2003 Christmas Challenge - Heathcote Park Raceway 27/12/03

Event Report and Pictures: Ben Winstone

Heathcote Park Raceway's Annual Christmas Challenge event is always popular, however this year four, six and rotary competitors numbers were down, leaving a vast majority of V8-powered vehicles to make up the rest of the large field. The weather was also more racer-friendly than the high 30-degree temperatures experienced for the All Performance Challenge one month earlier, with the temperature in the mid-twenty degree range.

There were only two rotaries competing, however it was good to see the return of Phil Awremenko's Untubbed Series 1 RX-7. He ran a best time for the day of 9.43 at 147mph, just short of his Untubbed Top 20 listing run of 9.21 @ 150mph.

The red Series 5 RX-7 is more circuit-orientated however it did run in to the 11-second zone at just under 120mph.

Dominic Rigoli had the TRP prepared 'MRWRX' Subaru WRX wagon out again and after a couple of low nine-second passes ran a 9.00 @ 150mph, making it look relatively easy, to once again reset the WRX record.

Other turbo cars present included the black R33 GTS-T Skyline, running low 11's in the high 120mph range, while the silver R33 GT-R ran a number of low 12-second passes. The 'LTSFLI' VL Turbo ran briefly, while the 'SICK16' Datsun 1600 performed a number of good burnouts.
 

The green HR panel van 'PROPWR' was attracting plenty of attention with it's massive wheelstands, running a 8.70 @ 156mph, while the rest of the V8's provided some competitive racing.
 

Heathcote Park Raceway also has its website up and running, featuring results, pictures and information on upcoming events. You can view it at www.heathcoteraceway.com.au

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