formula-car style suspension, and a motorcycle derived powerplant, with paddle gearshift.

These four WESTs will be joined in the race for outright honours by first time Thunder Sports competitor Steve Morcom aboard a new car to the category - a Chiron. The car, designed in the UK, is based on a similar philosophy to the WEST, and the specifications are broadly similar. The engine options are quite different however, with a Honda 4-cylinder the normal engine of choice (an RST V8 unit is an option though!). The car pictured right is a Chiron competing in the UK, and similar to the car to be driven by Morcom.

Another contender will be Grant Watson, at the wheel of his self-built Prosport Mulsanne - another prototype car with massive performance potential.

It's expected that Drewer will have his work cut out for him with the emergence of these exciting prototypes.

Despite the outright pace of the prototype cars, it is a Future Racer leading the championship heading to Queensland, with Tim Monte holding onto the top spot, from prototype-mounted Dennis Holland. Returning to the Future Racer fray will be perhaps the luckiest driver alive - Robert Free. Free suffered a massive crash (click here for video) at Calder earlier in the year. Free was fortunate to escape major injury - his car wasn't so lucky, but has been repaired and will take the grid at Queensland Raceway.

For all the news and information, keep an eye on the official AMRS website: www.amrs.net.au

Round Four of the 2007 Australian Motor Racing Series heads to Queensland Raceway this weekend - 16-17 June.

The Gold Coast sports car manufacturer, founded by Mark Williams in 2003 has new owners and will be re-locating to the NSW Central Coast.

The Team of current AMRS and NSW Clubman Challenge regulars, Dennis Holland and Scott Bingham has acquired the Business and will continue to manufacture the cars at their West Gosford premises.

The new owners are currently putting the finishing touches to their own Bike Engined Clubman style race car, and the acquisition of Minetti will fit in perfectly along side it.

For more information please contact either: Dennis 0418 284658 or Scott 0425 368255

Thunder Sports heads to Winton Raceway this weekend, and the challenge for the winners trophy is hotting up.

Tom Drewer has had things his own way a number of times, taking the WEST D Sports Racer to victory with regularity. But consistency has proved to be the determining factor so far in the 2007 championship, with Future Racer competitor Tim Monte currently leading the points table, from Radical-mounted Dennis Holland. A number of other drivers are also mounting strong assaults on the championship - including: Jeff Davy, Robert Free, Jade Barnes, Keeran Dal-Maso and many others.

The field will be joined by two new additions from Saker. Luke Youlden will be driving the John Biddlecome-owned Saker, and will not be happy with anything less than outright victory. And in the factory Saker SVS GT car will be Dean Lillie. Both cars feature turbocharged flat-four Subaru WRX powerplants, and boast in the region of 200kw of power. With massive brakes, top-notch suspension, and excellent aerodynamics, these cars are expected to really put the cat amongst the pigeons.

Catch all the action at Benalla's Winton Raceway, 27-29 April. Unofficial practice starts on Friday, qualifying on Saturday and racing on Sunday.

First it was George Miedecke, graduating from the AMRS Production Touring Car Championship to a V8 Giants drive, on the back of his Class B win in 2006, and now Tom Drewer has been announced as the latest driver in the V8 Supercar Development Series. Full story follows:

Young South Australian driver Tom Drewer is to make his V8 Supercar debut at Wakefield Park this weekend (March 31-April1) in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series.

Drewer, 23 has been given the opportunity by Prodigy Motorsport, and will line up in the Ford Falcon used to good effect by Channel 7 star Grant Denyer last year.

‘It’s the start of a dream coming true for me, but I have to be realistic and without the benefit of a testing program I don’t have unreal expectations for my first drive in a V8 Supercar’, Drewer said today.

‘The fact that the car was driven by Grant Denyer is a good omen as my mum Jacquie is a television producer at Channel 7 in Adelaide so it’s all in the family’, Drewer quipped.

