WINTERS PROVIDES WARM WELCOME TO PREMIAIR HIRE RACING
Posted by: In: racing 10 Jun 2019 Comments: 0 Tags: , , , , , , , ,

While for much of Gulf Western Oil Winternationals the weather was cold and rainy, the welcome from fans and racers alike for PremiAir Hire Racing was especially warm as the team made its comeback to racing at what is the largest drag racing event held outside of the US.

Peter Xiberras and his Top Fuel racing team have been on the sidelines since a major crash at Sydney Dragway in May of last year, but has been busy behind the scenes preparing for this weekend’s comeback at Willowbank Raceway.

Unfortunately the weather and a mechanical issue combined to reduce the Brisbane-based team’s on-track time to just two passes, but even so, the atmosphere was jovial as the team made its first steps towards what is expected to be a full tilt at the 19/20 Top Fuel Championship with a brand-new car.

“What a weekend it has been at Willowbank Raceway,” smiled Peter Xiberras.

“Results wise and track-time wise, it sure didn’t go our way. Rain saw us get only one qualifier instead of three, and then in the first round of racing I was matched up with Kelly Bettes and experienced a neutral safety switch failure – the switch is designed to neutralise the car in case the clutch welds at the end of the run so it can be pushed off the track safely without refiring the engine, but it failed and instead neutralised us at the end of the burnout!

“Even so, when we review our weekend overall we are grinning from ear to ear – the welcome we have received here at the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals has just been phenomenal and we are so glad to be back in amongst all the action and festivity of Top Fuel drag racing.

“Our congratulations goes to all of the racers on a great weekend at the race track, and especially to Wayne Newby on his well-deserved event and Top Fuel championship victory today.”

With their comeback now under their belt, PremiAir Hire Racing is looking ahead to what will be a large push for the 19/20 season.

“Our brand new car has arrived from the United States. It is currently in Melbourne and we are planning on testing in late September/early October ready for the season opener in November.

“Our sincere thanks goes to everyone who has supported us in our journey to this point, hopefully we can bring home some great results in thanks for your ongoing support in the upcoming season!”

For more information on PremiAir Hire Racing, please visit https://premiairhire.com.au/ or follow the team on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PremiAirRacing/

NEXT GENERATION SOAKS UP WINTERNATS SIGHTS AND SOUNDS WITH PREMIAIR HIRE RACING
Posted by: In: racing 06 Jun 2019 Comments: 0 Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Day one of the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals has not only hosted plenty of on-track action and off-track preparation for around 500 race teams today, but also an enthusiastic group of students from Horizons College.

The 20 students from the non-state Special Assistance School based in Caboolture are all studying an Auto Certificate Course and were hosted by Top Fuel team PremiAir Hire Racing today at what is the largest championship drag racing event held outside of the US.

As part of their Winternationals experience, the students were able to witness driver Peter Xiberras and his crew completing their final preparations ahead of Peter’s highly anticipated comeback to racing tomorrow.

They also took in some great qualifying action from the popular Sportsman racing categories and spent a large amount of time with PremiAir Hire Racing Crew Chief, Tim Adams, who taught them all about what it takes to get a 10,000hp Top Fuel dragster down the drag strip.

“We were very pleased to be able to provide this special experience with the help of Willowbank Raceway to these students,” Adams said.

“This event is particularly special for us as it marks the comeback to Top Fuel racing for the PremiAir Hire Racing team and for our driver Peter Xiberras following his well-publicised crash in Sydney in May of last year.

“Today has been an intense day of final preparations and for the Horizons College students to be involved in that process is something very unique indeed. With each of them keen on pursuing an automotive-based career, it was great to be able to show them up close the intricacies of our sport.”

Horizons College Deputy Principal, Jane Robinson, said experiences like the one offered today by PremiAir Hire Racing and Willowbank Raceway are very important for the school and its students.

“Horizons College of Learning and Enrichment is all about assisting young people for whom mainstream education is not meaningful. The school commenced in 2014 and now caters for students across years 7-12,” Robinson explained.

“This is the fifth year in a row that we have been able to send some very well-deserving students to this amazing event with the support of the Raceway and some very generous race teams.

“This is an opportunity that many of these students would not have had otherwise. It is a true highlight of their year; feeding their passion and inspiring them to continue to learn. We are very grateful to Willowbank Raceway and PremiAir Hire Racing for the experiences they have provided to our students today.”

PremiAir Hire Racing will be on-track at the Gulf Western Oil Winternationals from tomorrow (Friday June 7) with qualifying to mark the official comeback to racing for the team. Qualifying will continue on Saturday June 8 ahead of eliminations racing on Sunday June 9.

For event information, visit www.willowbankraceway.com.au

For more information on PremiAir Hire Racing, please visit https://premiairhire.com.au/ or follow the team on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PremiAirRacing/