RADICAL BATTLE RESUMES WITH TIGHT FRIDAY TIMES
THE CLOSEST Radical Cup Australia grid yet points to a hugely competitive weekend ahead as the series races at Perth’s Wanneroo Raceway for the first time this weekend.
Local drivers dominated the standings in practice, however the gradual improvement from key Eastern state competitors – including championship leader Chris Perini – points to an intense fight this weekend.
West Australians Elliott Schutte and Adam Lisle topped the two 20-minute sessions today, the pair ultimately split by just one-tenth of a second.
The latter’s 55.8329s best to top Practice two was fractionally the quickest time of the day, leading the 16-strong field by a tiny 0.0986s on combined times.
Radical Cup Australia sets out to be a close-call after tight Friday times at Wanneroo Raceway.
16-year-old Caleb Sumich was a remarkable third on what was quite literally his first day of school – this weekend his first race meeting. He ended the day just 0.28 seconds behind the two far more experienced drivers ahead of him at the end of the day.
Fourth was title leader Chris Perini, the Sydneysider the first of the interstate interlopers making their presence felt this weekend at Wanneroo. The Round 1 winner was seventh in practice one, a full 1.3 seconds off the ultimate pace, however he closed the margin and gained several spots in the later session to finish practice 0.6s behind the outright pace.
Perini has had a massive week – getting married last weekend before jetting into Perth directly from Tasmania, where he was competing in the Targa Tasmania rally.
Bryce Moore was fifth overall on Friday aboard his Arise Racing/Lumberjacks Radical, while Bradley Russell and Jay Wong completed the runners to finish fast Friday within a second of the ultimate pace.
Bryce Moore, Wanneroo Raceway 2022
Sebastian Fiorenza ended the day eighth, Round 1 podium finisher Peter Paddon ninth and Madeline Stewart 10th. Stewart is making her return to the Arise Racing stable this weekend, having contested several rounds of the WA State Championship with the squad prior to the pandemic.
Travis Sharpe, Andrew Eldridge, Andrew Connor, Stephen Champion, Campbell Nunn and Sue Hughes completed the runners across a pair of uninterrupted practice hit outs.
Attention will turn directly to Qualifying tomorrow, the 30-minute session to set the grid for Race one later that afternoon. The 45-minute affair will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sports tomorrow.