‘My grandfather built and raced cars, and so did my father Mike who is the PR Manager for the V8 Supercars at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide and the Darwin V8 Supercar event’.

Like many aspiring drivers Drewer has progressed along the tried and proven path of karting since he was seven, then into Formula Vee, plus two seasons in the national Saloon Car Championship driving a 6 cylinder Falcon.

Last year he was selected as the factory driver to debut the American built WEST D Sports Racer in Australia and dominated in every race he contested in the AMRS Thundersports Series winning the Under 1400cc Prototype Australian Drivers Championship.

At Calder last weekend he again dominated the Thundersports events winning two races and lowering the lap record for the category again.

Drewer has lapped the WEST sports car in V8 Supercar times at both the Winton and Wakefield Park circuits and acknowledges that his outings in the car have given him the chance to make the leap into V8’s.

“The V8 Supercar opportunity has come about as a result of the faith that Greg Steer and Terry Little from WEST RACE CARS AUSTRALIA have had in me. Now I have to again prove myself and ensure I do the right thing by Prodigy Motorsport and team owner Ross Cadell.

When it comes to racing legends Drewer cites Nigel Mansell, Ayrton Senna, and Craig Lowndes as great champions but also has two other heroes in the world of motorsport.

The first one is John Bowe and the second is international motorsport commentator Murray Walker.

‘John Bowe is the driver’s driver. He is unique in Australian Motorsport being the only person to have won the Australian Touring Car Championship, the Australian Drivers Championship and the Australian Sports Car Championship. Now he has broken the record in terms of V8 Supercar Championship starts. To be half as good as that would be awesome.

As for Murray Walker he is the best in the business when it comes to communicating the excitement and drama of motor racing to the spectators. Whether it’s a Formula One Grand Prix or a V8 Supercar event Murray lives and breathes every second of the race and conveys his excitement to the fans’.

And, as usual Murray Walker is never lost for words sending Tom Drewer the following email:

‘Congratulations Tom for getting the drive thanks to your undoubted talent and determination. I wish you the greatest of success on what we all know is a long and arduous road to the top’.

One part of racing that many drivers don't enjoy is interviews. It's easy to get nervous, or forget what you wanted to say (or which sponsors you wanted to mention), or give less than eloquent responses to some of the interviewer's questions. But if you can get it right, an interview will mean better exposure for you as a driver, for your team and for your sponsors. As many drivers in the top echelons of motorsport will attest, training in how to deal with the media is an important and valuable process.

As part of the Australian Motor Racing Series' ongoing committment to driver development, there will be a Media Awareness Seminar held at Round Two at Calder Park. Attendance at the seminar is not compulsory (although encouraged), and is free to all competitors (and team members) for the round. Simon Latchford, AMRS competitor and accomplished public speaker will deliver his thoughts on dealing with the media - how to plan for an interview, what to do during an interview, and how to keep the media on-side and assist you with promotion of yourself and your sponsors.

This is an outstanding opportunity for competitors to develop their professional knowledge and skills and an excellent selling point for future sponsors ("I have completed media awareness training to ensure I present your company in the best possible light.") The seminar will be conducted at Calder Park, 1630 Saturday afternoon.

Round Two of the Australian Motor Racing Series will be held at Calder Park, 24-25 March.

Pictured below are some early photos of two new models eligible for Thunder Sports competition. The models are named Raven and Karina. We hope to bring more details of the cars soon. Click the images to view the cars in all their glory...

The number of prototype sports cars in Thunder Sports is growing rapidly, with two Sakers expected to join the grid very soon, a second West D Sports Racer set to get amongst the action, and the fantastic Radicals and ProSports seen at Round One. Keep your eyes out for more inside information on these fantastic cars in the very near future.

Round Two of the Thunder Sports championship will take place at Melbourne's Calder Park, 24-25 March. And tune in this Sunday (4 March) to SBS Speedweek, at 12 noon to catch all the Thunder Sports action from Round One at Wakefield Park.

