After just under two weeks of announcing nominations, we are proud to announce on behalf of the Perth Motorplex and the WA Formula 500 Association that the official nominations for the Washpod 2013/14 Australian Formula 500 Championship have totalled no less than 70 competitors!

This is a huge field and we would like to thank all competitors and their teams for coming on board to help us celebrate what is sure to be a massive weekend of racing.

We have saved some big names until last, with today's interstater nominations being headed by the impressive Jye O'Keefe. Coming over to Perth early to get some extra laps in, Victorian O'Keefe has been rewarded with two podium finishes from two starts, including one win. Indeed, he claimed his opening night at the 'Plex after surviving some carnage, then the following night he had a heated battle with Steven Ellement in which, despite throwing everything he had at Ellement, he couldn't find his way through and had to settle for second. He recently came third in the Speedweek Series and is a big chance to take the title here over the weekend.

Today's second interstate driver is also from Victoria and will be another car coming from the Diablos Motorsport stable. Ash Sinclair, hailing from Terang, will be strapping into the V72 machine for the title and going on his recent results, where he finished fifth in the Victoria Speedweek Series, will certainly be another one that the WA locals and the other visitors will have to watch out for.

With these two drivers added in, it means that we have no less than 20 interstate drivers visiting us out here in the west which is a solid support for this national event that is sure to be one of the biggest in the events history.

On the local front we have Steven Gay who has signalled his intentions to claim the title. Despite having a couple of roll overs this season, Gay has been right on the pace and sits just outside the top ten in the Perth Motorplex Track Championship. He is always a threat to win and if he has a little luck go his way, he shouldn't be too far off a podium finish.

Two drivers making a welcome return to the division for the title are Tim Winters and Jason Pryde. After being out of the seat for a while, Winters returned for one meeting earlier in the season, though it didn't quite go as planned. He will be looking to get right back on the pace early to ensure the best possible outcome for himself at the end of the weekend.

Jason Pryde will also return for the weekend driving the Pages Motorsport #6 machine as part of a three car team with Jamie Pages and Queenslander Cody Maroske. Driving 410 and 360 Sprintcars this year, Pryde began racing Formulas a few years ago and is looking forward to returning to the field to join his Jason Pryde Motorsport teammates Brendon and Chanelle Condren. He is very excited about the opportunity and hopes to reward all those who have helped him out with a good finish.

An interesting note is that ten percent of the championship field is made up of lady racers. On top of the previous six we announced, Tegan Broadwood is also part of the field. The daughter of the former Australian champion and four time WA Champion Bill Broadwood, Tegan is in her first season of racing and is having a great time mixing it with the boys.

Our second last nomination for the title is perennial favourite, the veteran Bill Richards. Bill has missed only two Australian titles since he began racing back in the sixties and it just wouldn't be the same without his familiar #44 in the field. Travelling around in the famous WA bus to all events in the past, Bill has never won the race, though he has come close a number of times. It is great to see that Bill still has the passion and is once again in the field.

The final official nomination for the 2013/14 Washpod Australian Formula 500 Championship is that of Shane Andersson. The son of multi time champion Johnny Andersson has a huge title weekend coming up as he has moved away from his regular green #90 to be running a special tribute car to his dad, under his dads number #94. Shane and his father have also pain stakingly restored one of Johnny's title winning machines and Johnny will be piloting that around in front of the Australian Title field, along with serving as the Grand Marshall for the event. This alone means Shane will be going hard in the title in tribute to his dad, but he would also love nothing more than to emulate the efforts of his father: the first West Australian to win any former of open wheel Australian Championship.

That race fans is the 70 car field for the title. With so many cars it is certainly going to be hard to pick a winner! Stay tuned as over the coming week we will release the format for the two night event as well as keep you up to date with all the latest happenings in the lead up to the Washpod Australian Formula 500 Championship!

Release by DTN Media.

Official Nominations: 70
A1 Marcus Kelly
2 Steven Ellement
3 Chris Dymock
V5 Steven Van Ginneken
5 Tegan Broadwood
6 Jason Pryde
Q7 Charlie Brown
7 Matt Higgs
Q9 Brad Metcalfe
V10 Tyler Beasy
10 Andrew Priolo
13 Darren Lassey
S13 Brock Hallett
15 Craig Bottrell
15 Anton Porro
17 Todd Broadwood
19 Steven Gay
23 Gavin Connelly
24 Mark House
25 James Dawson
26 Brad Davison
V27 Dylan Willsher
28 David Sinagra
29 Thomas Davies
32 Trystan Caley
Q33 Kristin Brown
34 Nathan Chapman
V35 Jesse Elston
38 Glen Sharpe
V40 Josh Fort
40 Ash Kent
44 Bill Richards
45 Adrian Fogliani
46 Graham Terry
47 Tim Winters
49 Glenn Carstairs
V50 James Aranyosi
51 Chanelle Condren
52 Lizz Plummer
Q53 Kaydon Iverson
V55 Jye O'Keefe
55 Adrian Haywood
56 Bronwyn Channing
60 Adrian La Macchia
62 Casey Johansen
Q65 Cody Maroske
66 Jamie Pages
T69 Kristian Kelly
69 Brendan Condren
S71 Lockie Cates
71 David Carstairs
V72 Ash Sinclair
72 Brett Janssen
75 Aiden Prentis
77 Brock Nanovich
78 Brent Lockwood
79 Tom Hooper
80 Glenn Holdaway
81 Jason Priolo
Q83 Allan Iverson
83 Jeremy Saffin
V92 Rob Trewartha
92Aaron Fullgrabe
93 Jason Shaddick
94 Shane Andersson
V95 Dale Sinclair
95 Troy Johnson
97 Debbie Patmore
98 Warwick Bussenschutt
138 Brooke-louise Sharpe