2009 Australian Nationals
Event Report Australian Nationals
Sydney delivered some beautiful weather over the weekend and a large crowd of 31,820 attended the 2009 Australian Nationals.
Going into the event, we knew we would be up against it given the current handicap system and index for the AA/SC cars in Group 2, but we wanted to be in Sydney for both our fans and importantly to fly the flag for Toyota. After all, the Nationals are an event stepped in history and tradition and as a past multiple winners we simply couldn’t, not be a part of this event.
Following on from how the car ran at our last outing at the Jamboree at Willowbank, we were confident that we have finally resolved the issues with our new ECU. However, we again made the decision to leave the boost low and look to making the car both consistent and fast. As a team we have elected to run the car at lower boost levels and until the car can consistently repeat we will not turn the boost up.
As always, the team was kept busy talking to our fans who were impressed with the quality of our Toyota. At each event we attend, we seem to be building more and more supporters as the performances of our Aurion goes from strength to strength.
An off the trailer 6.68 at 212 MPH (342 KPH) saw us get in the first up pass we wanted. Obviously the testing we did mid week at Willowbank has paid off and allowed us to finally get the 2 step and anti lag on the start line where we want them.
The second qualifier was later at night and with the dew coming in we didn’t expect to run faster, a very ugly pas saw the car run a 6.70 at 210 MPH (338 KPH) with the car fighting for traction on the slick track. Qualifying ended for us on Saturday which saw us run a 6.65 at 211 MPH (339 KPH) to secure the number 4 qualifying sport in the Sports Compact bracket.
Interestingly this run saw us line up against the Pac Mazda which on this pass ran the fastest time every recorded in the world for a rotary. Importantly for us, it was not enough to beat our Toyota to the finish line with our 6.65 at 211 MPH (339.57 KPH) run easily accounting for their 6.75 at 201 MPH pass from the Mazda.
All up we had the consistency we were looking for and as a whole the team felt confident going into racing. However, it would all depend on everyone having their indexes effected the same in racing.
Sunday dawned with another beautiful day in Sydney and the team prepared for the 1st round of racing. A 6.64 second pass at only 203MPH saw Tony off the throttle early and hard on the brakes in an attempt to protect the index as much as possible, however in order to win the race he chopped a large chunk off our index for the 2nd round.
Racing Group 2 is as much about protecting the index as anything, with every run under your pre set index resulting in a reduction for the next round of racing.
Between rounds, we were kept busy showing our fans how the car works, with some of them blow away that they could sit in our 200 MPH rocket. Heres a small sample of those who think our Aurion is something else.
In the second round we were up against it, our opposition George Marcevski was able to look after his index in round one giving him a decided advantage as Tony hurt his index in order to win in the first round. As a team we knew we would need something special to beat them. An almost hypnotic reaction time of .007 seconds by George ended any chance our Toyota had at beating their car as we would have needed to run well under the current national record in order to beat them.
As a team we don’t like losing and that is probably why we have been so successful over the years, but we did leave Western Sydney International Dragway with some of the most consistent performances ever put together by a sports compact car in this country
6.680 @ 212.56, 6.707 @ 210.05, 6.656 @211.00, 6.640 @ 203.58 and 6.841 @204.94.
Average ET = 6.704 Average MPH = 208.43 (335.43 KPH)
The goal we set before the meeting of being consistent and fast had been met, so as a team we now feel its time to really get after our Toyota. Additionally with the new ProFX heads up series starting early next year this will be the last time we run Group 2. The main game is about to start so look out for us at a track near you.
Going forward, this is the view we hope to show our competition!!