To obtain more infomation about competing in the Thunder Sports category, please visit the Getting Involved page by clicking here.

The Australian Motor Racing Series is all about making racing exciting, affordable and accessible. To simplify the paperwork and documentation procedures associated with racing the AMRS introduced the Season Booklet for the 2006 season. Now the new and improved Season Booklet for the 2007 season has left the printers and is on it's way to competitors.

Look out for your copy in the post this week. If you have not received a copy by the end of the week, or if you have not been in touch with the AMRS previously to supply your postal details, request a copy by contacting AMRS management via email by clicking here.

If you'd like an electronic version of the booklet, you can download it by clicking here. (It is 60 pages, and an 8mb download so recommended only for high speed internet connections.) The electronic version will remain available via the brand new "Downloads" page accessible via the main menu on the left of the screen.

Entries open tomorrow (15 January) for Round One of the 2007 Australian Motor Racing Series to be held at Wakefield Park, 24-25 February.

As the start of the 2007 Australian Motor Racing Series approaches, the AMRS management have delivered some great New Years news to competitors - Entry and Series registration fees have been lowered by 6% for 2007.

Competitors who register for the entire 2007 series, or for the total number of rounds they wish to compete at in 2007 will be eligible for the discounted rate.

AMRS directors Garry Willmington and Rod Dale say it is all a part of their ongoing plan to reduce costs to competitors and encourage exciting, accessible and AFFORDABLE racing.

In addition to the discounted fees, registered competitors receive product discounts from a number of suppliers, guaranteed entry and are eligible for points and other incentives in their respective category.

The AMRS is set for a big year in 2007, with 11 categories competing at up to 9 rounds at 6 different venues. To read more about the 2007 Australian Motor Racing Series, visit www.amrs.net.au - Australian Motor Racing Series. Racing the way it's meant to be. Exciting. Affordable. Accessible.

Coming hot on the heels of the AMRS Expo is the announcement of the Category Calendars for the 2007 Australian Motor Racing Series. The 2007 AMRS Calendar was finalised some months ago, but the distribution of rounds to the various categories has just recently been completed, and with the announcement of several new categories for the 2007 AMRS comes the calendar for each category.

The 2006 Australian Motor Racing Series Expo is set to provide an excellent introduction to the Motorsport scene for new competitors in the lead up to the 2007 season.

A Future in Motorsport: The Expo, to be held at the Wakefield Park circuit 17 December, will provide a wealth of information and displays to interested visitors. There are over 30 confirmed displays, with more to be finalised over the next two weeks. Amongst the displays, visitors to the AMRS Expo will find drivers, teams and category representatives, who will all be extremely approachable, and eager to pass on information. This is the perfect opportunity for anyone considering competing or participating in motorsport to have an up close look at the cars involved and to get the inside information on participating. The presentations will also offer experienced competitors the chance to expand their racing knowledge in the lead up to 2007.

Something for Everyone: Everybody is welcome, and those who prefer to remain spectators will be catered for too, with Speed Off the Streets open practice sessions where they can get a taste of racing by taking their road car around Wakefield Park, there will also be Hot Laps where visitors can take a ride in a race car with an experienced driver. The displays will also give spectators a chance to see race cars in all their detail.

The Australian Motor Racing Series Expo - Wakefield Park, 17 December. Admission is free. A $5 lunch special (sausage sandwich and cold drink) will be available at the track. Fees apply for Open Practice sessions (see www.wakefieldpark.com.au), Driver Instruction sessions ($200 in your car, $300 otherwise) and Hot Laps ($300 for 5 laps).

There are still limited slots available for displays, so if you are part of a team or business interested in showing your wares, get in touch today: rod@amrs.net.au

If you are a driver keen to join the list of those offering Hot Laps, you will need to contact the AMRS for conditions: rod@amrs.net.au

Australian Motor Racing Series. Racing the way it's meant to be. Exciting. Affordable. Accessible.

