A top-three finish in the final Victorian Speedweek Formula 500 Series point standings recently was a pleasing result for Terry Rankin.

In only Rankin’s second full season in the Formula 500 class, he showed consistent pace and had it not been for some misfortune at various stages of the six-round series, he might have finished higher than third in the final point standings.

“I was really happy with my Speedweek Series,” the 21-year-old from Geelong said.

“The Speedweek Series is arguably the toughest week of Formula 500 racing in Australia, so to come out of it with a top-three finish is something I’m very proud of.”

Rankin’s Speedweek Series campaign couldn’t have started any better, after he in the opening round at Simpson Speedway on December 27 romped to his maiden feature-race victory. From there, he finished third (Mid-Western Speedway), eighth (Southern 500 Speedway), 10th (Western Speedway), DNF (Premier Speedway) and second (Mid-Western Speedway). The DNF at Premier Speedway occurred due to a broken engine adjuster, after he had charged from the rear of the field, after qualifying via the B main (in his second heat race he finished down the order due to the race officials calling for a yellow flag but the track officials not bringing it out, after he had spun to a stop after riding a wheel), to be running eighth up until he was forced to retire in the middle stages of the race.

“I had a great start to Speedweek and to have my maiden feature-race win during Speedweek was something pretty special,” commented Rankin.

“I started Speedweek strongly and finished it strongly as well, but it was the middle rounds where I finished a bit further down the order and also had the DNF, and in the end it’s that consistency that’s the difference between running third and winning.”

Rankin, who drives the Vic # 79 Dion Gibbins-owned EDGE car, is really looking forward to the rest of the season.

“Leading up to Speedweek, I had a pretty bad run, where we had the speed but we just had a few teething issues that held us back,” explained Rankin.

“During the off season, we switched from carburettor to electronic fuel injection, and after a slow start, we’re now on top of it and Speedweek proved that, so now I’m aiming to finish rest of the season at the pointy end of the field.”

This Saturday night at Swan Hill’s Sonic Speedway, Rankin will be next in action for what is the next Victorian Stampede Series round.

Rankin is proudly supported by the following 2015-16 season sponsors: Serpentine Road House, Charlton Truck Stop, Mark Haby Motors, Salt Electrical, Colour Tech Coatings, PTS Progress Transport Services, Active Electrical Wholesalers, Wurth, SJ Fraser National Livestock Transport, Tanner’s Water 4 U, DK Race Parts, Battery World Warrnambool, Tyre Factory Warrnambool, and Jettco Developments. Special thanks: Dion and Chantelle Gibbins, Rob (Dad), Christine (Mum), Billy, Steph, Robert McKenna, Andy Hughes, Daniel Brittain and family, and Frencham family.

-ENDS-

Terry Rankin Media Enquiries: Daniel Powell from Redline Media
Mobile: 0432 126 210
Email: daniel@redlinemedia.com.au
Website: www.redlinemedia.com.au