Thunder Sports Media Release

29 August 2006: WEST D SPORTS RACER AND DREWER DOMINATE WINTON AMRS ROUND 6

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).

South Australian driver Tom Drewer set the tone for the weekend when he propelled the WEST around the circuit in qualifying to set a new record time of 1:23.6224. The WEST qualifying time was 4.2607 seconds faster than the second qualifying time, being that of the Porsche 993 twin turbo of Paul Whitmarsh.

In race 1, Drewer on pole with a grid of 23 cars, not only convincingly won the race but established a new race record time of 1: 24.690.

‘It was a good race and a good result. On the grid all I could see in the mirrors was a sea of seven Porsches alongside and behind me. I got too much wheel spin off the line and dropped back to fourth, but once the WEST hooked up, it was just a matter of picking the passing points to get back into the lead and take the win’, Drewer said.

The next two races really put both the WEST and Drewer to the test with the handicap system not only putting them to the back of the grid but with the added difficulty of a 60 second time penalty in the first of the reverse grid races.

‘Sitting on the back of the grid and waiting for such a long time before starting certainly focuses your mind but the short distance in race 2 wasn’t quite enough. Second place at the chequered flag was good and with one more corner I could have taken the lead, but the lap time I put in was even better breaking the race record again bringing it down to 1:23.852.

Race 3 was awesome. I was off the back of the grid again this time with a 70 second plus delay, but I had an extra two laps in race distance to put in the overtaking. I passed 22 cars to take the win. It was a very busy race, but getting information over the radio on gaps, and laps to go made the job a little easier’, Drewer said.

As a result of the two wins and the second place, the WEST and Drewer not only won its class but took outright victory in the Thundersport category.

Speaking after the meeting WEST Motor Sport Australia Team Manager and Business Development Director Terry Little said not only was he delighted with the performance of the car, but had high praise for driver Tom Drewer.

‘I have seen a lot of successful young drivers in many categories over the years like Will Power, Jamie Whincup, and Bryce Washington and what Tom is doing in this car is very impressive. He is not only super quick but is driving the car with a level of maturity that is great to see. With the handicap system in the AMRS Series you don’t get an easy win having to pass so many cars off the back of the grid. You need extremely good race craft and Tom has it in bucket loads’, Little said.

WEST Motor Sport Director Greg Steer was also well satisfied with the second Australian race meeting for the team.

‘We have introduced a brand new car to Australian motor racing and I think we have already shown that the WEST delivers the goods. We have done it on the track where it counts and the fact that our American facility is already building five more cars destined for Australia shows that people realise just how good the product is’, Steer said.

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.

West Motor Sport Australia thanks its team partners for their support:

Sponsors: Oasis Systems and ACE Embroidery

Race preparation and race engineering: R-Tek (Ian 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

© AMRS 2005