Bob Jane’s Calder Raceway proved to be a ‘happy hunting ground’ for WEST RACING in the Thundersports category taking pole position in qualifying and backing it with three out of three race wins at the weekend (October 28-29).

The American WEST D Sports Racer driven by South Australian Tom Drewer went into the Calder event having won the two previous AMRS rounds at Adelaide International Raceway and Winton.

‘We were hoping for three consecutive round wins and three race wins and to achieve it was just a great feeling’, an elated Drewer said after the event.

‘I had not raced at Calder since my Formula Vee days, but it was great to be back there. I love the place and on a sometimes damp track the quick lines I used to use in the Vee certainly worked’.

The WEST took pole in Saturday qualifying with a time of 59.9640 seconds, 4.1789 seconds faster than second placed qualifier, the Radical Prosport of Dennis Holland.

In the first race on Sunday Drewer took the win with a best time of 61.6242 seconds ahead of Robert Townsend (Minetti ZZI) 65.76.11, and Paul Quinn (Future Racer) 66.5873.

Race two was the first of the reverse grid events with Drewer off the back of the field with a 53 second time penalty and just ten laps to make it through the chequered flag.

‘It seems like you wait for ever to start, and knowing you have to make up so much ground you can’t afford to be conservative even on cold tyres so you really have a go’, Drewer said.

The result was a win with Drewer racing faster than his qualifying time with a best lap of 59.4248 seconds.

In race three Drewer and the WEST again greeted the chequered flag first from the back of the grid with another 53 second time penalty and this time achieved an even faster lap leaving the class record 59.1426 seconds.

‘I am sure I could have got into the 58 second bracket but you need a clean lap, and anyway the three wins were the thing we were aiming for’, Drewer said after the meeting.

The 2006 WEST WR1000 is the latest example of the marque and is a 260+ kph state of the art sports racing car that weighs in at a mere 375 kilos with 174 horsepower at the rear wheels delivered via a Kawasaki 1000cc engine.

WEST are official constructors to the IMSA Lites Series and produce the most successful D Class Sports Prototype in the USA.

The American WEST D Sports Racer driven by South Australian Tom Drewer will be going for three consecutive round wins in the AMRS Thundersports category at the Calder Raceway on the weekend October 28-29.

The car has taken victory at its previous two outings at Adelaide International Raceway and Winton and has already created enormous interest with five more cars coming to Australia from the West factory based in Portland USA.

In addition to taking the two round wins, the WEST set new lap records for the category at both Adelaide International and Winton.

WEST Motor Sport Australia Team Manager and Business Development Director Terry Little said today that with the advent of ‘arrive and drive’ packages for the WEST for next season a number of Victorian prospective WEST drivers would be viewing the car at Calder.

‘Anybody interested in seeing the car can come to Calder on Friday October 27 or watch it race during the weekend’, he said.

WEST are official constructors to the IMSA Lites Series and produce the most successful D Class Sports Prototype in the USA.

People interested in arranging an inspection of the car should contact Terry Little on mobile 0416 940 272

Suppliers: Eibach Springs: Elf Lubricants: North Terrace Tyres (Goodyear Racing Tyres)

For further technical information visit the WEST website www.westracecars.com

With Calder Park's Round Seven fast approaching, amrs.net.au is proud to present a video preview for the penultimate round of the 2006 Australian Motor Racing Series. The video features highlights from the 2006 Series so far, and is recommended for broadband users due to the file size (15mb). To watch the video, click here, or visit the brand new AMRS Videos page by clicking here. The video will only be available for a limited time, so if you want to keep a copy, make sure you download it to your computer.

If any competitors have video they would like to see included on the AMRS Videos page, please contact the webmaster via email. Due to storage constraints, videos cannot be hosted by amrs.net.au, but we can link directly to videos stored on your own website, or stored free at YouTube.

Round Seven of the 2006 Australian Motor Racing Series heads to Calder Park 28-29 October. Click here for more details.

