| Willowbank expands Winternationals to Thursday |
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| Written by Willowbank Raceway | |
| Tuesday, 27 November 2007 | |
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Willowbank Raceway's Management Committee voted recently to assure the future of their biggest event - the Castrol EDGE Winternationals - by expanding the Event program for 2008 and 2009.
Currently held as a Queen's Birthday weekend three day event (Friday - S unday), the 2008 program will see it expand to incorporate an extra half-day of proceedings on the Thursday afternoon, while the 2009 program will see the event held over four days Friday - Monday. The Winternationals event has been under review by the Willowbank Raceway Management Committee for the past 18 months as management have sought to revamp the flagship event, which is the largest drag racing event held outside of the USA. Willowbank Raceway Managing Director Steve Bettes said safety, spectator and official comfort, tight time schedules and growing numbers of competitors had all been critical factors in the review of the raceway's largest event. "The decision to expand the program of the Castrol EDGE Winternationals will allow Willowbank Raceway to ensure that the largest drag racing event held outside of the US continues to offer exciting performances to its fans while ensuring the best and safest conditions continue to be provided for compe titors and officials alike," said Bettes. "I expect that the racers of Australia will be delighted with the decision as will spectators, with an extra day of thrills on the cards come 2009." Willowbank Raceway's long-serving President John Winterburn echoed these sentiments, with almost four decades of involvement with the sport of Drag Racing in Australia convincing him this was the crucial next step in the continued development of Willowbank Raceway and the Winternationals event. "I have been involved with drag racing for nearly 40 years, and over that time I have seen the sport, the facility of Willowbank Raceway and the Castrol EDGE Winternationals grow from small beginnings to the successful enterprise that it is today," said Winterburn. "Looking over that growth period, this is the logical next step in ensuring that this event, the Castrol EDGE Winternationals, remains as the beacon that it is in Australian drag racing, and continues to provide spectators, officials and competitors with a world-class event and world-class action." Castrol's Sponsorship and PR Manager Sue Dilger said that the expansion of the Castrol EDGE Winternationals program would further add to what is already an outstanding event. "All of us here at Castrol are excited about the expansion of the Castrol EDGE Winternationals program in 2008 and 2009," said Castrol Sponsorship and PR Manager Sue Dilger. "Extending the program will encourage further spectator involvement and give them even more drag racing ''bang for their buck'' at Willowbank Raceway, while allowing for even further growth of what is already a stand-out event on the Australian Drag Racing calendar." Willowbank Raceway is located in Ipswich, approximately 30 - 45 minutes west of Brisbane, Queensland. Offering a year-round program of drag racing entertainment for the whole family, the raceway holds four major events annually with a variety o f features including Top Fuel, Top Doorslammer, Supercharged Outlaws, Pro Stock vehicles, Top Fuel Motorcyles, Pro Stock Bikes and the Funny Car and Dragster excitement of Top Alcohol. |
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