CALENDAR

The inaugural round of the Pro Drag Racing Championship was a roaring success with racers and fans alike, despite Friday’s action being cancelled due to persistent rain and cold temperatures and Saturday’s early racing affected by rain as well.

Over 50 Professional racers took to the Sydney Dragway quarter mile, supported by the Grand Finals for the NSW Championship Series sportsman racers. The event counts towards the National Drag Racing Championship Points score with the NDRC and PDRC

The A Final in pro alcohol saw the two highest seeded racers at the event, the championship winner and #3 Russell Mills and Chris Hargrave doing battle, off the back of two wins each in the All Run Format.

Mills logged a 5.52 in a round one solo and backed it up with a 5.51 win over Cruz Lovering, while Hargrave recorded a victory over a tyre shaking Cheyne Phillips in Round one on his way to a 5.64 and improved to a 5.57 in round two.

Mills was once again on song in the final, his 5.53 enough to best Hargrave’s 5.60 in a race decided by only .0095s.

Mills said afterwards, “It’s been an awesome event- the PDRC has put on a great event, and to run another 5.5 is incredible. I have to get used to trying to defend the championship from last year now!”

Pro Mod was the largest category in the professional ranks, with 15 competitors facing the starter.

The A Final came down to the two most consistent cars throughout the event in the form of Former Champion Zoran Gajic and first time Pro Mod Finalist Peter Gratz.

Gajic logged wins over Danny Makdessi and Joe Gauci, while Gratz bested Neil Murphy (courtesy of a red light start) and Rob Campisi respectively.

The final saw a holeshot advantage to Peter Gratz, but Gajic had made the difference up by half track and went through for the victory, a 5.89 besting a 5.94 from Gratz.

“We are very, very happy, there isn’t much more we can do to make this thing consistent. It is such a great car, and I just try to do my job on the lights and leave on time, Gajic Said after the race.  

The class of the Pro Stock field was undoubtedly Rob Dekert and John Barbagallo, the only two cars in the Pro Stock Category to run into the six second zone through the first two rounds of racing whilst taking two wins from two.

Chris Soldatos was unlucky not to take a place in the final round, but a late reaction time in Round one that resulted in a loss to Barbagallo cost him dearly.

The final saw a marginal start line advantage to Barbagallo, and that was the difference in the end with his 6.99 enough to hold off a fast finishing 6.95 from Dekert by .0093s .

“Rob & Chris – all of those guys set the bar so high, to get the win over Rob is incredible. We are just trying our best and luckily, we got the job done”, Barbagallo said.

Pro Bike was a war of attrition with only six bikes fronting the starters orders, after licencing issues cruelled the hopes of Callam Godeassi and Brendan Sanders in their hope of making the field.

Reigning champion Luke Crowley was the quickest bike through both of the first two rounds of racing and rightfully took his position in the final alongside Jason Lee, in his second season returning to the sport after a 10 year plus break.

In the Final a massive holeshot to Jason Lee saw him take an upset victory over Crowley, his 7.31 enough to hold off a 7.304 from Crowley.

The Pro Import exhibition featured six cars, with 3 rotary powered cars taking on 2 Toyota 2JZ powered cars.

The final featured Paul Mouhayet and Frank Tarabay, the two most consistently quick cars throughout the event. 

 Mouhayet took the win on yet another holeshot, his 6.04 enough to account for Tarabay’s 5.997.

The win saw Mouhayet take home $2,000 cash from Enviro Waste Services Group for the win.

“We put some in it for the final, I knew Tarabay would be quick, so we were aiming for a ’95 (5.95s) but the Gas Racing Celica never lets us down man!” Mouhayet said after the win.

The PDRC moves to Adelaide for the second round of the Championship on February 8 & 9, 2025.