The WEST WR1000 D Sports racer continued on its winning way at Round 6 of the 2006 Australian Motor Racing Series (AMRS) held at Winton Raceway at the weekend (August 26-27, 2006).

To watch all the action from Round 6, tune into SBS Speedweek, Sunday 10 September at 12 noon.

The next round of the Thunder Sports championship will be held at Calder Park, 28-29 October.

WEST D SPORTS RACER FROM USA TO RACE AT WINTON AMRS ROUND AS MORE CARS HEAD ‘DOWN-UNDER’

South Australian driver Tom Drewer heads east to the Winton circuit to drive the American built WEST WR1000 D Sports Racer in the Thunder Sports Category of Round 6 of the 2006 Australian Motor Racing Series (AMRS) to be held on the weekend August 26-27.

Drewer and the WEST dominated at its first Australian race meeting taking outright Thunder Sports honours, winning its class, and setting new lap records in the Thunder Sports Category at the previous AMRS round at Adelaide International Raceway in July.

Speaking prior to the Winton round, WEST Motor Sport Australia head Greg Steer said that the car and its performance had caused enormous interest since its first race in Australia.

‘Five more cars destined for Australia are currently being constructed in our Portland Oregon (USA) facility, and since we held a drive day at Mallala earlier this month I am confident that even more orders will be coming in’, Steer added.

Steer has invited several potential WEST customers to see the car at Winton and said other drivers or teams interested in the vehicle should contact WEST Motor Sport and Business Development Director Terry Little on mobile 0416 940 272 prior to the Winton race.

WEST are official constructors to the IMSA Lites Series and produce the most successful D Class Sports Prototype in the USA.

A reminder that all the action from the fifth round of the 2006 Australian Motor Racing Series will air over the next two weekends. This Sunday (6 August), tune into SBS Speedweek at 12 noon for all the Citilink Touring Car Challenge and Production Touring Car Championship action. Next Sunday (13 August), tune in to catch all the Formula 4000, Thunder Sports and 3.3 Litre Holden action.

The coverage will also be shown on Fox Sports Inside Speed, the Wednesday night following each Speedweek episode.

And for the next instalment of on-track action, it's a little under four weeks to wait, as Round Six hits Winton Raceway, August 26 and 27.

The WEST WR1000 D Sports Racer has dominated at its first Australian race meeting taking outright Thundersport honours, winning its class, and setting new lap records in the Thundersports Category at Round 5 of the 2006 Australian Motor Racing Series held at Adelaide International Raceway (AIR) at the weekend. (July 8-9).

Driven by 22 year-old South Australian Tom Drewer, the Australian WEST debut began with the car being fastest in practice by a margin of 1.6 seconds over the rest of the field.

The only issue for the debut appearance of the car came in qualifying when a jammed accelerator (caused by an errant pebble) saw driver Tom Drewer leave the circuit as he exited the esses prior to entering the high speed bowl on the AIR 2.41 kilometre layout.

‘It wasn’t a good thing in a brand new car as I had to abort the turn in to the bowl and run into the infield but no damage was done, although as result we only completed a couple of slow laps in qualifying to ensure the car was OK’, Drewer said.

Despite starting from the back of the grid Drewer, finished second in the 5 lap race 1 establishing a new lap record of 59.391 seconds.

In the following two races (8 laps and 10 laps) run on a handicap basis with the WEST starting from rear of grid, it was the dominant car in the field with another new lap record set in race 2 of 58.8031, and breaking the record again in race 3 leaving the time at 58.381.

West Motor Sport Australia Pty Ltd head Greg Steer speaking after the event said: “The debut of the car in Australia was near perfect, apart from the pebble that jammed the accelerator in qualifying. We put a brand new race car on the track and it came home a winner first time out. Our driver Tom Drewer did a great job and simply got faster all week-end”.

