It was a positive 2015-16 season for the Queensland Wingless Sprints, which saw increased car counts and several drivers delivering impressive results.
Finishing second to Queensland Club Championship winner Brant Chandler, who will not be racing in the 2016-17 season, veteran racer Adam Butler will hope to go one better this season to take the top spot and his consistent form, which sees him regularly running up the front of the pack, is sure to make him a tough competitor.
Commencing the season with a new car, the third-place finisher in the Queensland Club Championship, Brad Keiler, is going to be giving it his all to run at the pointy end of the field on a consistent basis.
Multiple podium-getter Scott Thomsen showcased good form last season, scoring second in the Tasmanian Title, but suffered some unfortunate results. Proving his pace, Thomsen qualified on the front row for the Australian Title at Toowoomba’s Hi-Tec Oils Speedway, however he was plagued with a mechanical issue that forced him to retire from the race. While leading the Queensland Title, Thomsen collided with current and two-time Australian Champion Daniel Hartigan, bringing his night to a crashing end. He will no doubt be vying for a title win this season.
Thomsen’s younger brothers, Brody and Mitch, will also return this season and will be aiming to come away with some top-five results.
Fast-paced Dan Moes was a regular front-runner and came away with a feature-race win, while his teammate Brooke Collins is currently in her second season racing Wingless Sprints and will be looking to build on last season’s experience.
10 newcomers to the class will be headed by 17-year-old Cody O’Connell, an ex-Junior Sedans and Quarter Midgets racer, whose father, Adrian, is a former Sprintcar racer. O’Connell recently had his first practice at Brisbane’s Archerfield Speedway and showed impressive form, making him one to watch this season. Another is ex-Microsprint front runner Tim Napper, who will make the move into the class after recently purchasing a car from current and two-time Victorian Champion James Wren.
In a positive step forward, the club will see less calendar dates clash with the Northern NSW events this season, allowing the Northern NSW drivers to contest more races throughout Queensland. The club is expecting an average of 25 cars at meetings during the season.
The 2016-17 season commenced recently at Hi-Tec Oils Speedway and saw Glenn Wright get the new season off to a great start, taking out the victory ahead of David Eggins in second and Robert Mazzer in third, with Kevin Willis and Scott Thomsen rounding out the top-five finishers. Heat-race wins were awarded to Willis, Butler and Wright.
The 2016-17 season calendar for the Queensland Wingless Sprints includes the 50-Lapper at Brisbane’s Archerfield Speedway on November 5 and the Queensland Title at Hi-Tec Oils Speedway on April 14, 2017.
For more information, contact Johnno Cave on 0421 722 254 or visit their website at www.awsr.com.au/qld. You can also LIKE them on Facebook by searching Wingless Sprints Qld.
