This Saturday Wangaratta Speedway lights up for the 44th running of the Australian Grand Prix Midget Title. As expected, it will be a hotly contested night of racing with competitors from both NSW and Victoria not only vying for the coveted #A1 come nights end but a hefty $4500 prize pool on offer including a challenge worth $1500 for one driver making it the richest race in GP Midget history.
Victorian Club President John Fowler commented this week “We’re really excited to be able to offer the largest prize pool in the history of our class which I think really shows the strength of the class to be able to offer this kind of money. Wangaratta Speedway have been great supporters of our class for many years and it’s been great working with Kenny and the team to make this event an a special one for the fans on the hill.”
In what has been a very even season of racing so far, NSW have seemed to have the wheel over the Victorians with Gary Bowyer leading the charge from NSW along with last start winner Adam Buckley they will certainly be looking to steal a race win on Victorian soil. Son of Gary, Riley Bowyer has shown his pace as well this season and Anthony Lea always has the elbows up and hard to beat when he makes the trip down the highway.
If Alex Myers has anything to do with it, it will be a Victorian who steps up to the top step of the podium and his form this season would suggest he could be one of the drivers to do it. Chris Fowler coming off a 3rd place in the Victorian Title also carries good form into this weekend. They will need to watch out for local Wangaratta club member Shawn Ward who’ll have Travis Florrimell, Matt Kamolins and Mark Blackeby all chomping at his heels for position.
Terry Brown has been getting some laps this season in his Compact Speedcar as well at his GP Midget to keep race fit and all the talk is that he’s ready for a breakout performance in his GP Midget, whilst Jack Ward and David Bacon will be looking to turn their recent luck around.
The most welcomed nomination though was to see the return of club favourite Daniel Meredith who returns this weekend from some recent health issues and no doubt there will be plenty of smiles from all the drivers to see him back out on the track.
If the line-up for this year’s Australian Title doesn’t get you excited then maybe the addition of a high points scorer challenge might peak your interest. Thanks to some great work by Wangaratta Speedway and Mark Shiells from Pitstop Mowers they have come together to offer a challenge to the driver who qualifies on pole for the 2023 Australian GP Midget Title, that should they elect to start from the rear of field for the 20-lap feature and make their way back through a very competitive field to win they will pocket a cool $1500 prize money on top of the already bumper prize pool on offer. If that doesn’t get your skin tingling then I don’t know what will.
All this coupled with a big night of racing from Wangaratta Speedway with 115 cars to enter the pits there will be plenty of action. Racing gets underway at the earlier time of 3pm. This is one race meeting you have to see.
The Victorian Grand Prix Midget Racing Association thanks:
Stinger Chassis
Pitstop Mowers
TM Lineboring & Engineering
Automotive Super Balance
Wangaratta Speedway
DMT Sports Media
Jackie & Vern Parker Photography
Ends Release.
Written by Speedcafe contributor Chris Fowler
