It was a huge 2015-16 season for the SA Wingless Sprints, which saw strong performances from a number of drivers who will no doubt be ones to watch in the upcoming 2016-17 season, which commenced over the weekend at Murray Bridge Speedway.
Joel Chadwick was a driving force throughout the season and gained significant success, winning the SA Title and taking out the Most Feature-Race Points trophy. Chadwick was also named SA Driver of the Year and received the coveted Driver’s Driver award, as voted by his peers, undoubtedly making him the one to beat this season.
As the only SA driver to finish in the top five in the 2015-16 season Australian Title with third place, Robert Heard is also likely to run at the front of the pack. Heard scored the second most feature-race points behind Chadwick, so we’re sure to see the battle between the pair continue.
Brett Ireland will also be expected to fare well, having achieved two feature-race wins last season, along with a multitude of podium finishes. After three seasons in Wingless Sprints, Matt Kennedy broke through last season, scoring his first feature-race win at Speedway City (now Adelaide Motorsport Park), as well as finishing fifth in the SA Title.
Rookie Joel Heinrich showed speed during his debut season with some top-five finishes, and changing his number this season to # 16, he will be one to look out for, along with Jake Ashworth, who accrued the third most feature-race points thanks to his very strong finish last season, with multiple feature-race wins and podium results.
Jarman Dalitz is the only known Wingless Sprint driver who will step into 360 Sprintcars in the 2016-17 season, after only running at two events in 2015-16, which saw him claim third place in the SA Title.
The 2016-17 season commenced last Sunday night at Murray Bridge Speedway and saw WA-based visiting driver and current Australian Champion Daniel Hartigan claim the victory ahead of fast-paced Renee Pestka and Dale Gesell, with Anthony Tapley and David Cuppleditch rounding out the top five. Heat-race wins were awarded to Trent Gravestock, Tapley and Spencer Taylor.
The 2016-17 calendar for the SA wingless Sprints includes the SA Title at Adelaide Motorsport Park on January 14, the 50-Lapper at Mildura’s Timmis Speedway on May 6 and the Easter Trail, which will be contested over three nights from April 14-16 at Timmis Speedway, Riverland Speedway and Adelaide Motorsport Park.
For more information, contact Darryl Sloan on 0420 926 598 or visit their website at www.awsr.com.au/sa. You can also LIKE them on Facebook by searching South Australian Wingless Sprints (AWSSA).
