Easter is set to heat up when 57 Formula 500’s invade Laang Speedway for the 2012 Australian Formula 500 Championship.
The event, to be held on April 6th and 7th, will be represented by cars from every State and Territory from Australia.

Victoria once again leads the nominations with 28 nominations. Reigning and defending National Champion Liam Williams leads the nominations. His form this season has been good with a top 3 result in the Oval Express Series, victory in the South Australian Title and a top 5 finish in last weekends Victorian Title. Williams has also tasted success at Laang this season with multiple feature wins. Williams will head into this event with the confidence and speed to back it up.

Jye O’Keeffe is the form driver in Australia at the moment. With multiple victories this season including the Victorian Title last weekend at Horsham’s Blue Ribbon raceway O’Keeffe will be a man on a mission. With the news last week that O’Keeffe will drive a Jettco Powered Eagle next season for Diablos Motorsport, O’Keeffe will head in as a favourite and the confidence and speed to back it up.

In recent years Victoria has seen an influx in car numbers with some of the hottest talent coming out of the state. Chad Sullivan has shown consistent form this season. He has picked up a feature win along with a second place finish in the Victorian title. Chad will head into the title with plenty of knowledge of the track and the confidence to back it up.

Mat Turner is enjoying his best season ever. With a podium finish in a round of the Oval Express Series at Simpson and an overall top 10 result, Turner has been in incredibly strong form with multiple podium results this season aboard his home made ASF Chassis.

Will Carroll, Ryan Skennar, Brett Willsher, Andy Morton, Brett Dillon, Simon Craven, Tyler Carter, Mitch Whiting, Dylan Willsher, Josh Fort, Jeremy Beddison, Ryan O’Keefe, Ash Sinclair, Defending Stampede Series champion James Aranyosi, Shane Van Duynhoven, Jess Moulden, Mathew Symons AJ Blackstock, Ben McLeod, Rob Trewartha and Dale Sinclair complete the strong Victorian contingent.

Goulburn will be represented by a sole competitor. 2005 Australian Champion and Oval Express Champion Matt Brown has nominated and will be looking to continue the same form that netted him 3 feature victories and a 2nd place overall in this season’s Oval Express Series.

South Australia once again is represented with 3 nominations. Warrnambool resident Grant Stansfield has nominated for the 2 night event and will be looking to build on the recent good form he has had after having a slow start to the season. Leigh van Ginneken will once again drive the Clavell family owned SA9. The South Australia representation is completed by Simon Reichelt.

Queensland will be represented by 9 cars. With 3 national titles and over 15 state championships this will be one of the most heavily experienced Queensland contingents in recent memory. 2 times National Champion Mick Pronger will lead the nominations. Mick will be joined by his son Nathan with the 2 drivers showing good form this season with multiple feature victories.

Current Queensland and New South Wales champion Charlie Brown will also be looking to recapture the same form that won him 3 state titles and a 2nd place finish in last season’s Oval Express Series. Glimpses of it last week came out with Victory in the opening night of the Victorian title. Charlie will be joined by his sister Kristin with both drivers forming a formidable combination.

Dale Shilleto will campaign a new Edge Chassis for the title. After many years of driving a Pace Chassis, the former Queensland and Victorian champion decided to switch to the new chassis. Shilleto will head in looking for a good consistent weekend. Shilleto has finished on the title podium twice with his best result being 2nd in the 2010 title.

Father and Son duo Alan and Kaydon Iverson have also nominated for the 2 night event. Both drivers have been showing some good form and will be looking to continue that. David Baxter will once again travel south from his Queensland base to compete in the title.

The final piece of the Queensland puzzle is 2009 Australian champion Brock Hallett. Now residing in Adelaide, Hallett has already picked up feature wins and set new track records this season. Hallett will be looking to recapture the same form that netted him the Australian, Victorian, Queensland, ACT and South Australian titles all in the same year.

The Northern Territory will once again be represented. Andorr Motorsports drivers Steven Anderson and Joe Orr have nominated and will make the long trek south from their Alice Springs base. Both drivers have been in blistering form this season in the NT Series and will be looking to continue it.

At this years title Tasmania will be represented by 4 drivers. Marcus Kelly has nominated and will be looking for the same results that saw him finish in the top 10 in the 2011 Australian Title at Goulburn. Kane Cruse, Cody Dransfield and Nick Kingston complete the Apple Isle contingent. NSW will be represented by Matt Hunter, Chris Alcorn and Luca Cox

Western Australia has 7 nominations with the newly crown Western Australian champion David Sinagra leading the nominations. Sinagra recorded his biggest win earlier in the season winning the WA Title. He will be joined by Jason Pryde, Bill Richards who will make his 46th consecutive Australian Title, Mark House, Thomas Davies, Jason Priolo and Steven Ellement.

So there you have it, 57 of the nations finest set to do battle in just 4 weeks time. Each driver will compete in four ten lap heats, 3 on the first night and 1 on the second night. After the heats have been completed the top 16 in points will be locked away in the 35 lap championship final. The next 20 cars will race off in the B-Main with the top 4 transferring to the back of the A-Main. Before the B-Main the C-Main will be run with the top 4 transferring to the back of the B-Main.

The Victorian Formula 500 Association would like to thank the Committee, Officials and volunteers from Laang Speedway for hosting the 2012 Australian Title. Stay tuned for further announcements in the next few including merchandise and Sponsors.
We also have a Facebook page. Search for Australian Formula 500 Facebook Page and ask to join

2012 Australian Formula 500 Championship Nominations

A1 Liam Williams
Q1 Charlie Brown
WA1 David Sinagra
Q4 Dale Shilleto
WA4 Steven Ellement
GLB4 Matt Brown
V5 Chad Sullivan
V6 Will Carroll
T7 Kane Cruse
NSW7 Chris Alcorn
SA9 Leigh Van Ginneken
V12 Ryan Skennar
Q13 Brock Hallett
T13 Nick Kingston
V14 Brett Willsher
V17 Andy Morton
NSW17 Matt Hunter
V19 Brett Dillon
V20 Simon Craven
NT22 Joe Orr
NT23 Steven Anderson
V24 Tyler Carter
WA24 Mark House
V25 Phil Smith
V26 Mitch Whiting
V27 Dylan Willsher
SA29 Grant Stansfield
WA34 Thomas Davies
Q31 David Baxter
V32 Mat Turner
Q33 Kristin Brown
V35 Jesse Ellston
V40 Josh Fort
Q42 Mick Pronger
Q43 Nathan Pronger
WA44 Bill Richards
V45 Jeremy Beddison
T47 Marcus Kelly
V48 Ryan O’Keefe
V50 James Aranyosi
V51 Ash Sinclair
SA51 Simon Reichelt
WA51 Jason Pryde
NSW51 Luca Cox
V52 Shane Van Duynhoven
V53 Jess Moulden
Q53 Kaydon Iverson
V55 Jye O’Keeffe
V70 Mathew Symons
V75 AJ Blackstock
WA81 Jason Priolo
Q83 Alan Iverson
V88 Ben McLeod
V91 Steven Horton
V92 Robert Trewartha
V95 Dale Sinclair
T99 Cody Dransfield