Just one week after the gruelling Australian Title/Bunny Burrowes Memorial weekend, the WA Formula 500's and a number of interstate visitors are heading up the highway and into the heart of the Goldfields. Kalgoorlie Speedway will play host to a snarling field of forty Formula 500's, all of whom will be vying for the WA State Championship.
The longest running State Formula 500 Championship in Australia, the West Australian title is one full of prestige and the names who have won it are a who's who of WA Formula names including Johnny Andersson, Wally Higgs, Bill Broadwood, Bryan Mullings, Trevor Harding and Matt Brown. Interestingly enough, in the fifty six year history of the WA title, an interstater has never won the championship!
Heading up the nominations for this event is the freshly crowned Australian Formula 500 Champion Brock Hallett and the defending WA Champion, Andrew Priolo. Hallett won his second national championship last weekend at the Perth Motorplex before coming home in a solid sixth place the following night at Narrogin. Priolo meanwhile was high points man for the Australian title and started off on pole before coming home third, then set high points again for the Bunny Burrowes, again starting on pole and this time coming home first to claim the $5000 winners cheque. That being said, the WA title is a whole new event at a whole new track and past performance means nothing. Either of these drivers is more than capable of claiming the win and will be racing hard to ensure they do.
Of course, there are no guarantees in speedway and there is a huge chance that another driver could get up and take the title. Mark House came home second in the national championship with a broken front wing and will be a serious contender for the title while Jye O'Keefe from Victoria also had a lot of car speed over the last weekend and is looking for some retribution after not quite claiming the results he wanted.
Former champions in the field include Steven Ellement, who claimed the title in 2009 and 2010, as well as David Sinagra who claimed the trophy in 2012, not to mention the veteran Bill Richards who won the 1974 version. All three would love nothing more than to add another state title to their collection and will be doing all they can to lock in a solid result.
Add in a whole host of other proven winners including Jason Pryde, Matt Higgs, Jason Priolo, Jeremy Saffin and Brad Warwick, plus a host of other interstate invaders including Queensland father son duo Alan and Kaydon Iverson, Victorians James Aranyosi, Dale and Ash Sinclair, Dylan Willsher and Tyler Beasy (who won all his races last time he raced at Kalgoorlie) and South Aussie Lockie Cates.
It's another huge field and the action is sure to be edge of your seat stuff. Will an interstater claim the title for the first time ever? Will Andrew Priolo successfully defend? Will another local claim the prize? Be at Kalgoorlie Speedway this Friday andSaturday night to find out!
Release by DTN Media.
Official Nominations - 40
A1 Brock Hallett WA1 Andrew Priolo 2 Steven Ellement 6 Jason Pryde 7 Matt Higgs Q9 Brad Metcalfe V10 Tyler Beasy 13 Darren Lassey 17 Todd Broadwood 24 Mark House 26 Brad Davison V27 Dylan Willsher 28 David Sinagra 29 Thomas Davies 33 Travis Bell 34 Nathan Chapman 38 Ash Kent 44 Bill Richards 46 Graham Terry V50 James Aranyosi V51 Ash Sinclair 51 Chanelle Condren Q53 Kaydon Iverson V55 Jye O'Keefe 56 Bronwyn Channing 60 Adrian La Macchia 65 Brad Pages 66 Jamie Pages S71 Lockie Cates 80 Glenn Holdaway 81 Jason Priolo Q83 Alan Iverson 83 Jeremy Saffin 90 Shane Andersson 91 Brad Warwick V95 Dale Sinclair 97 Deb Patmore 115 Anton Porro 138 Brooke-Louise Sharpe 185 Cody Turrachio
WA Formula 500 Championship Honour Board 2014 ???? 2013 Andrew Priolo 2012 David Sinagra 2011 Daniel Harding 2010 Steven Ellement 2009 Steven Ellement 2008 Ben Devlin 2007 Ben Devlin 2006 Matt Brown 2005 Matt Brown 2004 Gavin Casey 2003 Matt Brown 2002 Trevor Harding 2001 Phil Crofts 2000 Trevor Harding 1999 Phil Crofts 1998 Aaron Griffiths 1997 Marshall McDiarmid 1996 Craig Oakley 1995 Jeff Hancock 1994 Bryan Mullings 1993 Paul Anderson 1992 Bryan Mullings 1991 Bryan Mullings 1990 Jeff Hancock 1989 Vince Chapman 1988 Bill Broadwood 1987 Bill Broadwood 1986 Des Ferris 1985 Peter Sumpton 1984 Bill Broadwood 1983 Bill Broadwood 1982 Peter Sumpton 1981 Rod Bottrell 1980 John Andersson 1979 George Higgs 1978 George Higgs 1977 John Andersson 1976 Barry Hancock 1975 John Andersson 1974 Bill Richards 1973 Wally Cowie 1972 John Andersson 1971 George Gregson 1970 John Andersson 1969 Graham McDougall 1968 John Andersson 1967 Charlie West 1966 Charlie West 1965 Danny Lahoar 1964 Noel Potts 1962 Noel Potts 1961 Noel Potts 1960 Wally Higgs 1959 Wally Higgs 1958 Wally Higgs