West driver Tom Drewer said: “I am really pleased with the result. It was a new circuit for me in a new race car. The WEST is simply fantastic to drive and believe me there is plenty more to come in terms of performance. I drove the car hard but we haven’t had the chance yet to optimise its set-up with only limited testing and one race meeting. It was also great to compete in the Australian Motor Racing Series.”

WEST are official constructors to the IMSA Lites Series and produce the most successful D Class Sports Prototype in the USA.

The inaugural race for the WEST WR1000 in Australia came after a spectacular launch of the vehicle at Adelaide’s Arkaba Hotel on Friday July 7. The new car was officially unveiled by Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer in the presence of Mick Ronke, President of the Australian Autosport Alliance (AASA), and eighty invited guests.

West Motor Sport Australia thanks its team partners for their support:
Sponsors: Oasis Systems and ACE Embroidery
Race preparation and race engineering: R-Tech (Ian and Simon Richards)
Suppliers: Eibach Springs: Elf Lubricants: North Terrace Tyres (Goodyear Racing Tyres)

For further technical information visit the WEST website www.westracecars.com
Or contact Terry Little on m 0416 940 272 or email info@westracingcars.com.au
For media information contact Mike Drewer on m 0419 273 333 or email m.drewer@bigpond.com

The first American WEST WR1000 D sports racer in Australia will have its competition debut at Adelaide International Raceway on the weekend July 8-9 in the Thundersports category of the Australian Motor Racing Series.

To be steered by young South Australian driver Tom Drewer, the car was air freighted into Australia just two weeks ago by West Motor Sport Australia Pty Ltd head Greg Steer as the first step in establishing the D Sports Racer category ‘down under’.

The 2006 WEST WR1000 is the latest example of the marque built in Portland, Oregon and is a 260+ kph state of the art sports racing car that weighs in at a mere 375 kilos with 174 horsepower at the rear wheels delivered via a Kawasaki 1000cc engine. WEST are official constructors to the IMSA Lites Series and produce the most successful D Class Sports Prototype in the USA. The car’s technical specifications tell the story of what is the most sophisticated sports racing car currently in Australia:

‘The WEST WR1000 represents a new future for Australian motor sport that has been crying out for a sophisticated high performance, yet low maintenance and low cost high quality race car’, Greg Steer said today. ‘With its Le Mans style bodywork and high down-force aerodynamics, the WEST WR 1000 should be among the fastest sports cars in the country and we are ultimately expecting lap times considerably faster than Carrera Cup cars for instance’. Steer says the car is extremely versatile, being ideal for serious drivers, entry level club racers and is also suitable for track day use, training and corporate ride days.

Former Australian Touring Car Challenge competitor, and current Fujitsu V8 Supercar Development Series driver, Greg Smith is poised to set the track alight at Wakefield Park as he joins the Thunder Sports field. Smith has acquired the championship-winning ex-Leanne Tander RX-7, and will compete for the Production Based Sports (PBS) crown in Thunder Sports.

Smith, a Newcastle resident, is supported by Fujitsu Air Conditioning, is currently placed 22nd in the 2006 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Development Series.

Round Two of the Thunder Sports championship will take place in two weeks time, at Goulburn's Wakefield Park circuit - April 22-23. Click here for all the information on the round.

A final reminder that the TV coverage from Round One of the AMRS will commence this weekend, on SBS Speedweek 12 noon, Sunday 2 April, with the Yokohama Australian Formula 4000 Drivers Championship and Citilink Construction Group Touring Car Challenge featuring.

The following weekend, Sunday 9 April, all the action from Fantastic Furniture Kingswood Racing, Thunder Sports and Production Touring Car Championship, will screen at 12 noon.

In a new timeslot for 2006, the repeat of the coverage on FoxSports Inside Speed will now be shown the Wednesday following the Speedweek episode, at 8.30pm. For Round One, part one, watch FoxSports 5 April. For Round One, part two, watch FoxSports 12 April.

