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Last minute changes have been made to the ANDRA Drag Racing Series calendar amid disquiet from racers about the make-up of the transitional season, whilst the governing body has confirmed there will be television coverage for all professional categories, however stopped short of confirming details.
Top Fuel – which was set for an unprecedented 11 rounds has been cut back to eight events – losing two Adelaide International Raceway visits and a round at Calder Park Raceway in the season that will set ANDRA on a course for a January to December calendar come 2014.
Overall, in developing the transitional calendar, there will be no less than 14 events that carry at least one professional ANDRA (Group 1) category, however just four events feature every major category on the one bill – the 2012 Australian Nationals, Sydney (November 2-4), the Nitro Champs, Sydney (May 4-5), the Winternationals, Willowbank (June 6-9), the 2013 Australian Nationals, Sydney (November 1-3).
For the first time, ANDRA will visit Darwin with Top Alcohol and Top Bike in August next year, whilst returning to Adelaide International Raceway and Calder Park after both venues’ historic return to the calendar in 2012.
With ANDRA showing little foresight in setting the calendar by splitting categories across venues, any benefit to promoters or the governing body in terms of reduced prizemoney has been negated by the addition of significant costs to the Championship overall in terms of moving officials and television crews to the events.
New ANDRA CEO, Mal Bulley – who inherited the calendar from his predecessor, recognised that there were some issues in the setting of the calendar for the transitional season and hoped the last minute revisions would assist in easing some pressure on the competitors:
“The transitional year has presented a number of challenges, these should have been addressed earlier but by going through some pain now we can set about supporting teams through this season and begin planning a complete overhaul for 2014,” said Bulley. “Developing a calendar that is consistent and sensibly timed and located will be the goal.”
Bulley also confirmed a television package was in place for the 2013 season and added that details of that package would be revealed soon.
The full 2013 ANDRA Drag Racing Championship Calendar is as follows:
20 October 2012
Adelaide International Raceway
Top Fuel Round 1, Pro Stock Round 1
2-4 November 2012 – Australian Nationals
Sydney Dragway
Top Fuel Round 2, Top Doorslammer Round 1, Top Alcohol Round 1, Pro Stock Round 2, Top Bike Round 1, Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 2, Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship Round 1
16-17 November 2012 – Goldenstates
Perth Motorplex
Top Doorslammer Round 2, Top Alcohol Round 2
30 November-1 December 2012
Perth Motorplex
Top Fuel Round 3, Top Bike Round 2
1-2 February 2013
Perth Motorplex
Top Fuel Round 4, Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 2
16-17 February 2013
Calder Park, Melbourne
Top Doorslammer Round 3, Pro Stock Round 3, Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 3
23-24 February 2013 – Pro Series 1000
Adelaide International Raceway
Top Alcohol Round 3, Top Bike Round 3, Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 4, Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship Round 3
2-3 March 2013 – Westernationals
Perth Motorplex
Top Doorslammer Round 4, Pro Stock Round 4, Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship Round 4
4-5 May 2013 – Nitro Champs
Sydney Dragway
Top Fuel Round 5, Top Doorslammer Round 5, Top Alcohol Round 4, Pro Stock Round 5, Top Bike Round 4, Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 5, Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship Round 5
6-9 June 2013 – Winternationals
Willowbank Raceway
Top Fuel Round 6, Top Doorslammer Round 6, Top Alcohol Round 5, Pro Stock Round 6, Top Bike Round 5, Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 6, Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship Round 6
16-17 August 2013
Hidden Valley Dragway
Top Alcohol Round 6, Top Bike Round 6
21-22 September 2013
Adelaide International Raceway
Top Doorslammer Round 7, Pro Stock Round 7, Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 7, Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship Round 9
19-20 October 2013
Calder Park, Melbourne
Top Fuel Round 7, Top Bike Round 7, Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 8
1-3 November 2013 – Australian Nationals
Sydney Dragway
Top Fuel Round 8, Top Doorslammer Round 8, Top Alcohol Round 7, Pro Stock Round 8, Top Bike Round 8, Pro Stock Motorcycle Round 9, Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship Round 11