This is an urgent request to anyone who was in the paddock area at Round One at Calder Park around the time of the trophy presentation. Thunder Sports competitors Paul Quinn had some of his racing gear and wallet stolen. Taken from Paul's road car were the following items:

If anyone noticed anyone acting suspiciously, has been offered second hand items matching the description above, or can assist in locating the items, please contact Paul Quinn, mobile: 0438 651 360.

The TV coverage from Round 1 is expected to air on SBS Speedweek 12 noon, Sunday 2 April and Sunday 9 April.

The 2 April program will feature the Yokohama Australian Formula 4000 Drivers Championship, and the Citilink Construction Group Touring Car Challenge. This program will also be shown on FoxSports InsideSpeed, Thursday 6 April.

The 9 April program will feature the Production Touring Car Championship, the Thunder Sports and the Fantastic Furniture Kingswoods. The coverage will also be shown on FoxSports InsideSpeed, Thursday 13 April.

With the announcement today of lease drives available in the Thunder Sports championship, the category (along with the AMRS as a whole) has confirmed it really is the most accessible racing in the country. Arrive and Drive deals are available, and put you in the thick of the action.

To find out more about the administrative requirements of competing, click here.

To learn more about some of the cars available For Lease, click here. Go on, you could be a part of some of the most exciting, affordable and accessible racing in Australia.

Round One of the Thunder Sports Championship gets underway in just over a week, at Calder Park Raceway in Victoria - March 18-19.

A yet to be named competitor will be running this stunning prototype car in the 2006 Thunder Sports Championship. The car, constructed by West Racing Cars, is said to feature a combination of composite semi-monocoque and front and rear steel spaceframe sections. With a top speed of 160mph, a weight of around 400kg, and an engine revving to over 10,000rpm, the car is sure to set the circuits alight during the 2006 Thunder Sports Championship, part of the 2006 Australian Motor Racing Series.

For information on the 2006 Thunder Sports Championship, visit the official website: thundersports.amrs.net.au

For all the news and information on the 2006 Australian Motor Racing Series, visit www.amrs.net.au

Australian Motor Racing Series competitors have only five weeks to wait until Round One at Calder Park in Victoria, so it's understandable that they are excited. Today though, they have even more reason to be excited. Just by becoming a Registered Competitor in the 2006 AMRS, competitors can now enjoy between 10 and 25 % discount at Meridian Motorsport.

The Thunder Sports Championship has been confirmed as an eight round Championship, on the 2006 Australian Motor Racing Series program. The series will visit Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia, and compete between March and November. The calendar for 2006 is as announced in the 27 September release, and can be accessed on the Calendar page of this site.

Thunder Sports have also announced an exciting list of eligible vehicles and divisions for the category. Visit the Thunder Sports overview page for a full list of divisions.

Check back soon for more information on the exciting new Thunder Sports category.

The 2006 Australian Motor Racing Series calendar has been announced, and sees some exciting new inclusions on the AMRS schedule. An eight round series, travelling to four different states, the 2006 Australian Motor Racing Series looks set to be better than ever!

ROUND	DATE	CIRCUIT
1	18 - 19 March 2006	Calder Park
2	22 - 23 April 2006	Wakefield Park
3	6 - 7 May 2006	Winton Raceway
4	3 - 4 June 2006	Queensland Raceway
5	8 - 9 July 2006	Adelaide International Raceway
6	26 - 27 August 2006	Winton Raceway
7	28-29 October 2006	Calder Park
8	25 - 26 November 2006	Wakefield Park

Round	Circuit	Date
1	Wakefield Park, NSW	February 24 - 25
2	Calder Park, VIC	March 24 - 25
3	Winton Raceway, VIC	April 28 - 29
4	Queensland Raceway, QLD	June 16 - 17
5	Adelaide International, SA	July 14 - 15
6	Calder Park, VIC	September 29 - 30
7	Wakefield Park, NSW	October 27 - 28
8	Oran Park, NSW	November 24 - 25